By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Jan 29: The Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government must think anew and act anew such as setting up Sarawak’s own airline company to enable the state to propel and achieve stronger growth and development.
Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) Youth secretary Milton Foo emphasised that flight connectivity had always been the main issue impacting the trading and tourism industries in the state.
“This is because Sarawak is located in Borneo island, and the only way to connect to the rest of the world is through flight or vessel,” he told a press conference at SUPP headquarters here today.
“To solve this flight connectivity issue once and for all, it is time for us to have our own airline company owned by the state government rather than having to depend on other airline companies, be it peninsula-based Malaysian Airline (MAS) and AirAsia or international ones like Singapore Airlines.”
GPS, he added, is the new platform for the Sarawak government, which must do new and innovative things, such as setting up an airline company, to benefit all Sarawakians.
“We are glad that Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg has taken an interest in this idea.
“SUPP has been advocating for our very own airline company all these while. I am confident that GPS will be the most capable government to do the right thing for Sarawak in the most efficient manner.”
Pointing at the Shenzhen’s success from a remote coastal town to the tech manufacturing capital of the world, Foo believed that Sarawak too could emulate Shenzhen’s success but the flight connectivity issue must be resolved to realise this vision.
“The government must aspire to do new things and to be innovative in their ways so that Sarawak can excel to greater heights, be connected to the world, and recognised as an international city in the world.”
Under Abang Johari’s leadership, Foo noted that Sarawak had Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (Petros) and Development Bank of Sarawak (DBOS) while keeping the goal to set up Sarawak’s television station in sight, so why not Sarawak’s own airline company.
“Sarawak must keep pursuing more new development and, perhaps, a high-speed train to connect the entire Sarawak. Can you imagine taking a high-speed train from Kuching to Miri will take only 45 minutes? This is what Sarawakians want to have in the foreseeable future.”. — DayakDaily
