SHAH ALAM: Some three years after it was announced, work has yet to start on the bare-bones RMAF base in Bintulu, Sarawak. It is the same with the site for the long-range radar which LOA was issued late last year.
This was revealed when the newly appointed Defence Ministry secretary-general Lokman Hakim Ali made his first visit to Sarawak from October 7 to 10. His visit was made public by the ministryโs and the services social media pages.
The then Defence Minister DS Hishammuddin Hussein announced the โbare bonesโ airbase at Bintulu as one of the development projects approved for RMK12. The other development projects include the camps in Felda Sahabat and Kota Belud. While the two camps are already under construction, work, it appears, on the bare-bone airbase will only start in RMK13 as with the site for the LRR, which was awarded to Thales.
M๐๐ ๐ฃ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ฆ๐ ๐ฃ๐๐ฅ๐ง๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ก ๐ช๐๐๐๐ฌ๐๐ ๐ฎ: ๐๐๐ช๐๐ง๐๐ก ๐ฆ๐ง๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฆ๐จ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ก๐ง๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ก ๐ฃ๐๐ฅ๐ง๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ก ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐๐ช๐๐
BINTULU, 10 Okt 24 โ Panglima Medan Timur Tentera Darat (PMT TD), Lt Jen Datoโ Mohd Sofi bin Md Lepi telah menyambut ketibaan Ketua Setiausaha (KSU) Kementerian Pertahanan, Datuk Lokman Hakim bin Ali dan delegasi sempena lawatan kerja KSU Kementerian Pertahanan ke Sarawak pada 7 hingga 10 Okt 24 di Batalion Ke-7 Rejimen Sempadan (7 RS) hari ini.
Lawatan bertujuan untuk menilai kemajuan projek-projek pembangunan pertahanan di Sarawak dan seterusnya mengenalpasti keperluan serta cabaran yang dihadapi oleh anggota tentera di Sarawak.
Lawatan kerja di Bintulu dimulakan dengan sesi fotografi di hadapan Wisma Perwira 7 RS dan disusuli dengan sesi taklimat yang disampaikan oleh Kolonel Operasi Markas Pemerintahan Medan Timur Tentera Darat (MK PMTTD), Kol Mislani bin Auverto @ Suwarto di Bilik Taklimat.
Panglima 31 Bgd, Brig Jen Kamarulzaman bin Hj Mohd Yunos turut menyampaikan taklimat strategik dan disusuli dengan sesi lawatan tapak bagi pembangunan Kem 31 Bgd dan 7 RS di sekitar Kemena Land, Bintulu.
KSU juga turut mengadakan lawatan penilaian ke Tapak Projek Pembangunan Pangkalan Operasi Berkala TUDM dan beberapa lokasi strategik di Kemena Land District.
Terdahulu, pada 8 Okt 24, KSU dan delegasi telah melawat beberapa lokasi termasuk Unit Lapang Sasar (ULS) Sampadi, tapak Projek Pembinaan Pos Kandaie 2 dan melaksanakan lawatan kebajikan ke rumah Veteran ATM di Taman Malihah, Kuching. Pada 9 Okt 24 pula, lawatan diteruskan ke Pos Melikin di Serian dan tapak Projek Rumah Keluarga Angkatan Tentera (RKAT) SOC 3 TUDM di Kota Samarahan.
Lawatan kerja KSU Kementerian Pertahanan ke Sarawak ini merupakan inisiatif strategik dalam memastikan keselamatan dan pertahanan negeri diperkukuhkan. Melalui lawatan ini, KSU dan delegasi dapat menilai secara holistik keperluan dan cabaran yang dihadapi, serta merangka pelan tindakan komprehensif untuk meningkatkan keupayaan pertahanan di Sarawak.
While delays to the bare-bones airbase might not cause any issues to RMAF, any delays to the LRR station are problematic, to say the least. It is not as if RMAF had no problems with radar bases before. It is likely that Thales will be delivering GM400 Alpha LRR by 2026, it is imperative that the radar base and other buildings is completed as soon possible.
From the pictures posted by the ministry and the services, one can infer that the radar base will not be ready when the radar is ready for delivery. Do note that the Kota Samarahan radar station -SOC 3-was built to house the earlier GM400 LRR about two decades ago and they are still building the family quarters there. The radar itself was only stationed on Ngili Mountain near Kota Samarahan, in 2018/2019, a decade after the radar was purchased.
The other RMAF LRR in Borneo is of course stationed at Labuan. RMN future regional headquarters 4 will also be located in Bintulu.
โMalaysian Defence
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View Comments (9)
Is this future base of RMAF located near with future base of RMN. Both in the same district right? (Bintulu)
Yes both will be in the Bintulu distric, the RMN base north and the RMAF south of the district.
Thought there would also be an army camp near the airport.no?
I am not sure really. The current camps are located near the town itself in the Kidurong area.
There is an army camp (Wataniah) on the way to the airport, at Kuala Segan, but to my knowledge that is the only armed forces camp in Bintulu, correct me if I am wrong
I have not been there but social media posts showed that 7 RS camp in Kidurong, not a purpose built camp but a commercial complex. Probably a temporary one until the new camp which together will house the Markas 31 Brigade.
Currently there are two small army camps in Bintulu, one in Kidurong (not far from Hospital Bintulu, which is a temporary as they rented commercial properties after move out from Similajau Resort) and another near Jambatan Kemena (on the way Bintulu to the airport).
This RMAF based in Jepak will be about 80 km apart from the proposed navy based at Samalaju.
There is big federal land (about 1,000 hectares) not far from Bintulu airport which was designated to build permanent army camp but no progress so far.
Oh I see, didnโt know that there are others besides wataniah in Bintulu. Talking about hidden in plain sight, temporarily set up in a newly built up commercial area near the hospital. Too bad they cannot repurpose the PLKN camp as it is already cramped in between new industrial zones and national park.
silent '' - ''that is the only armed forces camp in Bintulu''
In the 1980's there was a small camp on the outskirts. Had a guard post and sentries. I saw it.