Minister Gerawat urges Air Borneo to boost rural flights for interior communities

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By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, Jan 21: Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (Labour, Immigration and Project Monitoring) Datuk Gerawat Gala has urged the Sarawak government and Air Borneo to review proposals to increase the frequency of flights to rural areas, saying this is crucial to meeting the real needs of the people and further narrowing the development gap.

In a Facebook post yesterday (Jan 20), Gerawat, who is also Mulu assemblyman, said he had travelled on an Air Borneo flight from Long Lellang to Marudi and onward to Miri, highlighting the importance of reliable air connectivity for interior communities.

He congratulated the Sarawak government on the establishment of Air Borneo and the takeover of MASwings, describing the move as a strategic and bold step to ensure Sarawak’s air transport needs continue to be safeguarded.

Gerawat stressed that the Rural Air Service (RAS) remains the backbone and main hope of air transportation to the interior, noting that it is more than just flights.

“Rural Air Service is not merely about flying. It is a lifeline that connects rural residents to access healthcare, education, economic opportunities and basic services,” he said.

He also pointed out that the N78 Mulu constituency has the highest number of airports and STOLports (Short Take-Off and Landing airports) in Malaysia, with five facilities—Mulu, Long Seridan, Long Banga, Long Lellang and Bario—underscoring the high demand for consistent and effective air services in the area.

Gerawat expressed hope that Air Borneo would deliver the best possible service to rural communities by prioritising safety, punctuality and accessibility.

“Sarawak maju makmur!” he added. — DayakDaily

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