‘Request for jet airliners for Sibu-KK route to be studied’

0

Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah

SIBU: The Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports is seriously looking into the request for a Sibu-Kota Kinabalu sector to be serviced by jet airliners.

Its minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah affirmed the matter, while adding that he hopes to resolve the matter soon.

“We are seriously looking into the matter and we hope it will be resolved soon. I am aware of the problems and we are seriously looking into it,” he said when contacted Sunday.

Abdul Karim was responding to the request of three chamber of commerce and industry branches here who, through a campaign that has collected 4,082 signatures, called for the prime minister’s intervention for the resumption of Sibu-Kota Kinabalu route
using jet airliners for the convenience of business and leisure travellers.

Sibu Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCCI), Dayak Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) Sibu branch, and Dewan Usahawan Bumiputera Sarawak (DUBS) Sibu obtained the signatures from different industries, companies, associations and local residents.

At the press conference here last Friday, SCCCI president Dr Hii Sui Cheng read out the cover letter to Najib, accompanied by the collected signatures.

The letter reads: “We, the residents of Sibu, hereby jointly request that the Sibu-KK route be serviced by airlines, including low cost carrier AirAsia, using Boeing/Airbus aircraft for the convenience of business and leisure travellers.

“In our opinion, it is highly unacceptable that the Sibu-KK sector is still classified under rural air service (RAS) to be served solely by MASwings. We humbly appeal to YAB Prime Minister to therefore instruct the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom) to take immediate steps to exclude the Sibu-KK sector
from RAS for the benefit of travellers.”

On this, Abdul Karim said: “We do listen to the pulse on the ground. If the load seems good, I don’t see any reason why that Sibu-KK sector should still be treated as an RAS sector.”

Meanwhile, chairman of Sarawak Central Region Hotel Association Johnny Wong also rallied behind the call for this key sector to be served by bigger aircraft.

“With regards to Sibu/KK/Sibu route, it is important for Sibu that this sector is serviced by jetliners because MASwings is flying with smaller aircraft and hence, cannot carry more passengers at any one time. Tourists travelling in bigger groups cannot fly at one go.”

Wong added that passengers travelling from Sibu to Tawau or Sandakan could not reach their destination within a day.

Therefore, with more airlines flying within this sector, he said there would be competition besides benefitting air travellers with more choices.

Meanwhile, DUBS Sibu treasurer and acting secretary Dr S Nasir said Kota Kinabalu is a popular destination among tourists from China.

He said there were many direct flights from KK to China, and that KK is the nearest landing port from China compared to Kuala Lumpur and Kuching.

“If there is good air connectivity, my view is that Sibu will stand to benefit from it,” he said.