Kua says expanding Kuching International Airport is unsustainable due to its landlocked location.
KUCHING (Aug 20): Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Engkilili chairman (SUPP) Kua Jack Seng has hit back at Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen, saying his opposition to the proposed new airport project is politically motivated and ignores Sarawak’s long-term development needs.
The Political Secretary to the Sarawak Premier said expanding Kuching International Airport (KIA) is unsustainable due to its landlocked location.
“Even with an investment of RM100 million, it would only serve as a stop-gap measure for about 10 years. After that, Sarawak would still need a new airport.
“Should Sarawak keep ‘patching up’ indefinitely, or should we plan boldly for the next 30 to 50 years?” he said in a statement today.
Kua argued that the project is not just about capacity but about positioning Sarawak as a regional aviation hub and international gateway.
“How can Sarawak attract more global flights, develop as a Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) hub, or draw multinational investments if we continue operating from a constrained airport?” he said.
Chong in a statement earlier had said that the RM10 billion airport is a misplaced priority that does not align with the actual needs of the people.
He said said the massive expenditure would be better used to uplift the “world-class living standard” of Sarawakians, rather than investing in a “world-class” building that showcases state wealth.
Chong questioned the necessity of building a new airport, pointing out that the current KIA is significantly underutilised.
With that, Kua defended the state’s fiscal capacity to fund the project, dismissing Chong’s comparisons to federal overspending in the Mahathir era.
“Equating our prudent financial management to federal overspending decades ago is an insult to Sarawak’s sound fiscal discipline,” he said.
Kua further said Sarawak should not accept “crumbs” in federal funding while other states receive billions in infrastructure investment.
“The new airport is not just about size; it is the runway for Sarawak’s aviation independence and international connectivity,” he said.
Kua said Chong’s position reflects a “federal-centric mindset” that discourages Sarawak from dreaming big, adding that the new airport is not wasteful spending, but an investment in Sarawak’s future.
“It is a foundation for the next 30 to 50 years, positioning Sarawak as an international gateway and a key aviation hub in the region.
“SUPP firmly believes Sarawakians deserve more than just a token expansion. They deserve infrastructure that matches their resources, potential, and rightful place in Malaysia,” he said.
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