KUALA LUMPUR: The Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Huazong) has proposed the government to negotiate with domestic airlines operators, to fix ‘ceiling price’ for economy class airfares, during the festive seasons.
Its President Tan Sri T.C Goh also hoped that, the government could get the domestic airlines operators to do the same for Sabah and Sarawak, on a long-term basis, not just during the festive seasons.
Goh who is also President of The Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS) underscored that, it is only appropriate that the government facilitates a more affordable economy flights for Sabah and Sarawak, citing the fact that air transportation is the only choice for the people from these two states to travel to Peninsular Malaysia, for business/work, and to visit family members and friends.
He opined that, there should be a flexible mechanism for fixing of ceiling price for the domestic economy class flights, that is adjustable based on the operating cost, and exclusively for Malaysians only.
He also urged the government to liaise with the domestic airlines operators to provide extra domestic flights, besides making the airfares more affordable, during peak seasons and festivities of the various communities.
He urged this while welcoming the announcement by the Transport Minister, Anthony Loke that AirAsia will be operating extra flights at fixed fares for late-night flights to cater for the festive rush between the peninsula and destinations in Sabah and Sarawak from Jan 17 to 30.
Goh acknowledged that the said announcement was indeed ‘good news’ for the people of Sabah and Sarawak, especially citing the recent news reports over spiraling domestic airfares for flights between the peninsula and destinations in Sabah and Sarawak, which increased by many folds, and in the case of Kuching, the return airfares to Kuala Lumpur even exceeded RM2,000.
He said, if such a trend were to continue unabated, it would be unaffordable for many ordinary Sahabans and Sarawakians who are currently working or studying in Peninsular Malaysia, to return home to celebrate Chinese New Year celebrations with their families.
He also acknowledged that the exorbitant airfares had literally turned the ‘Chinese New Year reunion trip’ for many Sabahans and Sarawakians working or studying in Peninsular Malaysia, into a ‘nightmare’, all these years.
He thus welcomed the introduction of ‘dynamic pricing’ by the domestic airlines operators, besides encouraging the Malaysian public to plan their trip early in order to benefit from the promotional airfares. However, he opined that there should be a ceiling price in place to ensure affordability for the air travelers.
“This is especially in view of the fact that not every person, especially the ordinary workers, could afford to plan their trip in advance, as it may take time for them to apply for leaves from their employers,” he pointed out.
He also welcomed and supported Loke’s move to persuade the domestic airlines to increase flight frequencies between the peninsula and destinations in Sabah and Sarawak.
He hoped Loke could deliver his promise to finally resolve the perennial issue of exorbitant domestic airfares, during the festive seasons, which has been troubling the people of Sabah and Sarawak, sooner.
He also welcomed the former Transport Minister, Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong’s statement that, a few months ago domestic airline companies had agreed to cater cheaper or promotional domestic airfares for Sabah and Sarawak, during the Chinese New Year season.-pr/BNN
