KOTA KINABALU – Expensive airfares from Kuala Lumpur to any destination in Sabah are not new but a regular occurrence, especially during the annual festive periods, said Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.
Shafie said those affected by the higher cost of flying only wanted the government and authorities to intervene so that prices remain reasonable during the period.
He said it is up to the government to practise due diligence this time around as it is widely known the cost of fuel and airline operations fluctuates as they are determined by the global market.
“Sabahans only have two choices, to use air or road transportation. It is known that the roads in Sabah are bad and dangerous,” said Shafie, referring to the treacherous road conditions to the state’s East Coast, which has been dubbed “Jalan Bulan.”
“The bad road conditions also further increase the driving time for road users. For instance an eight-hour drive can take up to 12 hours,” he added.
As for the higher airfares, Shafie also said he wants the Transport Ministry and its agencies to consider increasing the number of flights from the peninsula to Sabah to drive down prices given that the number of returnees surge during these periods.
He said the authorities must take this matter seriously as air connectivity is the sole mode of transportation between the peninsula and the Borneo states of Sabah and Sarawak.
Former transport minister Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong was locked in a debate with successor Anthony Loke over pricey airfares as a huge number of flyers are expected in the upcoming Hari Raya celebrations next week.
Wee alleged the cost of a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Tawau has hit over RM3,000 and Loke in his rebuttal said the cost for a business class ticket was RM2,863.40. – The Vibes, April 17, 2023
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