Talks with airlines on affordable fares still ongoing, says Hasbi


Photo: ZULAZHAR SHEBLEE/The Star

PETALING JAYA: Talks are underway with airlines to ensure that prices remain affordable after the latest outcry by Sabahans and Sarawakian living in the peninsula on the steep prices they have to pay to fly back during the coming festive seasons.

Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Hasbi Habibollah said discussions were still ongoing with several airlines that fly to Sabah and Sarawak.

“We are still discussing with the airlines on how to ease the burden of the people who want to fly to and fro during festive seasons,” he said yesterday.

Recently, there were complaints by travellers about the steep price of flight tickets with many forced to forgo celebrating special occasions.

When asked whether there would be any offers by airlines during festive periods, Hasbi, who is also the Limbang MP, said he did not want to speculate on them.

“Let me make this clear, if there is any decision, it will be announced by Transport Minister Anthony Loke. Let us not jump to conclusions,” he said.

Gawai will be celebrated by Sarawak’s Dayak community on June 1-2 while Kaamatan will be celebrated in Sabah on May 30-31.

It is understood that certain airlines may announce discount offers as early as next week.

Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations secretary-general Datuk Dr Paul Selvaraj said the relevant authorities must look at the matter seriously as it was actually an issue of national integration.

“This is about the movement of our citizens between states and it should be affordable, especially during festive seasons,” he said, adding that a mechanism should be reached by the parties to ensure a win-win situation for both customers and flight operators.

Last week, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said airlines should set the price of festive season flight tickets for Sabah and Sarawak based on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), and not just on demand and supply.

He said that the issue of expensive flight ticket prices had been discussed at the Cabinet level, and various efforts had been made by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the Federal Government to address the problem.

During the recent Hari Raya celebration, a controversy broke out involving the high prices of airfares from the peninsula to Sabah and Sarawak.

   

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