The relocation of Kuala Lumpur Air Base (PU KL) to Sendayan Air Base (PU Sendayan) is made over the rationalisation of operation and security, says Royal Malaysian Air Force chief Gen Datuk Seri Affendi Buang.

He said the rapid development in Kuala Lumpur had resulted in the changing landscape of areas around PU KL, now densed with residents and its proximity to the Sungai Besi Highway made it no longer suitable as an RMAF base.

"PU KL is no longer suitable as an air force operation base...where flight operation is not safe due to high-rise buildings and dense population.

"Secondly the area is very exposed to external threats as PU KL could now be seen from the highway and the surrounding housing areas, making it vulnerable to outsiders," he told Bernama here today.

According to him, being exposed to the public also made it difficult for RMAF to keep military operation from spying activities.

"Another problem is for us to protect our military operations in PU KL without being noticed by other parties," he said.

Affendi said PU Sendayan which is expected to be ready by Dec 31 this year, is one of the eight relocation sites for PU KL.

Apart from that, he said the Subang Air Base would be ready by year's end while the air bases in Gong Kedak, Ipoh and Butterworth were completed and the Kuantan Air Base and 31st Royal Artillery Regiment Kajang would be ready by the second quarter of this year and the Subang Police Air Wing by year's end.

He said the locations of the air bases were made according to the mission and suitability as was previously done in PU KL.

"With rationalisation from operation and security aspects we could see the shifting of PU KL meets the requirements of RMAF," he said.

Affendi said more than 70 per cent of RMAF activities and training would be conducted at PU Sendayan when the base is completed and the new facilities would greatly benefit RMAF staff.

"It was built with the comfort of RMAF officers and personnel in mind, in terms of their workplace and quarters as well as new infrastructure to support RMAF training missions.

"Apart from that, we will centralise RMAF training at PU Sendayan which is being conducted in Subang, Alor Setar as well as Kinrara," he said.

He said when completed PU Sendayan would bring RMAF under one roof for training, uniformity as well as more effective command and control.

"When all the new centres and residences in PU Sendayan are ready for occupation, all PU KL activities will be conducted as usual at Sendayan for more effective and efficient operation," he said.

Asked on whether the historical aspect of Kuala Lumpur air base will be retained after it has been relocated to PU Sendayan, Affendi said Kuala Lumpur air base would be remembered as the first international runway used during the independence period, more than 60 years ago.

"If seen in terms of historical buildings, RMAF has it own museum which keeps artifacts since its establishment including PU KL.

"In this contexts, RMAF will preserve historical artifacts of Kuala Lumpur air base in RMAF museum to ensure the history of RMAF is not lost," he said.

Affendi said the people should look at the future development and harmony of buildings in PU KL as a project which could give good returns to the country. -- Bernama