PM: New air force base in Sendayan to replace Sg Besi base

By Sarban Singh, The Star

GEMAS: A new air force base will be built in Sendayan in Negri Sembilan, to replace the Sg Besi base in Kuala Lumpur.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the details of the project would be announced soon.

He was speaking to reporters after launching the community rehabilitation centre here on Saturday.

It has long been speculated that the Sg Besi air base would be redeveloped into a commercial hub but the high cost of a relocation, estimated to cost several hundred millions of ringgit, if not more, has been a major sticking point.

On June 10, last year, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi confirmed that the air base would be closed to make way for the “Greater KL” development project as laid out in the 10th Malaysia Plan.

Apart from Royal Malaysian Air Force and the police air wing, the air unit of the Fire and Rescue Deparment (Bomba) also operates from the airport, as well as the Royal Selangor Flying Club with its fleet of three Cessna aircraft and a Robinson R44 Raven helicopter.

The Aerospace Medical Institute and the RMAF museum are also located there.

The Sungai Besi Airport is the country’s first international airport.

The 162-hectare airport, also known as Simpang, served as the main air link from 1952 to 1965, before Subang Airport was opened.

Sungai Besi Airport was originally used as an airstrip in the 1930s but was turned into an airport after World War 2.