Study to upgrade Tanjung Manis Airport runway - Abang Johari

TANJUNG MANIS, July 6 (Bernama) -- The Sarawak government will conduct a study to upgrade the Tanjung Manis Airport runway to allow larger aircraft to land.

Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said the study would involve the extension of the existing runway to enable the ATR aircraft capable of carrying 90 passengers to land.

He said with bigger aircraft that could fly more passengers, it would then attract more tourists from within and outside the country to Tanjung Manis in the Rajang delta that was rich in tourist attractions.

“We will conduct the study and next year I will announce the cost, so Tanjung Manis will serve as a gateway to the Rajang delta area and become a tourism hub once the upgrading project is completed,” he said in his opening speech at the beach carnival in Belawai today.

He said apart from being able to accommodate larger aircraft, it would also help cottage industry in Tanjung Manis to be developed to be marketed abroad.

He said traveling on land to Tanjung Manis would be shorter and easier when the network of roads and bridges from Sarikei and the Bruit islands and Matu-Daro stretch were completed.

The journey from Sarikei to Tanjung Manis would take around 40 minutes when roads and bridges along Jalan Pasi-Tanjung Manis were completed, compared to current two hours needed to do the journey, he said.

He said once the Batang Lassa and Paloh bridges completed, it would facilitate the residents of the Bruit islands and Matu and Daro to travel to Tanjung Manis quicker.

-- BERNAMA