I welcome the suggestion to shift Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) base from Butterworth to Tawau, as proposed by former Chief Minister Tan Sri Harris Salleh.
The RMAF base, Hawk Squadron would be shifted from Butterworth to Labuan with an allocation of RM50 million, as announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in his Budget 2015 tabling in Parliament. Harris said, instead to Labuan, the RMAF base should be relocated to Tawau in the interest of security in the East Coast of Sabah.
I echo to Harris’ suggestion and hope that all elected representatives in the district should support the proposal.
Tawau being the easter most seaboard is the best location in terms of logistics. It can easily cover Lahad Datu, Semporna and Sandakan, the most vulnerable coastal line of the state, compared with air force flying from Labuan.
May be Tan Sri Harris could consider to contribute his pieces of land in Balung to be constructed as the new RMAF base.
However, I do not agree with Harris’s view that RMAF in a particular place will likely have a negative impact on it’s tourism.
Only the enhanced security would bring positive impact on tourism, especially ESSZONE which is famous with diving industry.
RM660 million allocation for ESSCOM as announced in Budget 2015 would bring economics impact to the eastern Sabah as more money would be spent there.