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KUCHING, July 1: A task force will be established to ensuring Sarawak’s smooth acquisition process of MASWings prior to setting up its own airlines.
Minister of Transport Sarawak (MOTS) Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin led a delegation from Sarawak to a meeting with Minister of Transport Malaysia (MOT) Anthony Loke in Putrajaya yesterday (June 30).
“The primary objective of the meeting was to discuss the establishment of Sarawak Airline through the acquisition of MASWings, as a follow-up to the announcement made by YAB Premier on 15th June 2023, stating that the Sarawak Government had agreed in principle to take over MASWings.
“During the fruitful meeting, both parties reached an agreement to establish a task force dedicated to ensuring a smooth acquisition process. The Sarawak government’s delegation, consisting of members representing the Sarawak government, will actively participate in the task force.
“It was also decided that a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) will be signed to initiate further discussions and facilitate the takeover,” he said in a statement today.
The Sarawak delegation included Deputy Minister of Transport (Aviation and Road) Datuk Dr Jerip Susil, Sarawak Attorney General Dato Sri Talat Mahmood, Sarawak Financial Secretary Dato Sri Dr Wan Lizozman, Deputy Sarawak Secretary (Economic Planning and Development) Datu Dr Muhammad Abdullah Zaidel, MOTS permanent secretary Dato Alice Jawan Empaling, Sarawak Economic Planning Unit director Lester Matthew, MOTS Aviation Technical Advisor Sio Yew Hua and Hornbill Skyways Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Miron Kumer Ganguly.
Meanwhile, Loke was accompanied by MOT deputy secretary general (Policy) Dato Normah Osman; Under Secretary of Development Division Mohd Aidi Mohd Hussin; Civil Aviation Authority Malaysia deputy chief executive officer (Operations) Zainul Abidin Maslan; Malaysian Aviation Commission (MAVCOM) director of Aviation, Jaafar Derus Ahmad; MOT legal advisor Farhani Ahmad Tajuddin and other MOT officers.
At the same time, Lee has highlighted the proposed RM60 million optimisation plan for Miri Airport, to which Loke assured that the Airport’s upgrading project will be the Ministry’s top priority in obtaining approval from the federal government.
The proposed optimisation plan for Kuching International Airport (KIA) was also addressed in the discussion.
Additionally, Lee has made a request for the Stage Bus Service Transformation (SBST) programme under the federal government funding in Kuching, to be carried out by a local consortium of bus operators. — DayakDaily
