MIRI: The state government wants the troubled Malaysia Airlines (MAS) to maintain the interest of Sarawak and Sabah even if it has to let go certain subsidiaries and shrink operation to reduce cost.
Tourism Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg said the state government was ready to collaborate with its Sabah counterpart to turn MASWings into a regional airlines should MAS take out the airline out of its operation as part of a turnaround programme.
“The state government’s decision is very clear and if MAS wants to shrink operation, it must not jeopardize the interest of Sarawak and Sabah.
“If MASWing could be made a regional airline just like SilkAir is to Singapore Airlines, then let Sarawak and Sabah focus on MASWings to establish themselves in the Asia Pacific as well as the other regional destinations,” he told reporters here yesterday after witnessing the signing of a hotel management agreement between Unique Harvest Sdn Bhd and Accors Group for operation and management of Pullman Miri Waterfront Hotel and Resort.
He added that there were great potentials in making MASWings as the regional airlines as both Sarawak and Sabah had great destinations and tourism products known both locally and internationally.
“Besides, MASWings has its own fleet of aircraft and what is needed for further expansion is regional jets to connect the important hubs like Singapore, Hong Kong and Bangkok.
“Through Hong Kong one can get the European and American passengers, and Hong Kong to Miri/KK for instance is 3 1/2 hour flight. What we need is aircraft that has 3 to 5-hour endurance.”
Meanwhile, Khazanah Nasional Bhd (Khazanah Nasional) managing director Tan Sri Azman Mokhtar recently said they would come up with a plan to restructure the troubled MAS within a year.
He said all options were being considered at the moment, reflecting the seriousness of the current situation and the importance of MAS to the country.
“There is also a possibility of MAS downsizing its flights in the near term until a restructuring plan is formulated, given that MAS has a reasonable leeway in making choices over its network plan,” he said.