KOTA KINABALU: Sabah MCA chief Datuk Edward Khoo yesterday reminded Malaysia Airline (MAS) that it has a social responsibility to the people in Sabah and Sarawak.
“If you want us to treat you (MAS) as our national airline, then you have to treat us better,” the Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister stressed.
Speaking to reporters after officiating the Chinese New Year gathering organized by the Chung Hwa Kindergarten here, Khoo was of the opinion that MAS should rethink its business plan in Sabah.
According to the Kepayan assemblyman, Malaysians including Sabahans, have always supported MAS and if given a choice, have always opted to travel on the national air carrier.
“So as a national airline, you don’t just talk to us now because you are losing money and you want to cancel certain routes,” he said, adding that he was made to understand that some of these routes that MAS would stop serving were actually those with good passenger load.
“I was told that lately the Kota Kinabalu-Perth and Seoul flights had very good load, so it is illogical to us that you don’t even bother to have a proper discussion with the state government. And also don’t forget being a national airline, you have such a thing called social responsibility, especially to Sabah and Sarawak, because you are also responsible to help to promote the integration of Peninsular and East Malaysia,” he stressed.
Khoo added that MAS also has the social responsibility to help business activities and the tourism promotion of Sabah and Sarawak.
“I totally agree with Masidi; I urge them to come back to talk to the state government. Don’t behave only on profit making basis. If you are only based on profit making and don’t have the social responsibility, to us, you are no different from any other airline,” he lamented.
Khoo was of the opinion that if this was the attitude of MAS, then maybe it is time to ‘open up’ Sabah to other airlines to come in to serve the people on both international and even domestic routes.
This would create a healthier environment for the passengers, he said.
Also present at the occasion was Datuk Seri Panglima Sari Nuar, president of the Kota Kinabalu Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry.