KUALA LUMPUR: The subsidised flight tickets from Peninsular Malaysia to Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan during the festive seasons will be rolled starting from this year's Christmas season.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the cabinet had on Dec 13 agreed with the ministry's proposal to implement subsidies for the purchase of economy class flight tickets that exceed RM599 for a one-way trip from the Peninsula to Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan.
"The government often receives complaints about high airfares, especially from those originally from Sabah, Sarawak, and Labuan who now live, work or study in the Peninsula.
"With air transportation being the primary transportation mode, some of them have to fork out over RM1,000 for a one-way ticket to return to their hometowns which is burdensome," he said during the announcement of the Madani Government Initiative: Subsidy Assistance for Airline Tickets from Peninsular Malaysia to Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan for Festive Seasons in Putrajaya today.
He said the subsidy will involve the economy class flight to these destinations during some of the major festive periods.
"This will start during this year's Christmas for travel days three days before the day, namely on Dec 22, 23 and 24.
"The flight ticket subsidies will continue during festive seasons next year during Chinese New Year, Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Kaamatan Festival (for Sabah and Labuan), Gawai (for Sarawak only) and Christmas, three days before the said celebration," said Loke.
He said through the initiative, the government will pay the price difference between the original price and the maximum price of the flight ticket.
"The implementation of the initiative will begin at 12.01 am on Dec 16, with the subsidies. However, this will not include taxes and fees."
Loke added that for flight tickets that cost less than RM599 for the routes in question, they will be sold at the original price set by the airlines.
He said for festive seasons next year, the public can purchase flight tickets starting Jan 1 at 12.01am.
"The public can purchase flight tickets through the websites of domestic airlines AirAsia, Firefly, Malaysia Airlines Bhd and Batik Air."
He said among the terms and conditions for these flight tickets is that any date changes or flight exchanges will not be allowed.
The terms and conditions are only valid for the date and flight specified on the ticket.
"No name changes are allowed and the purchased flight tickets non-refundable."
Loke said other initiatives will continue, including facilitating additional flights during each festive season.
For Christmas, he said the ministry, through the Malaysian Aviation Commission (MAVCOM), has facilitated a total of 114 additional flights between the Peninsula and Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan.
"This strategy has shown a positive impact, with prices from Kuala Lumpur to key destinations in Sabah and Sarawak decreasing between five per cent and 33 per cent as of this morning as compared to the previous week," he said.
On Dec 5, Loke in his reply to a supplementary question from Senator Abun Sui Anyit in the Dewan Negara said the government is planning to subsidise flight tickets from Peninsular Malaysia to Sabah and Sarawak during festive seasons.
He had said the ministry was studying the mechanism to provide subsidies for flights to the states a few days before the celebrations.
The government had in May capped airfare from Peninsular Malaysia to Sabah and Sarawak at RM300, excluding fees and taxes, for Kaamatan and Gawai.