KUCHING, May 18: With the upcoming Gawai Dayak and Pesta Kaamatan, the federal government will subsidise the purchase of one-way flight tickets from Peninsular Malaysia to Sarawak and Sabah.
Minister for Transport Anthony Loke said his ministry has negotiated with airlines for a pilot programme where the government will purchase all remaining one-way flight tickets from Peninsular Malaysia to Sarawak and Sabah, excluding taxes and fees, prior to the celebration of the two festivities.
“The price of a one-way flight ticket for each passenger for domestic routes connecting Peninsular Malaysia with Sarawak and Sabah will be set at a maximum of RM300 or according to the actual fare if the ticket price is less than RM300,” he said in a statement today.
As of May 17, he stated, there are 17,708 available flights left between Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak and Sabah.
From Peninsular Malaysia to Sabah from May 27 to 29, there are 8,903 flights available; from Peninsular Malaysia to Sarawak from May 29 to 31, 8,805 flights are available.
“Since flight tickets for the Johor Bahru-Sibu route for the three days before the Gawai Dayak celebration have sold out, the Ministry of Transport will collaborate with Batik Air to provide special charter flight services once a day on those dates, subject to demand.
“The price of the one-way flight ticket for each passenger for this route will also be capped at RM300, excluding taxes and fees.
Loke said subsidising the purchase of flight tickets to Sabah and Sarawak in conjunction with the festive seasons is expected to reduce the financial burden of consumers who wish to return to their hometowns for the 2023 Kaamatan or Gawai Dayak festival. — DayakDaily
