KUALA LUMPUR, July 8 – The nearly RM500 million expansion project for Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) is expected to begin once land and site-related issues are resolved with the Sabah government, Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Hasbi Habibollah said.
He said funding for the project has already been approved, but several matters concerning land requirements, the expansion site and areas adjacent to the existing runway still need to be finalised.
“As for the Tawau Airport expansion, works are already underway. For KKIA, once all land-related matters have been settled, the project should be ready to proceed. However, we are still awaiting the Sabah government’s decision on the details concerning the project site,” he said.
He was responding to a supplementary question from Datuk Shahelmey Yahya (BN-Putatan) during Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat today on the status of the KKIA and Tawau Airport expansion projects announced under Budget 2026.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is also Finance Minister, announced during the tabling of Budget 2026 last October an allocation of RM2.3 billion for the development of airports in Penang, Kota Kinabalu, Tawau and Miri, with the projects expected to be completed by 2028.
Responding to Nordin Ahmad Ismail (PN-Lumut), who asked whether the government plans to upgrade Pangkor Airport or restore commercial flight services to the island, Hasbi said sea transport remains the preferred mode of travel for both tourists and residents.
He said the government welcomes any airline interested in operating services at the airport, adding that the Ministry of Transport (MOT) and Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) remain open to proposals on the matter.
However, he said any decision to commence operations would depend on the airline’s commercial assessment and business viability.
“Pangkor Airport previously handled charter services operated by Berjaya Air using Dash 7 aircraft and by SKS Airways from Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang, but the services were discontinued in May 2022.
“The government recognises that air connectivity is a key driver of the tourism sector. Therefore, MOT will ensure that any future decision regarding the airport takes into account the potential growth in demand for air services,” he said.
Hasbi also clarified that Pangkor Airport, as well as the airports on Redang Island and Tioman Island, have not been completely closed or left to become ‘white elephants’.
Instead, all three airports continue to be used for private aircraft, military aircraft and helicopter operations, emergency landings, and flying doctor services, while MAHB personnel remain stationed there to maintain the airport assets.
