GE15: Transport Ministry urges Mavcom to increase night flight frequencies

AYER HITAM: The Transport Ministry has requested the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom) to look into the possibility of operating flights in the middle of the night during the 15th General Election (GE15) period.

Its minister, Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong said this will help ease the flight traffic and operations and help those who are planning to return home and vote.

“Without compromising on the safety of the flight, we have requested Mavcom to look into the possibility of operating our flights at midnight, as it would be less congested than during the day.

“This means that our airport will be operating in the wee hours so that we can bring home those who want to vote,” he said.

He said this when met by reporters after the Bantuan Lesen Memandu Keluarga Malaysia (BLKM) closing ceremony at SMK Suria, Parit Raja, here on Saturday (Oct 29).

Dr Wee added that he also welcomed any efforts by airlines to increase their flight frequencies during this period.

“Our main concern right now is whether our airlines have the capacity to increase their frequency, but if they do, we will welcome it.

“At the same time, we also hope that none of them will take advantage of this situation and increase their flight ticket prices,” he said, adding that any competition to reduce the price of flight tickets is also welcome.

Mavcom has recently come out with a statement that they will monitor the pricing of flight tickets to ensure that airlines do not hike up prices arbitrarily in light of GE15, he added.

For bus tickets, Dr Wee explained that the ministry had no issues in increasing the frequency of buses and controlling the price of the ticket.

“Compared to flight tickets, the price for bus tickets is regulated under the law and I have asked the Land Public Transport Agency (Apad) to approve any request made by bus companies to increase their frequency,” he added.