Mt Ruang eruption: Airlines should assist passengers stranded by cancellations, says S'wak Minister

State Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah speaking to reporters at his Hari Raya open house in Kuching on Thursday (April 18).

KUCHING: Airlines should assist passengers stranded by cancelled flights due to a volcano eruption in Indonesia, says Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

The state Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister said safety should also come first in the current situation.

"The ash from a volcanic eruption will affect the planes when they are in the air.

"For the safety of passengers and the flights, they have to take precautions," he told reporters at his Hari Raya open house at Penview Convention Centre here on Thursday (April 18).

Abdul Karim called on the airlines to reschedule the cancelled flights or refund passengers.

He said the affected passengers should not have to bear losses for the cancelled flights.

"The least they can do is refund the ticket price.

"And for those who are stranded, there should be another flight for them to take once the flights resume," he added.

Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia and Batik Air have cancelled flights to and from Sarawak and Sabah following the eruption of Mount Ruang in Sulawesi, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded at Kuching and Kota Kinabalu airports.