KUCHING – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has agreed in principle to a proposal from the Sarawak government to establish a state-owned boutique airline that aims to stabilise airfare prices from the peninsula to the Bornean island.
Anwar said the airline can ease the issue of expensive airfares between the peninsula and Sarawak and Sabah.
“Looking at the performance and capability of the Sarawak government, I have agreed in principle to the proposal of setting up another airline company by the Sarawak government,” he said in his speech at the official opening of the Raia Convention Centre and Hotel here today.
The prime minister added that the Sarawak government’s proposal would be brought to the weekly cabinet meeting for further discussion.
“I agree to the proposal. In fact, our cabinet meeting last week and Wednesday’s meeting has and will discuss details like expensive airfares and the setting up of a new boutique airline as suggested by the Sarawak government,” he said.
Earlier, in his speech at the same function, Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg had expressed hope that the federal government would approve the proposal to set up the state-owned airline.
Abang Johari had said that setting up a new airline would help stabilise the high airfare rates.
“We do not want to compete with other airlines, but only want to stabilise airfares to the state. The airfare from Kuala Lumpur to Kuching is the same as the airfare from Kuala Lumpur to Hong Kong. Therefore, the state government is ready to invest in an airline company,” he said.
On November 13 last year, Abang Johari was reported as saying that the Sarawak government was still waiting for approval of a licence from the Transport Ministry to enable the state to set up and operate its own airline. – Bernama, April 17, 2023
