Bentong Airport

The closure was due to the obsolescence of its original military purpose. The airstrip was built by the British military for a specific strategic need during the Malayan Emergency. After the conflict ended and the security situation stabilized, its military necessity ceased. Furthermore, it was not economically viable for commercial or civilian operations due to its small size, basic facilities, and the development of the nearby Karak Expressway, which provided much faster and cheaper transport to Kuala Lumpur.

The site is now a public space known locally as 'Padang Terbang Lama' (Old Airfield). The original runway outline is still clearly visible as a long, straight strip of grass and gravel. It is no longer an airport and is used by the local community as a recreational area for activities such as jogging, kite flying, and flying radio-controlled model aircraft. It is also a popular spot for driving practice due to its long, straight, and open nature.

Bentong Airport was a historically significant military airstrip constructed during the Malayan Emergency (1948-1960). Its primary role was to support British and Commonwealth counter-insurgency operations against communist guerillas in the dense jungles of Pahang. It handled light STOL (Short Take-Off and Landing) aircraft, such as the Auster and Scottish Aviation Pioneer. These aircraft were used for critical missions including reconnaissance, communication and liaison flights, troop and supply drops to isolated jungle forts, and, most importantly, the medical evacuation (CASEVAC) of wounded soldiers.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening the Bentong Airport for aviation. The site is far too small to meet modern aviation standards, and its strategic transport role has been completely superseded by the modern highway network and the future East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), which will have a station in Bentong. The land is more valuable in its current state as a recreational green space for the community.