Loke speaking to reporters.
KUCHING: The rural air services (RAS) routes in the state will be opened to commercial routes next year.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the matter was discussed during a meeting with Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari today.
“In Sarawak, air transportation is very important, so I have informed Sarawak’s chief minister that the ministry will open several rural air service routes to commercial routes,” he told reporters today after paying a courtesy visit to Abang Johari at the State Legislative (DUN) complex.
Loke added that the state has vast tourism potential that needs efficient air transportation, to which the chief minister strongly agreed.
He pointed out that efficient air transportation would greatly help the economy of the state in the tourism sector.
Loke also said that domestic flights in the state are free from sales and services tax (SST), which had been agreed by Ministry of Finance knowing that air transportation is very much needed by Sarawakians.
He added that the Ministry of Transport fully supports such policy by the Finance Ministry.