SIBU: In Budget 2026 tabled by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Friday, Sibu seems to have been left out of the major budget allocations.
Pointing out this, Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Dudong Chairman, Cr Wong Ching Yong, stated that the airport development allocation of RM2.3 billion is being invested to develop airports in Penang, Kota Kinabalu, Tawau and Miri, expected to be completed by 2028.
However, he lamented that Sibu Airport, which is the tenth busiest airport in Malaysia, handled about 1.5 million passengers in 2024 but was not included in this new budget allocation.
The existing airport was built in 1995, and in 2009, RM150 million was invested to upgrade the terminal, he said, adding that since then, the terminal building has not been upgraded, and its facilities are getting old due to wear and tear.
“Sibu Airport urgently needs investment to improve in many areas, such as the toilet facilities need to be completely overhauled. In the male toilet, there are only three toilets and three urinals.
“Male passengers often have to queue for their turn to answer the call of nature. The toilet also has a urinary stench. People told me the condition is the same in female toilet, with even longer queues.
“The departure hall is too small. If there are three departures within 30 minutes, the hall will be packed to the brim.
“Similarly, the arrival hall has only two baggage carousels, which is grossly insufficient.
“Public parking spaces are also inadequate. The existing car park needs to be expanded to accommodate more vehicles so that passengers and those sending off or picking up travellers do not struggle to find parking spaces,” he said in a press statement today.
Pointing out that airports are federal matters, Wong stated Sibu has two Members of Parliament (MP) who are also frequent users of Sibu Airport.
Surely, he added, they know the shortcomings of the airport, and it is their duty to fight for a larger and more modern airport facility for Sibu.
He also cited that in Budget 2026, there is an allocation of RM1.2 billion to build and upgrade hospitals and clinics nationwide.
Saying that Bintulu will get a new specialist building, which is a wonderful news for the people of Bintulu, Wong said, during the 2022 General Election, he had stated that Sibu urgently needed cardiac and cancer satellite clinics in Sibu Hospital.
“Unfortunately, I was not elected, and the proposal did not materialise. Alice Lau, the MP for Lanang, claimed that she had forwarded the proposal to the two Health Ministers to build a heart satellite clinic at Sibu Hospital. Since then, the proposal seems to have been forgotten altogether by her,” Wong added.
As the largest referral hospital in central Sarawak, he stressed that Sibu Hospital requires significant upgrades to enhance both patient care and operational efficiency.
He explained that the installation of air-conditioners of inpatient wards is mandatory to meet the growing demand for quality healthcare and to provide comfort to hospitalised patients.
“Additionally, Sibu Hospital is in urgent need of more car parking facilities to accommodate the increasing number of patients, visitors, and staff.
”The current parking space is insufficient, leading to congestion, long waiting times and inconvenience, especially during peak hours.
“This not only affects the hospital’s operational efficiency but also causes stress for those seeking medical attention,” he said.
He noted that MP Oscar Ling had previously allocated RM500,000 twice to add more parking spaces, but this is only a temporary measure.
According to Wong, a long-term solution would be to construct a multi-level parking facility, which would greatly improve accessibility, enhance patient experience, and support the hospital’s role as the key healthcare provider in the region.
“Both Sibu MPs, Alice Lau and Oscar Ling from the DAP, are the only two representatives from Sibu in Parliament.
“With the Pakatan Harapan-led federal government, where DAP holds the largest number of seats, both MPs have the responsibility and the political leverage to ensure that the Sibu Airport and Sibu Hospital are upgraded and prioritised.
“Therefore, the omission of Sibu Airport and Sibu Hospital from the key focus areas of Budget 2026 has deeply disappointed the people of Sibu, who feel neglected both by the national budget and by their Parliament’s elected representatives, ” Wong, who is also a chartered accountant, added.
