JULY 19 — The nice thing about being in my mid-40s is that I do not get as easily angered. What used to bother me is now easy to brush off and I do not dwell on it as much.
I would say the plan to relocate the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) is an exception ― I feel only two things about the project, namely fury and disdain.
Fury that the airport would be moved so far inland that it would be too far away from the state capital and disdain for the people who thought it would be a good idea.
One of the best things about the airport's location is how it is both located by the sea and beaches, while also being hardly 30 minutes away from Kota Kinabalu.
This would mean that traveling from the new airport to the city would both be a long journey and expensive.
Flying is already an expensive endeavour for most Sabahans who are not monied so to add this extra expense by putting the airport, in all places, Kimanis.
The argument that it would revitalise the area is ludicrous, because any local would tell you that Kimanis is not exactly a prime tourist destination nor are the roads in good enough condition to justify the move.
Sabah's roads are a testament to the state's poverty and the lack of control over the maintenance of its infrastructure.
Potholes, landslides, dangerous curves ― I really don't see the point of relocating the airport. If you must build an airport, build a budget one in Kimanis, the way more far-off and less attractive stops get budget airports.
Don't take away the Kota Kinabalu Airport's reputation for not just being easily accessible to the capital as well as its view of the South China Sea.
At least though KLIA is ridiculously far from everything, it does have public transport with both trains and buses available as cheap alternatives to the taxi or rideshare.
We have a hardly serviceable slow train with limited stops and long intervals and a bus system that can only be described as somewhat manageable chaos.
I'm local and I wouldn't go anywhere further than 30-40 minutes in a bus on Sabah roads so I shudder at thinking how tourists would endure the pain of traveling from Kimanis to Kota Kinabalu.
Despite politicians insisting the new airport would be to support more tourists I do not see why we cannot upgrade its infrastructure and build a budget terminal instead of relocating KKIA.
If Facebook was any indicator, I am not the only Sabahan who thinks relocating KKIA is an unnecessary expense not made to benefit locals or tourists, but whoever is getting the juicy kickbacks off the project.
Sabah has in common with Klang Valley that it is also the land of big projects that take forever to finish, while somehow magically ballooning in cost, with politicians making neverending excuses as to why they are delayed for the umpteenth time.
My own personal suggestion? Someone needs to crowdfund for a herd of water buffalo to trample on the grounds of local leaders' properties until the urge for a white elephant airport is stamped out of their minds.
I have more respect for the buffalo, who my late grandmother would say, at least ada guna (was useful) and I dearly wish I could say that about Sabah's government for the last few decades.
Fix basic infrastructure, have working public transport before you think of making a fancy airport that will exist just to make a few people very rich.
Sabahans need better thinking, and better leaders, but I despair of either happening while I am still alive.
* This is the personal opinion of the columnist.
