Kota Kinabalu: The rising cost of airfares between Sabah and Peninsular Malaysia needs to be addressed urgently to ease the burden on the people, particularly students and those who frequently travel to visit their families.
Karambunai Assemblyman Dr Aliakbar Gulasan said checks on airfares for several upcoming periods, including normal weekdays and school holidays, showed that most one-way fares were priced at around RM450 and above.
He said the high fares could push the cost of travelling between Sabah and Kuala Lumpur to at least RM800 to RM900 for a return trip per passenger.
“Imagine, I believe fares at such levels are a heavy burden and do not reflect the spirit of national integration,” he said in his Facebook post recently.
Aliakbar said expensive airfares could discourage people with families in Sabah and Peninsular Malaysia from travelling to see their loved ones, while also placing a heavier financial burden on those who need to travel frequently.
He also highlighted the difficulties faced by Sabah students studying in Peninsular Malaysia who need to return home to visit their parents, especially during school and university holidays.
He urged the Transport Ministry, Federal Government and Sabah Government to study suitable mechanisms to address the issue, describing affordable air connectivity between Sabah and the peninsula as an important matter affecting the people’s interests.
