By Yussof J. Imbang
KOTA KINlABALU: The Madani government should introduce the ‘Rahmah ticket’ initiative following the sudden increase in advance-level flight tickets for the Sabah-Sarawak-Labuan-Semananjung domestic route.
The proposal was brought up by Kuamut Representative Datuk Masiung Banah as the issue could affect national integration in the local tourism industry.
Following the controversy that pressured the people, the increase in ticket prices will certainly burden domestic tourists travelling between the three regions of Borneo and the Peninsula.
“The increase in fares at this level not only strained the relationship of national integration but also encouraged local people to choose cheaper fares to neighbouring countries as tourist destinations,” he said in a statement today.
Masiung said that last week alone, the price of a one-way flight ticket between Sabah and Semananjung sometimes reached up to RM1,700 compared to Manila, Jakarta, and Singapore, which only cost between RM550 and RM700.
The Chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Board (LPPB) said that the sudden increase in domestic flights will affect the local tourism industry because people are more focused on spending with cheaper fares on holiday abroad.
According to Masiung, this situation is, of course, more people’s money flowing abroad while at the same time harming the domestic tourism industry.
“Local airlines have a thousand reasons to make a profit because they know there is no other way to travel between the Peninsula and the Borneo region except by plane.
“The only best way is that the government needs to create an initiative to introduce ‘Rahmah tickets’ with the lowest possible floor price for the people of Marhean,” he said.
Meanwhile, Members of Parliament from Sabah and Sarawak also raised the issue in the National Assembly this week in addition to disputing the disruption of delayed flights between 2 and 4 hours.
They want Transport Minister Anthony Loke to address the issue in addition to increasing the frequency of flight schedules to the Borneo region.
Among the Sabah-Sarawak Members of Parliament who raised the issue of the sudden increase in domestic air fares in the Senate this week are Willie Mongin (GPS-Puncak Borneo), Sophia Brodie (GPS-Sri Aman), and Datuk Seri Bung Mukhtar Radin (Umno-Kinabatangan).
