KUANTAN: The Pahang government has begun the land acquisition process to lengthen the existing airstrip in Kampung Tekek on Pulau Tioman in Rompin.
State Public Works, Transport and Health Committee chairman Datuk Mohammad Fakhruddin Mohd Ariff said the State Economic Planning Division (BPEN) is in the midst of handling the land acquisition matters.
"BPEN is looking into the land status (for extension) under Section 3 of the Land Acquisition Act 1960 and land acquisition. The consultant for the airport project has been appointed.
"Extending the current 850m airstrip in Kampung Tekek to 1.3km will allow
ATR (Aerei da Trasporto Regionale) turboprop aircraft, the ATR 42-600 and ATR 72-600 aircrafts to land," he said when replying to a question from Datuk Seri Johari Hussain (BN-Tioman) at the state assembly sitting here today.
During the question and answer session, Johari asked about the Tioman airport's status which was announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim when tabling the 2024 budget on Oct 13.
Anwar had announced that RM47 million would be set aside to improve passenger facilities at the airport terminal and extend the existing runway to 1,300m.
Meanwhile, Fakhruddin said the consultant for the project have begun in-depth studies on the types of aircraft that can use the runway and airline companies which have the potential to service the route.
He was replying to a supplementary question from Johari if private jets will be allowed to land on the island and if Tioman airport will establish direct flights without the need to transit at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
Fakhruddin described Tioman airport as an important project which has always been championed by Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail to help boost investors and tourist arrival.
On Oct 13, Tioman Development Authority general manager Datuk Idros Yahya had said that the green light to lengthen the existing airstrip will allow the 72-seater ATR turboprop aircrafts to take off and land on the duty-free island.
