A GABUNGAN Parti Sarawak (GPS) leader has revealed that the state government’s move to acquire MasWings remains at the negotiation stage.
Kho Teck Wan, political secretary to the Sarawak Premier, stated that the state is still examining its intended MasWings takeover with "due diligence".
"We (the state government) are still in the process of taking over MasWings, and any acquisition must be conducted with due diligence.
"Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg and Sarawak Transport Minister Datuk Seri Lee Kim Shin have consistently provided updates on this planned takeover of MasWings.
"They first announced the takeover two years ago, and a taskforce is currently handling the process," she said, responding to growing criticism over why GPS had not yet fulfilled its state election promise to establish its own budget airline to provide more affordable flights for Sarawakians.
Kho is the Wanita Chief of the Sarawak United Peoples' Party (SUPP), a component party of GPS, which also includes Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu, Parti Rakyat Sarawak, and the Progressive Democratic Party.
Both GPS and the Pakatan Harapan federal government have come under fire from Sarawakians over the past week due to soaring airfares on routes between Miri, Sibu, Bintulu, and Kuching.
Airfares for the Miri-Kuala Lumpur-Miri route on AirAsia have exceeded RM4,000, as reported by Sarawak PAS Commissioner Jofri Jaraiee.
Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen has also questioned the status of the state's MasWings takeover. — September 8, 2024.
