Introduce ‘Rahmah ticket’ as airfares too high – Masiung

KOTA KINABALU (Oct 30): The Madani government should introduce the ‘Rahmah ticket’ initiative following the sudden increase in the price of flight tickets for the Sabah-Sarawak-Labuan- Peninsula route.

The proposal was brought up by Kuamut assemblyman Datuk Masiung Banah as the issue could affect national integration in the local tourism industry.

Following the controversy that pressured the people, the increase in airfares will burden domestic tourists traveling between the three regions of Borneo and the Peninsula.

“The increase in fares at this level not only strained the relationship of national integration but also encouraged local people to choose cheaper fares to neighboring countries as tourist destinations,” he said in a statement on Wednesday.

Masiung said that last week alone, the price of a one-way flight ticket between Sabah and Peninsula reached up to RM1,700 compared to Manila, Jakarta and Singapore which only cost between RM550 and RM700.

The chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Board (LPPB) said that the sudden increase in domestic airfares will affect the local tourism industry because people are more focused on holidaying abroad.

According to Masiung, this situation is causing the outflow of more people’s money abroad at the same time harming the domestic tourism industry.

“Local airlines have a thousand reasons to make a profit because they know there is no other way to travel between the Peninsula and the Borneo region except by plane.

“The only best way is for the government to introduce ‘Rahmah tickets’ with the lowest possible floor price for the people,” he said.

Members of parliament from Sabah and Sarawak also raised the issue in the Parliament this week and the flights delay of between two and four hours.

They want Transport Minister Anthony Loke to address the issue and increase the frequency of flight schedules to the Borneo region.

Among the Sabah and Sarawak members of parliament who raised the issue of the sudden increase in domestic air fares in the Senate this week were Datuk Seri Bung Mukhtar Radin (Umno-Kinabatangan) and
Willie Mongin (GPS-Puncak Borneo), Sophia Brodie (GPS-Sri Aman).