Kuantan: The Pahang government has been urged to realise the potential of turning Kuantan Airport into a major East Coast flight hub. V Arumugam, representing BN-Sabai, highlighted the current limited flight options, with only one daily direct flight from Kuala Lumpur International Airport and three weekly flights from Singapore, alongside chartered flights.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, V Arumugam suggested that establishing direct domestic flights from Subang Airport, Penang, and East Malaysia, including Kota Kinabalu in Sabah and Kuching in Sarawak, would create a competitive flight network. He also recommended expanding to other destinations in ASEAN countries. He urged the state government and Tourism Pahang to engage with airlines to unlock Kuantan Airport’s potential during the debate on the Pahang Budget 2026 at the Pahang state legislative assembly held at Wisma Sri Pahang.

Additionally, Arumugam proposed that the state government assess the suitability of Gunung Halia in Karak for recreational activities and hiking, given its natural formations. In the same session, Haris Salleh Hamzah, an appointed assemblyman, proposed establishing a Pahang Rafflesia Interpretation Centre as a state biodiversity education hub and suggested the creation of a Central Forest Spine Pahang Trust Fund for long-term conservation funding to reduce reliance on annual budgets.

Haris Salleh Hamzah also emphasized the importance of empowering local communities by training Orang Asli youth as professional eco-guides to help them generate income. The assembly sitting is scheduled to resume tomorrow.