The Transport Ministry said MAHB had allocated RM19.1mil in 2023 to maintain Sarawak’s airports and airstrips.
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd
’s (MAHB) airport maintenance costs will rise to 34% in 2024.
To ensure all airports it operated nationwide were well maintained, MAHB’s outgoings for maintenance totalled RM546mil in 2023, the Transport Ministry said.
It added that MAHB allocated RM19.1mil in 2023 to maintain Sarawak’s airports and airstrips.
“Maintenance allocation increased to RM27.1mil in 2024, which is a 41.9% rise compared to 2023,” the ministry said in Parliament yesterday in response to Pele Peter Tinggom who said the country’s airports, especially Sarawak’s, need to be upgraded, repaired and maintained effectively.
It said MAHB has, until 2024, identified eight airports that needed upgrading including KL International Airport, Kota Kinabalu International Airport and Kuching International Airport.
The others are Miri Airport, Bario Airfield (short take-off and landing airports), Tawau Airport, Penang International Airport and Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang.
The cost of upgrading works will be financed by the government via a development allocation or by MAHB on a competitive basis.
The ministry said the financing methodology will be implemented via an investment recovery model, which will be discussed with MAHB, subject to government approval.
The government continues to grant MAHB the right to operate, manage, maintain and develop 39 airports and airstrips in Malaysia until 2069 via two operational agreements signed on March 18, 2024. — Bernama
