KOTA KINABALU – As of 8.15pm today, the cheapest return flight ticket from Kuala Lumpur to airports in Sabah for polling day on November 19 was around RM700.
Though this price appeared to be around the usual airfare for a return ticket from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, or Tawau, it is expected to rise due to the high demand.
A one-way air ticket from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu or Sandakan is RM329 (AirAsia) or RM395 (Malaysia Airlines), while one from Kuala Lumpur to Tawau would cost RM359 (AirAsia) or RM543 (Malaysia Airlines) which has one flight a day.
This fare excludes additional charges for luggage and insurance.
Sandakan native Sheena Rashid Kamsiran, who is currently staying in Alor Setar, Kedah, said that it would cost her RM1,468 for her to return to Sandakan to vote, as she would need to fly Alor Setar-Kuala Lumpur-Sandakan.
“But that is the price for me alone. If my husband and my child were to return to Sandakan with me, it would cost us over RM4,000 just to vote,” she told The Vibes.
“I don’t think I want to go back to vote now.”
Sheena also said she has to start considering the money she spends now, as her family needs to save up for March next year when they would need to fork out a sum of money for school registration fees and Ramadan, all in the same month.
“I felt like Sandakan is a ‘hotspot’. The airfare would skyrocket during Hari Raya and the election.
“My friends from Sabah working in Kuala Lumpur are also not returning to vote, which is understandable, considering the people’s financial capabilities nowadays due to the economy,” she added.
Flat rate, please!
Meanwhile, Sandakan MP Vivian Wong said that she hopes that airline companies would give a flat rate price for voters from Sabah to return to vote.
“Especially in a constituency like Sandakan, we have a lot of youth who are working in the peninsula,” she said.
Malaysia Airlines launches campaign with discounts
Meanwhile, Malaysia Airlines announced tonight its Jom Balik Mengundi campaign, offering 20% discounted fares to facilitate voter movement via air transport, for bookings from today to November for travel from November 11 to 27.
The airline will also mount additional 26 flights and upgrade 16 domestic services to wide-body A330 aircraft to accommodate the surge in demand to several routes in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak, it said in a statement.
The 20% discount promotion is applicable to all fare categories comprising Lite, Basic, and Flex for Economy Class as well as Basic and Flex for Business Class and available for booking via www.malaysiaairlines.com.
Meanwhile, its subsidiary Firefly Airlines will add up to 70 flights from Subang and Penang to selected domestic routes from November 17 to 20 with 24% and 10% discounted fares for jet and ATR-operated flights, respectively.
The promotion is available for booking from today until 24 October 2022 for travel from 1 November 2022 to 30 June 2023.
MASwings customers travelling from Miri to Mulu, Sandakan to Lahad Datu, and Bintulu to Sibu will be able to book flights from RM135 for one-way all-in fares.
Group chief executive officer of Malaysia Aviation Group, Captain Izham Ismail said: “As a national airline, supporting the GE15 movement for those travelling back to their hometown to fulfil their responsibilities is part of our national commitment.
“In view of this, all airlines under the Malaysia Aviation Group are pleased to mount additional capacities for certain sectors, where possible.
“We are prepared to meet the increase in travel while offering smooth and reliable connectivity and ensuring our customers’ highest level of safety and security throughout their journey with us.” – The Vibes, October 20, 2022
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