Earthworks for new Mukah airport to start tomorrow

UCHING: Initial earthworks for the construction of the new Mukah Airport in Sarawak's central region coastal area will begin tomorrow.

A Sarawak-based company, Hock Peng Furniture and General Contractor Sdn Bhd, was awarded the RM133.3 million contract for the earthworks, which represented the first phase of the airport construction project.

The contract was inked by the company's managing director and chairman Datuk Toh Chiew Hock and Sarawak Public Works Department director Zuraimi Subki in a simple ceremony witnessed by State Infrastructure Development and Communications Minister, Datuk Seri Michael Manyin Jawong here today.

Speaking at a press conference after the ceremony, Manyin said the project marked another milestone for coastal area development in Sarawak.

"The new Mukah Airport will provide a new connectivity along the coastal area which will sustain the economic development spurred by the Score (Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy) activities," he said.

The new airport will be built on a site about seven kilometres from Mukah town centre at an estimated overall cost of RM600 million.

It is expected to be completed by 2018.