KUALA LUMPUR – Transport Minister Anthony Loke has reiterated the government's commitment to ensuring affordable airfares for flights between the peninsula and Sabah and Sarawak during holiday periods.
Speaking during a press conference here today, Loke said that the ministry recognises the grouses raised by citizens lamenting soaring flight tickets, noting that the issue is one the government is familiar with.
“This (high airfares) is not a new problem, we (receive similar complaints) every year during festive seasons.
“We acknowledge that there is still a problem and the ministry will continue to look for ways to increase flight capacities and reduce airfares,” Loke, who is also DAP secretary-general, said.
He also pointed out that travellers who opted to purchase their flight tickets before holidays set in were able to enjoy more reasonably priced tickets.
“Of course, when you check (airfare prices) at the last minute (over) these past few days, you will see raised prices.
“However, those who bought their tickets earlier on had no issue and (paid) more affordable prices,” he said.
Over the past few days, the minister and his predecessor Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong have been tangled in a verbal spat over high airfares, with the latter claiming that a round-trip economy class ticket between Kuala Lumpur and Tawau on Malaysia Airlines (MAS) was RM3,138.
Subsequently, Loke claimed that the price Wee was referring to was for a business-class ticket. Even then, the price offered by MAB for business-class travel is only RM2,863.40, less than the figure quoted by Wee.
It then emerged that Wee had been checking MAS ticket prices on the AirAsia Super App, which drew scorn from social media users, as well as a jibe from Loke that this was akin to wanting to eat KFC but going to McDonald’s instead.
Wee appeared to have the final say on the matter yesterday when he pointed to Pakatan Harapan’s 15th general election manifesto, which promised to set airfares at RM199 for flights between the peninsula and East Malaysia. – The Vibes, April 18, 2023
