Federal government should build new airport in Lawas — MP

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MIRI: The federal government should accord priority to building a new Lawas Airport to accommodate bigger aircraftsas this is a critical mode of transport for the increasing population in the district.

Lawas MP Datuk Henry Sum Agong said he raised the issue in parliament last week, saying the present airport could only handle Twin Otter aircraft and small number of passengers.

“The airport is no longer relevant to the present (big) population and we want the Ministry of Transport to consider an airport which can take in ATR aircraft,” he said.

He said an ATR plane could carry thrice the number of passengers compared to Twin Otter, and this will ease air travel woes and stimulate economic development in the district.

The airport, situated on the bank of Lawas River, is also vulnerable to flood, particularly during the rainy season at high tide.

Henry called on the federal government to put back on track the derailed coastal road project linking Kuala Lawas to Punang and Sundar Awat-Awat.

He proposed that the Ministry of Regional and Rural Development approved funds to supply clean piped water to 10 villages from Beriwan Tengah to Kampung Pa Ibau and two schools along Sungai Trusan and that piped water be extended to another five villages from Kampung Menkalap to Kampung Murud Suang and SK Long Kachu.

On rural electricity supply, he urged the ministry to extend it to houses in Trusan, Sundar, Punang, Merapok and other
areas yet to be connected to the grid.

“The problem is there is no contractor to carry it out,” he said.

On the deferred Medan Info Desa project at Lun Bawang Cultural Centre at Jalan Beriwan in Trusan, Henry proposed that the ministry replaced it with a mini Rural Transformation Centre (RTC) at a state-approved site in the district.

He called for an institution of higher learning such as teachers’ training institute or vocational skills training college to be built in Lawas.

He also called on the relevant ministries to propose a rural economic development programme to provide jobs and stimulate rural industrial development in the district.