Late Ling Liong Sik’s contributions to Bario remembered

MIRI (April 8): The late Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik played an instrumental role in kicking off the development of rural air connectivity in Bario, said a prominent member of the Kelabit community.

Dr Roland Dom Mattu said Dr Ling, during his tenure as transport minister in the 2000s, had approved the project to extend the highland’s short-take-off-and-landing airport (STOLport) runway.

“He was accompanied by the first Ba Kelalan assemblyman Datuk Dr Judson Sakai Tagal in visiting all the STOLports in Long Akah, Long Seridan, Bario, and Ba Kelalan during his visit to Sarawak, approving upgrading projects and wanting to improve rural air connectivity.

“It was at a dinner in the Holiday Inn (now Grand Margherita Hotel in Kuching) where he approved the Bario runway extension project,” Dr Roland told The Borneo Post.

However, he said after the death of Dr Judson in a helicopter crash in 2004, the plan was not followed up until 20 years later.

“By then, the cost has gone up five times more,” said Dr Roland, a Bario Asal native.

He lamented that had the runway project materialised two decades ago, it would have contributed massively to the highland region’s tourism and associated businesses.

Nonetheless, Dr Roland said credit must also go to Dr Judson for the initiative in preparing a detailed proposal for the project, enabling Dr Ling to verbally approve it on the spot at an estimated cost of RM5 million.

The ongoing Bario STOLport upgrading project, undertaken by the Public Works Department, is scheduled to reach completion by this September.

Dr Ling, also MCA honorary life president, passed away last Saturday at the age of 83.

He is remembered for his legacy of laying the foundation of the nation’s now-thriving logistics industry and aviation sector.