SANDAKAN: Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) has assured that comprehensive repair works to fix the long-standing roof leakage problem at Sandakan Airport are now under way and are expected to be completed by mid-October.
According to Sandakan Airport Manager, Mohamad Nazri Mat Khalib, the project involves replacing the entire length of all four terminal roof gutters, each measuring 128 metres, with new stainless-steel gutters.
He said the progress has been slower than expected as workers must first remove large sections of the existing roofing to access and repair the damaged areas.
“The airport began repairing several critical locations along the roof gutters in mid-August, and work is still ongoing,” he said.
The issue gained renewed attention after Sandakan MP Vivian Wong Shir Yee urged airport authorities to find a permanent solution during a recent meeting with the management.
Wong said that ad hoc or temporary fixes are no longer acceptable for a facility that plays a vital role in the region’s connectivity.
“What we want is not piecemeal repairs but a complete solution to eradicate this leaky problem once and for all,” she stressed.
She added that with a steady increase in tourist arrivals, the airport’s condition must reflect Sandakan’s image as a growing tourism hub.
With the reopening of a major hotel in the town centre and new resort developments on Berhala Island, Wong said it is crucial that Sandakan is ready to welcome visitors ahead of Visit Malaysia Year 2026.
