MIRI – The costs of flights from the peninsula to Sarawak continue to soar, despite repeated promises from the state government and Transport Ministry that the airfares will be reduced.
Airfares for flights from Kuala Lumpur to Sarawak and back costing well over RM3,000 have concerned many in view of the upcoming polls.
It is learnt that return tickets for the KL-Miri route cost about RM3,600, with RM3,300 for the KL-Kuching route, while the Penang-Kuching route is even more expensive.
Sarawak Bersih chairwoman Ann Teo said this will definitely deter the return of Sarawakians from the peninsula to vote in the Sarawak polls on December 18.
“We are just a few weeks away from polling. The government and airlines must make a commitment to bring down the fares by a big margin.
“If not, the number of Sarawakians coming back to vote will be very small.
“There are at least 250,000 Sarawakian voters in the peninsula and Sabah who can vote, but the Election Commission law says they must go back to Sarawak to cast their ballots,” she said.
Teo said the high cost of flights must be brought down now so that the polling will see a fair chance for all Sarawakians to vote.
Meanwhile, Lating Minggang, who is the Kapit district council walikota (local chieftain), said national airlines are being unfair to Sarawakians.
“The very high costs of airfares to and from Sarawak are like daylight robbery. How can ordinary folk like us afford this?” he told reporters in Kapit.
The high costs of flights also affect internal routes within Sarawak.
Last minute bookings for the Miri-Kuching route can cost up to RM600. – The Vibes, November 25, 2021
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