KUCHING – Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman has voiced concern over the federal government’s move to subsidise RM93 million to implement free toll for four days during Hari Raya Aidilfitri festive season.
While lauding the move, he said the amount spent had sidelined Sarawakians and Sabahans as the benefit was only enjoyed by people in the peninsula.
He pointed out that East Malaysian students, especially those from low-income families, should also be given subsidies so that they can travel back home during the festive holidays.
According to him, many Sabahan and Sarawakian students in the peninsula could not come back home to celebrate Hari Raya with their families this year due to the high cost of flight tickets.
He added that many had shared their plight of not being able to afford the tickets.
“This issue popped up when the prime minister announced a four-day toll subsidy given to all road users.
“But the fact is almost all, if not all, of those (benefitting) are in Peninsular Malaysia. And the total cost of subsidy is about RM93 million.
“When the announcement was made, many Sabahans and Sarawakians shared their concern, which is that while the toll subsidy is welcomed, the government should also look into their plight and help to reduce the cost of air tickets so that they can be reunited with their families.
“This is especially for those from low-income bracket families.
“These are students who can only fly back to see their families once or twice a year, or those who come from B40 and middle-class families who only can fly back once or twice a year,” he told The Borneo Post recently.
Syed Saddiq, who is Muda president, was commenting on the federal government’s recent announcement to lifting all toll charges on the country’s highways for four days from April 19-21 and on April 24, as part of efforts to ease the financial burden of millions of Malaysians making their way back to their hometowns for Aidilfitri.
He opined that Sabah and Sarawak should receive similar assistance as what has been provided in the peninsula.
In fact, he said the surging price in airfares should be addressed because people from both Sabah and Sarawak are highly dependent on using air services.
According to him, air connectivity is the only and primary means of transportation that connects the peninsula to both Borneo states.
Apart from giving airfare subsidies, Syed Saddiq also said a comprehensive solution is needed so that the airfare price during festive seasons can be set under the ceiling price.
He urged Putrajaya to discuss the issue with airline companies to find a long-term solution that could be tailored to their services and exclusive routes. – Borneo Post Online, April 24, 2023
