Sarawak and Sabah eye collabs in aviation training

KUCHING: The Minister for Transport Sarawak (MOTS), Datuk Seri Lee Kim Shin, led a delegation from the Sarawak government on a courtesy call on the Sabah Deputy Chief Minister III and Minister of Public Works Datuk Ir Shahelmey Yahya. 

MOTS said the delegation visited the headquarters of MASwings Sdn Bhd in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, as well as the KKIP Aerospace Training Centre, a wholly owned subsidiary of KKIP Sdn Bhd and the Sabah government, specialising in aircraft maintenance training and aviation-related courses.

The visit was to gain a comprehensive understanding of the aviation training industry and explore collaboration opportunities, particularly in nurturing the growth of aviation talent in Sarawak.

The delegation included Deputy Sarawak Attorney-General Datuk John Wayne Chamberlain Sirau; Deputy Permanent Secretary of MOTS Selamat Jati Yanjah; Economic Planning Unit Sarawak deputy director Julin Alen; Aviation technical advisor of MOTS Sio Yew Hua; Hornbill Skyways Sdn Bhd Aviation consultant Bruno Navet, Sr; Hornbill Skyways Sdn Bhd chief executive officer (CEO) Captain Miron Kumer Ganguly; and other senior officers. 

During the courtesy call, Lee and Shahelmey engaged in an exchange of ideas and discussed matters related to the development of transportation in Sarawak and Sabah.

Earlier that day, Lee visited the headquarters of MASwings Sdn Bhd, and this marked the minister’s first visit following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the acquisition of shares in MASwings Sdn Bhd between the Sarawak government and Hornbill Skyways Sdn Bhd on October 27. 

During the visit, the delegation received a comprehensive briefing from MASwings chief operating officer Suresh Singam and other top management members regarding the operations of MASwings Sdn Bhd. 

The delegation also toured the aircraft maintenance hangar and thereafter the minister also held a dialogue session with the MASWings operation staff.