TAWAU: The Tawau Airport which is in the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-the Philippines East-Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA), is capable of handling domestic and commercial flights, while at the same time boosting the air transport sector in the region.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat said this is because the Tawau Airport has the necessary, ready infrastructure for this purpose.

“We will take the necessary proactive measures in fulfilling the needs of the people in the matter of transport or passage, especially in air travel.

“Actually, the planning has already been made to meet this need,” he told reporters after a closed door meeting with MCA leaders in Tawau, Kalabakan and Semporna, here yesterday.

Ong said better air transport was needed as Tawau was part of the BIMP-EAGA.

The BIMP-EAGA was formed in March 1994 to inject development into the region, as it is fairly backward from the economic standpoint.

On sea transport, Ong gave an assurance that attention would be given to it, especially to the provision of jetty facilities and other related problems.

“I can see that a number of problems highlighted not only concern my ministry but is linked to other elements and this will take time to overcome.

“In this respect, matters such as the level of safety or customs clearance, are issues that we have to discuss in the interest of traders,” Ong said. — Bernama