Tupong rep: S’wak DAP chief should reach out to federal transport minister-cum-party sec-gen on rising airfare

Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman

By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, Sept 1: Sarawak Democratic Action Party (DAP) chairman Chong Chieng Jen should reach out to the party’s secretary-general Anthony Loke, who is also Minister of Transport Malaysia (MOT), to address rising flight ticket prices.

Tupong assemblyman Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman, in a statement today, said that he is perplexed as to why Chong did not simply reach out to his federal counterpart given it would have been easier to do so given his connections to the minister, coming from the same party.

“The question that must be asked is why wouldn’t Chong trust his own boss and instead urge the Sarawak government to intervene?” asked Fazzrudin.

He was responding to Chong’s recent statement calling for the Sarawak government to actively engage with airline companies to reduce the exorbitant flight ticket prices that burden Sarawakians, particularly during festive seasons.

On the same note, Fazzrudin, who is also chief political secretary to the Premier, said Chong’s interest in the Sarawak’s government-proposed takeover of MASWings shows that he supports the move despite several questions about the proposal and its viability.

He said that as Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg announced back in April, the acquisition of MASwings was in the discussion stage relating to its technical aspects.

“The timeline for its operation would be sometime next year. With its operation, it will be a significant milestone in enhancing air connectivity and accessibility in the region, as well as ensuring competition in terms of ticket pricing and that airfare prices would no longer be monopolised,” he added.

Meanwhile, Fazzrudin said the Sarawak government is still subsidising flight tickets for Sarawak students studying at higher learning institutions to travel home through the Graduan Pulang Sarawak (iGPS) scheme.

He pointed out that the scheme benefits up to 12,000 students annually, and they can apply twice a year and receive subsidies of up to RM600 for their flights.

“This scheme alleviates the burden of students and their parents in paying for airfares to return home while, at the same time, the Sarawak government is working on realising its own air carrier to serve the population,” he said. — DayakDaily