Deputy minister: Fed govt keen to continue FLYsiswa flight ticket subsidy next year

Hasbi (centre) during the press conference at the officiation of the radar operation under Sarawak Sabah Air Traffic Management System upgrading project in Kuching on Nov 17, 2023.

By Wilfred Pilo

KUCHING, Nov 17: The federal government is keen to ensure that the FLYsiswa initiative will continue next year for students studying in public universities, says Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Hasbi Habibollah.

Hasbi disclosed that the government has already targeted 56,000 students in the country this year and elaborated that the scheme makes it easier for students to travel and plan their journey during semester breaks.

“If willing, the government could continue with the same subsidy scheme next year,” he said, adding that an application for a budget has already been submitted.

He said this during the officiation of the radar operation under the Sarawak Sabah Air Traffic Management System upgrading project today.

The FLYsiswa initiative sees the federal government offering RM300 flight ticket subsidy to public university students in Malaysia for domestic flights for students to travel between their place of origin and the place of study.

The Transport Ministry said the subsidy was introduced to strengthen ties between Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah, Sarawak, and Labuan while helping to tackle the cost of living issue.

On the recent issue of the increase in airfare being circulated on social media, Hasbi explained that it is unavoidable due to the foreign exchange in jet fuel prices.

“This has added to an increase in airfare, and to overcome this, the government could consider giving initiatives in airfare during festival periods as such an issue is beyond their control,” he said.

Regarding the Trans-Borneo Railway project, Hasbi clarified that it is still in the research stage.

“We will have to wait for such research budget to be debated in the Parliament. If there is a budget to be rolled out, we could start with research work soon”.

Hasbi said that the railway is a mega project itself, and being Sarawakian, he hoped it would be a reality.

“For example, developing climate resilient livelihoods (DCRL) itself is probably taking ten years, so you can imagine how long such a mega project could even be carried out,” he said. — DayakDaily