‘Lower airfares for students’

KOTA KINABALU: Airlines will reduce the price of flight tickets for students travelling between the peninsula, Sabah and Sarawak before Hari Raya Aidilfitri, says Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick with confidence.

The Upko president said providing cheaper air travel between the three regions was part of Pakatan Harapan’s manifesto in the 15th General Election (GE15).

He said although the current government was formed by various parties, the relevant ministries had worked together towards the reduction of airfares, particularly during the festive seasons.

“The Transport Ministry is discussing with the airlines and it was announced that there will be additional flights for Hari Raya and the airfares are cheaper.

“Next, I am very confident that the Transport Minister is discussing how the ticket prices can be reduced for students,” Ewon told reporters after attending a business network programme to strengthen the wholesale and retail sector here yesterday.

In GE15 last year, Pakatan had pledged to provide air tickets at a fixed rate of RM199 for students who travel between Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak.

Ewon said that ongoing discussions between the Transport Ministry and airlines had seen prices of flight tickets being lowered.

“The main thing is that the government has agreed to increase the number of flights during this festive season and I believe this has influenced the drop in ticket prices even though they are still relatively high,” he added.

Earlier, Ewon presented a cheque of RM25mil for the Sabah West Coast Native Cooperative Bhd as part of his ministry’s revolving capital fund to finance plantation activities and purchase land for oil palm cultivation.