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KUCHING, Sept 25: The Federal Ministry of Transport has officially submitted an application to conduct a feasibility study on establishing a logistics network by rail and air to connect Sabah and Sarawak to Kalimantan, Indonesia.
According to a news report by TVS, Deputy Minister Datuk Hasbi Habibollah informed that ongoing efforts to enhance the logistical connectivity to Indonesia’s new capital, a part of the 12th Malaysia (12MP) Rolling Plan 4, are currently under review by the Ministry of Economy.
“A feasibility study will be carried out to ensure that the implementation of the railway project in Sabah and Sarawak has the ‘value for money’ and a positive impact on the local social-economic landscape.
“The study will also involve preparing economic development strategies for the communities along the railway lines and initiating key economic projects with broader-reaching implications,” he said during his winding-up speech when debating the Mid-Term Review of 12MP in Parliament today.
Hasbi expressed confidence that the relocation of Indonesia’s new capital, Nusantara, from Jakarta to Kalimantan would indeed bring a positive impact on the logistics network, either by air or rail, within Sabah and Sarawak.
For air routes, he encouraged both local and international airlines to consider offering direct flight services for international routes while taking into consideration several measures, including annual bilateral negotiations with foreign countries to establish or expand air traffic rights between Malaysia and these nations.
Hasbi added that other strategies or measures deserving attention are liberalising specific cities in Sabah and Sarawak under the Asean Multilateral Agreement relating to the Full Liberalisation of Passenger Services.
“This agreement, signed and ratified by Malaysia, permits airlines from Asean countries to operate flights between any Asean destinations, with no restrictions on frequency, capacity and aircraft types,” he said.
Additionally, Hasbi pointed out that the Federal government also plans to offer various incentives through the Airline Incentive Programme by Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad to overseas airlines operating in any of the country’s airports, including the major cities of Sabah and Sarawak. — DayakDaily
