By Ashley Sim
KUCHING, Aug 26: Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg today reaffirmed that the Sarawak government is keeping the door open for Sabah to acquire shares in AirBorneo, should it decide to come on board.
He disclosed that, while Sabah has yet to respond to the offer, the proposal was initially made following advice from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for both states to jointly establish the airline.
“When Sarawak took over MASwings in February 2025, the Sabah government said, wait first.
“But we are still leaving the door open, and if tomorrow Sabah wishes to take up a stake in AirBorneo, why not?” he told reporters after officiating the grand opening of Affin Bank Hikmah Exchange Branch and its first regional office in East Malaysia at the Hikmah Exchange Event Centre here today.
AirBorneo, wholly owned by the Sarawak government, is expected to commence its maiden flights in January next year, beginning with Rural Air Services (RAS) in both Sabah and Sarawak.
The airline will also gradually expand to regional destinations such as Jakarta and Pontianak in Indonesia, Bangkok, Cambodia, as well as Hong Kong, Korea, and Japan.
Abang Johari also pointed out the potential for synergy between AirBorneo and Affin Bank, which is partly owned by Sarawak.
“Affin Bank has launched a credit card called ‘Borneo’. I told them this can be aligned with AirBorneo, because when the airline flies across ASEAN, customers can purchase tickets using the Borneo Credit Card,” he said.
Asked whether Affin Bank might expand to ASEAN markets, Abang Johari said the matter would depend on the bank’s strength and strategy.
“That is a business decision. If the bank is strong enough, there is no reason it cannot expand into ASEAN countries, whether in Jakarta or Pontianak,” he remarked. — DayakDaily
