Lower airfares for other festivals, school holidays too: Sibu teachers

SIBU – The Sibu division of the Sarawak Teachers’ Union’s (STU) is hoping that Transport Minister Anthony Loke’s efforts in successfully getting airlines to lower airfares during the coming Lunar New Year can be extended to other festivals and more importantly, school holidays.

Its chairman, Yong Sie Hing, cited an example where he had to fork out more than RM1,000 on a return airfare between Sibu and Kuala Lumpur to attend the Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services convention in the middle of this month.

“Imagine if I were to travel with my parents, wife, and children – how much do I have to spend just on airfare alone? A month’s salary is not enough,” he said at the World Teachers’ Day celebration, retirement, and appreciation ceremony at Paramount Hotel here yesterday.

Councillor Joshua Ting, representing Tourism, Arts, and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, launched the event.

Yong likened teachers to batteries that needed to be charged by having a break during year-end school holidays.

He lamented that when airfares were excessively high, teachers would not be able to travel outside Sarawak.

He appealed to Loke to hear the plight of teachers in Sarawak, and was confident that the minister would lend a helping hand.

Yong also thanked Loke for lowering airfares for the coming Chinese New Year celebration.

“I hope this will not stop here, but instead continue for other festivals such as Hari Raya, Gawai Dayak, Christmas, Deepavali, and others.

“Don’t forget school holidays and year-end school holidays.”

On another note, Yong thanked Tiong for his contribution of RM10,000 in June this year to enable the event’s roll-out.

At the same function, 65 retired STU members were recognised for their contributions. Among them was former chairman of STU’s Sibu division,Tan Kuang Wui.

STU president Kullin Djayang, Sibu district education officer Ahli Chikba, chairman of the Sibu division of the Sarawak Secondary Schools Principals’ Association David Teo, Sibu Headmasters’ Council chairman Sharkawi Hamdan, and Sibu Chinese Teachers’ Association chairman Chan Siah Kuong were also present at the event. – Borneo Post Online, January 1, 2023