Datuk Seri Panglima Wong Khen Thau
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Air’s proposal to set up a domestic airline to service the regional and domestic routes is timely to take care of the tourism sector.
Federation of Sabah Manufacturers (FSM) president Datuk Seri Panglima Wong Khen Thau said the state could not rely on other airlines to open up and close a route, as had happened with Malaysia Airline’s suspension of four direct flights in the regional network from Japan, Korea and Perth, Australia.
He pointed out that different provinces in China such as Shenzhen, Hainan and Shanghai have their own airlines.
Sabah, being such a large state, should have an airline to cater and look after our tourism industry, he said.
Wong said the suspended routes to and from Japan and Korea have been established for years, and it was unacceptable to suspend the direct flights.
“All the while there have been direct flights to Korea and Japan, don’t tell me they don’t make money in the past,” he said.
Wong said it was time for the state government to find a solution, to have a small airline to resolve these important issues for the interest of the state and the country.