KOTA KINABALU: A discussion will be held with the Transport Ministry to find ways to address the sudden increase in flight fares involving Sabah and Sarawak.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak) Datuk Mustapha Sakmud (pic) said his ministry would discuss the issue with the Transport Ministry.
He said he raised the matter at the Cabinet meeting last week following complaints received from various parties regarding the increase in flight fares.
Mustapha said that among the factors contributing to the fare increase is the rise in airline operating costs following the global energy crisis.
“One of the reasons is related to the global fuel crisis. When it increases, the operational expenses of flights also increase, and eventually, ticket prices go up.
“We have indeed received complaints from various parties regarding the rather steep increase.
“We will examine these complaints so that we can find methods together with the airlines to try to reduce them,” he said when attending the Madani Kita Bersama Komuniti Darau @Sepanggar Programme here yesterday, Bernama reported.
Mustapha said priority is being given to university and TVET students needing flights next month.
His ministry will work with Higher Education officials to identify affected students before tabling assistance options to the Cabinet.
“We will review the list of affected flights to present to the Cabinet so we can help ease their travel,” he said.
Earlier, Karambunai assemblyman Datuk Dr Aliakbar Gulasan urged the government to address rising Sabah–peninsula flight prices, which reportedly reached RM900 for a round trip.
