KUCHING: Minister for Transport Sarawak, Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin, has expressed his appreciation to the Federal Government for approving the new ceiling cost for the Miri Airport Upgrading Project from RM150 million to RM445 million.

Dato Sri Lee said the Miri Airport Upgrading Project is a Federal Government project which was initially approved by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim with an allocation of RM150 million during the official dinner held in conjunction with the Prime Minister’s working visit to Miri on 28 September 2024.

He said that prior to the dinner, he had personally appealed to the Prime Minister, in the presence of the Premier of Sarawak, on the urgent need to upgrade Miri Airport due to increasing passenger traffic, ageing facilities and the growing importance of Miri as the main gateway to northern Sarawak.

“I highlighted to the Prime Minister the urgency of upgrading Miri Airport, noting that the project had in fact already received approval in principle in 2017 but was subsequently delayed following changes in the Federal Government administration,” he said.

Dato Sri Lee said this in a statement issued on Saturday following the announcement by Minister of Transport Anthony Loke Siew Fook on the increased allocation and implementation of the Miri Airport Upgrading Project.

Following the approval, the Ministry of Economy subsequently approved an allocation of RM3.2 million to the Ministry of Transport Malaysia in 2025 to commence preliminary works for the project.

The works included soil investigation, building condition assessment, survey works, utility mapping and measured drawings to determine the required upgrading scope and estimated project cost.

“After the completion of the preliminary works, a Value Assessment Laboratory (VA Lab) was conducted in February 2026 by the Ministry of Transport Malaysia together with the Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Transport Sarawak (MOTS), Public Works Department Malaysia (JKR Malaysia), Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) and all relevant agencies and stakeholders,” he said.

According to Dato Sri Lee, the findings of the VA Lab identified the need to increase the original approved ceiling cost of RM150 million to ensure all necessary upgrading works identified during the preliminary stage could be fully implemented and the project objectives successfully achieved.

“The Ministry of Transport Malaysia subsequently submitted an application to revise the project ceiling cost, and I am grateful that the Federal Government has agreed to increase the allocation from RM150 million to RM445 million,” he said.

He described the approval as a significant and timely development for Miri and northern Sarawak, particularly in strengthening aviation infrastructure and improving passenger capacity and operational efficiency at Miri Airport.

Dato Sri Lee said Miri Airport currently handles 2 million passengers per annum (MPPA), and with the implementation of the upgrading project, the airport will be able to accommodate up to 4 million passengers annually upon completion.

The project is expected to commence construction this year and will be implemented by the Public Works Department Malaysia (JKR Malaysia) and JKR Sarawak as the implementing agency.

He said the upgrading works would involve expansion of the terminal building and aircraft parking facilities, while also modernising airport operations through enhanced digital systems and automated facilities such as self check-in services and improved passenger processing systems.

The project is also expected to improve operational efficiency, passenger comfort and safety standards, including full segregation of domestic and international passengers in compliance with requirements set by the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM).

Dato Sri Lee further highlighted that Miri Airport serves as the second busiest airport in Sarawak after Kuching International Airport, and plays a vital role as the main hub for Rural Air Services (RAS), currently operated by AirBorneo, connecting urban centres with rural and interior areas across Sarawak and Sabah.

“The Ministry of Transport Sarawak remains committed to assisting the Federal Government in ensuring the smooth implementation of this important project according to the planned timeline,” he said. - UKASnews

Prepared by: Ryan Lim