KOTA KINABALU: China Southern Airline would be flying direct to Kota Kinabalu from Guangzhou twice weekly starting November 11, this year.
“What we are interested in is that it is the biggest domestic airline in China with the widest network. Guangzhou will be the hub for them to come to Kota Kinabalu,” Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun said after launching the Rafflesia Spa Essentials here yesterday.
He also said his ministry was having serious talks with Malaysia Airlines (MAS) to restart direct flights from the state capital to Tokyo, Japan.
“We are hopeful that MAS will restart the flight once they have new aircraft,” he said.
According to the minister, the national airline is unable to provide the route for Sabah as it does not have enough aircraft.
Masidi also said that he would provide more input to the media on the results of the talks in the future.
Meanwhile, Masidi reiterated his call to the oil palm mills in Kinabatangan to keep their words and stop polluting the river.
“To be fair to the millers, they are not the sole source of the problem. The not so good habits of those living along the rivers too, and opening of land in hinterland. But it is obvious the mills have a lot to explain and we take it seriously. They have promised me to sort out the problem, and I am still waiting for them to fulfil it,” he said.
Masidi added that he would be meeting with his senior officers this week to come up with a strategy to combat the problem of river pollution which he described as very serious.
He urged those involved to counter the problem and it was now time to act and stop talking.