By Peter John, JabanSarawak Right Activist
KUCHING: As a Sarawak rights activist, I firmly recognize and commend the bold, strategic initiative of YAB Premier Abang Johari Tun Openg and the Sarawak Government in establishing AirBorneo.
This is far more than a commercial aviation venture; it is a vital act of economic autonomy and a strategic investment in the long-term development of Sarawak and the wider Borneo region.However, as plans move toward operational reality, AirBorneo’s core mandate must remain crystal clear: *the people of Sabah and Sarawak must come first.
” We are currently witnessing an unprecedented surge in demand for air connectivity across Borneo”.
This surge is not random it is the direct result of Sarawak’s rapid, transformative economic expansion. With massive growth in our energy sectors, heavy industries in strategic hubs like Bintulu, digital economy infrastructure, and high-value foreign investments, the movement of people has reached a critical tipping point. Business leaders, technical experts, professionals, and families are moving within and into the region at a volume never seen before.Yet, under the current aviation landscape, East Malaysians are bearing the brunt of this success.
Because we are geographically dependent on air travel, our people are being penalized by fluctuating, excessive airfares driven by market forces that treat our skies purely as profit centers.
For a geographically isolated and dispersed population, air transport is not a luxury it is a critical public utility, just like our roads, bridges, and digital grids.
Therefore, we call for the urgent acceleration of AirBorneo’s operational rollout, anchored by a *”Borneo-First”* policy.
While the long-term potential for international routes such as connecting Kuching to Indonesia’s new capital, Nusantara, or expanding into wider Kalimantan makes strong economic sense for the future, AirBorneo must not lose sight of its founding purpose.
Before looking across borders, the airline must secure domestic accessibility and social justice in air travel for Sarawakians and Sabahans.Our people deserve fair, stable, and affordable air travel throughout the year.
Nobody should be priced out of returning home for vital cultural, religious, and family celebrations due to corporate price-gouging.
National integration and economic resilience cannot be achieved if our own citizens remain grounded by financial barriers.
The current surge in travel demand is proof that the market is starved for a dedicated, localized carrier.
AirBorneo must step into this gap immediately to serve the economic and social interests of its own people first.
We urge the government to translate this vision into reality without delay, ensuring that the wealth and progress of Sarawak directly translate into greater mobility, fairer pricing, and stronger family unity for every Sabahan and Sarawakian.
