By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Sept 2: Sarawak Democratic Action Party (DAP) chairman and Stampin Member of Parliament (MP) Chong Chieng Jen should bring up the issue of exorbitant airfares to Sarawak in Parliament or to the Transport Ministry (MOT) directly instead of pushing the Sarawak government to resolve it.
In stating this, political secretary to the Sarawak Premier, Kho Teck Wan, said Chong knew that the authority to regulate and govern the transport industries, which includes aviation, is under the purview of MOT.
“As a senior MP and having the privilege of being given the mandate by the people of Bandar Kuching and then Stampin over the last 20 years, I am curious as to how many times YB Chong has brought the concern of rising air ticket prices to Parliament?
“I may also ask why YB Chong chose to urge the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government to address the rising air ticket prices instead of discussing the issue with the MOT Minister Anthony Loke, who is the DAP secretary-general,” she said in a statement today.
Kho was responding to Chong’s recent remark urging the Sarawak government to actively engage with airline companies to reduce the exorbitant flight ticket prices that burden Sarawakians, especially during festive seasons.
Kho, who is Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) Women chief, further said the GPS government, through the iGPS programme, provides air ticket subsidies twice a year to full-time IPTA and IPTS students.
“The purchase of MASwings airline, which is in progress, is another effort by the GPS government to address the rising air ticket cost.
“I, therefore, hope that instead of pushing the issue to the GPS government and doing lip service in the press, YB Chong will address the issue of rising ticket prices with real actions. Together, we help solve Sarawakians’ air ticket prices issue,” she added. — DayakDaily
