KOTA KINABALU: The Gabungan Rakyat Sabah-Barisan Nasional (GRS-BN) state government has urged the federal government to look into the exorbitant airfares between Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah.
Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor wants the Transport Ministry to reduce the high airfares which is burdening travellers who are planning to visit Sabah and vice versa.
"Whether it is for work or leisure, the high airfares have posed a challenge for individuals and families.
"This also does not bode well with the aspiration to bring in more visitors to Sabah following the reopening of the country's borders," he said.
Hajiji who is also state Finance Minister said the state Cabinet had discussed the matter during its weekly meeting here today and viewed the exorbitant airfares hike seriously.
He said the recent report of the airfare price hike for the flight from Kuala Lumpur to Sabah during the Hari Raya Aidilfitri festive period had particularly raised serious concern.
"We urge the Transport Minister (Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong) to look into the matter immediately so that the fares can be reduced."
It was reported the airfares has skyrocketed to around 566 per cent, compared to the non-festive period for the same route, he said.
"Many Sabahans are either studying or working in the peninsula and most of them want to return to their hometown to celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri with families.
"But with the soaring price of air tickets, many will not be able to return home simply because they can't afford it. It is burdening the people and we in the state Cabinet feel the relevant authorities need to act fast," he said.
There were also reports that the air ticket price to Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan and Tawau was more expensive than that of some international destinations from Kuala Lumpur.
Bernama recently reported the grouses of Sabah students in Peninsular Malaysia on the high airfares that normally cost between RM198 and RM300 per person for a return trip from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu.
It reported a Sabahan who posted on Facebook that a Kuala Lumpur-Sandakan flight departing on April 30 on a budget airline costs RM1,049 while another airline charged RM1,400 for the same route on the same date.