By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Nov 13: Any proposal for AirBorneo to offer special airfare discounts to encourage Sarawakians living outside the State to return home and vote must be carefully considered to avoid being misconstrued as an inducement or form of bribery.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the caretaker Sarawak government would look into the suggestion but stressed that any initiative must not raise questions about its intentions or be interpreted as an attempt to influence voters.
He said offering special discounts could be perceived as providing an incentive for people to return to Sarawak to cast their votes, making it necessary for the government to examine the matter carefully.
“We will look into that, as long as it does not amount to bribery. If we offer special discounts, people could interpret them as a form of incentive. We have to examine the definition carefully.
“There are people who may twist the issue, and there is a lot of that going on this time,” he told reporters after sending off passengers on AirBorneo’s inaugural Kuching-Jakarta flight at Kuching International Airport (KIA) today.
Abang Johari cautioned that the proposal could also invite questions over why the government should provide a specific incentive for people to exercise their right to vote.
He pointed out that Sarawakians could already make use of AirBorneo’s fixed airfare of RM375 to travel home.
“They can use AirBorneo, which offers a fixed airfare of RM300 plus, to return home. If we sponsor their fares, however, some people might perceive it as bribery,” he said.
While the possibility of special airfare arrangements was not ruled out, Abang Johari made clear that any decision would have to be weighed carefully to ensure it did not create perceptions of electoral inducement.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian, Minister of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom, Minister of Transport Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin, Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Sarawak Secretary and AirBorneo chairman Datuk Amar Mohd Abu Bakar Marzuki and AirBorneo chief executive officer Megat Ardian Wira Mohamad Aminuddin were among the distinguished guests present.
On Nov 4, social activist Jeffery Ngui Voon Chiang has urged AirBorneo to introduce a special election travel package offering one-way fares from as low as RM99 to help Sarawakians living outside the State return home to vote in the upcoming Sarawak election.
Sarawak is scheduled to hold its election on Dec 12, with nomination day set for Nov 28. — DayakDaily
