KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Indian Chamber of Commerce (SICC), led by its President Datuk V. Jothi, is deeply concerned over the continuing high cost of air travel between Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia.
For Malaysians in Sabah and Sarawak, air travel is not a luxury. It is the principal practical means of travelling between East and West Malaysia.
Unlike residents within Peninsular Malaysia, Sabahans and Sarawakians cannot simply choose to travel by road, bus or railway when airfares become too expensive.
Datuk V. Jothi said “The South China Sea may separate us geographically, but it must never be allowed to separate Malaysian families economically.”
Recent fare observations demonstrate the seriousness of the issue.
For example, Kuala Lumpur–Kota
Kinabalu fares were seen reaching approximately RM1,329 one way on 14 August 2026, while Tawau–Kuala Lumpur reached approximately RM1,759 one way on 15 August 2026.
By comparison, fares on the same routes during lower-demand periods can be around RM259 to RM269.
Such extreme fare fluctuations place a heavy burden on families, students and ordinary Malaysians who may have little flexibility over their travel dates.
He said students are perticularly affected SICC welcomes the Federal Government’s FLYsiswa programme, which provides eligible students with RM400 in annual flight assistance.
However, with peak one-way fares sometimes approaching or exceeding RM1,000, the present level of assistance may no longer be sufficient, he added.
Students from Sabah and Sarawak studying in Peninsular Malaysia, and students travelling in the opposite direction, should not have to choose between paying for education-related expenses and returning home to see their families.
Datuk V. Jothi said, “A student should not have to remain away from his or her parents simply because the cost of returning home has become unaffordable.
SICC therefore urges the government to consider expanding FLYSiswa into a more meaningful travel entitlement, including the possibility of two subsidised return journeys per academic year for eligible students.
The Chamber respectfully calls on the Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Finance, aviation regulators and airline operators to develop a permanent East Malaysia–Peninsular Malaysia Air Connectivity Framework.
1.Reasonable fare ceilings during oeak periods introduce maximum fare mechanisms during major school holidays, university semester breaks and festive seasons to prevent extreme price escalation.
2.Expand Student Travel Assistance
Review the existing RM400 FLYSiswa assistance and consider providing eligible students
with two subsidised return journeys annually.
3.Increase flight capacity before peak periods school holidays and major festive periods are known months in advance. Airlines and relevant authorities should plan additional flights and larger aircraft before demand peaks.
4.Introduce targeted affordable fares
special subsidised fares should be considered for students, B40 and eligible M40 families,
senior citizens, persons travelling for essential medical treatment and other deserving groups.
5.Establish transparent airfare monitoring the government should regularly publish airfare trends for major routes linking Kuala Lumpur with Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, Tawau, Kuching, Sibu, Miri, Bintulu and Labuan.
This would allow the public and policymakers to identify excessive fare increases and capacity shortages more effectively.
As a business organisation, SICC stresses that expensive airfares do not affect families and students alone.
They also affect business travel, domestic tourism, investment, professional mobility, conferences, medical travel, employment opportunities and Sabah’s competitiveness.
Affordable and reliable connectivity is therefore essential for Sabah and Sarawak to participate fully in the national economy.
Datuk V. Jothi said: “Better connectivity will help families and students, but it will also strengthen tourism, trade, investment and business competitiveness in Sabah.
SICC believes affordable air travel must also be viewed as an issue of national integration.
Malaysia cannot strengthen national unity through programmes and slogans alone. Malaysians must be able to visit one another, study together, work together and maintain family relationships across the country.
“National integration cannot be achieved through slogans alone. Malaysians must be able to physically meet one another.
”The Chamber recognises that airlines face legitimate operational costs including fuel, aircraft leasing, maintenance and staffing.
“This appeal is therefore not an attack on airlines. Instead, SICC calls for a collaborative solution involving the Federal government, aviation regulators, airport operators and airlines,” he said.
Airlines must remain commercially viable, but essential connectivity between East and West Malaysia must also remain affordable.
The Sabah Indian Chamber of Commerce therefore urges the Federal government to
undertake an urgent review of airfare affordability and flight capacity between East and West Malaysia and introduce a long-term national connectivity policy.
“Affordable connectivity is not merely a transport issue. It is an investment in families, education, business and the unity of Malaysia,” he added.
