As our country approaches 60 years since the formation of Malaysia, the high airfare cost between West Malaysia and Sarawak still makes Sarawakians feel that Peninsular Malaysia seems to be like a distant foreign country.
The high cost of the airfares between Sarawak and West Malaysia has always been one of the pertinent issues that often crops up during every festive period, and at times, we could say that these airfare costs are even comparable to the airfare cost to the neighbouring countries.
The availability of the Sarawak’s very own airline would definitely be a “game-changer” for Sarawakians residing and working in West Malaysia, as they now do have an alternative solution that could provide them value for their money, with regard to the cost of the airline fares.
Furthermore, I did have an experience myself in recent months of being subjected to a high airfare cost for my families when booking return tickets for Kuala Lumpur-Sibu flights.
These airlines, being a profit oriented business organization, naturally, inorder to fulfill their role to satisfy the requirements of their shareholders, they do have to do their obligations to provide competitive investment returns to them, annually.
Furthermore, their goal and business priority is to maximize profit with a high profit margin.
Therefore, indirectly, this also means that the festive holiday period is indeed the time for most airlines to maximize their profits.
From a different perspective, it has always been my hope that the Sarawak government would make the strategic move to have its own airline, afterall, it’ll be a value added not only for the Sarawakians but also for the State in general.
It’s definitely a very good choice to put the Sarawakians’ welfare needs first, as one of the priority of the State government. This is also a social obligation to help the rakyat, to cushion the costly price impact being incurred for the flight cost during the festive periods.
From the State government’s perspective, having its own airline will also be an opportunity for the State to lure and secure more direct flights from the neighbouring countries onto the State. This strategic move could create multiplier effects, and one of it, is the potential to attract more visitors to come to the State.
The empowerment being given by the Federal to the State to have its own airline, is indeed, a step in the right direction, as it is a good example of the nation moving more towards integration and unity in purpose.
The State government, under the able leadership of Premier Abang Jo, by giving a priority to the Sarawakian welfare, is also inline with the policy of State government, which is, “Sarawak First” that gives priority to Sarawak’s interest before others.
This moves by the State government is also reciprocating towards the trust, being accorded to them, by the rakyat,
The direct connectivity network systems by flight to the neighbouring countries could also, in some way, become the catalyst for the State to transform itself towards achieving economic prosperity through a progressive and sustainable growth.
This is one of the enablers, that is required by the State, to be the integral part of the tourism pulling factor, in consideration that the State does need to attract more international tourists, inorder to help to bring in the foreign exchange, for the State.
Furthermore, this is also a part of the revenue engineering, since with the availability of the foreign exchange rate flowing in to the State, it can also helps in a way, to help in the upliftment of the socio-economic well-being of the population that resides in the State, in general.
Lating Minggang is the Walikota for Kapit District Council.
This is the personal opinion of the author and does not necessarily represent the views of DayakDaily. Letters to the Editor may be lightly edited for clarity.
