AGAIN ON CONNECTIVITY

The perennial issue of air connectivity have surfaced again and tourism players in Sarawak have urged the state government to invest or have a stake in the airline business to ensure Sarawakians have a say in the industry. Managing director of Equitorial Tours and Travel Sdn Bhd Robert Tan suggested yesterday that the government take up shares in either MAS (Malaysia Airlines) or FireFly as sitting in the board of directors will ensure the needs of Sarawakians are better served.

“This will help iron out the bottleneck of air connectivity and do wonders for the tourism industry in Sarawak. It is important that we have a say in the air travel business,” Tan asserted. He described the current scenario as going backward to some 10 years ago when the air travel needs of Sarawakians were served by a single airline.

“There should be no compromise in the airline industry, and the needs of Sarawakians should not be ignored. This is especially so when air travel is the only mode of travel to Peninsula. There needs to be a choice for the people here as some are more comfortable flying premium airlines. Not everyone prefers to fly with a low cost airline. There are still lots of premium air travellers around,” Tan told The Borneo Post.

He stressed that in the business world, time is of essence and air travel has the required speed.

MAS, he felt should not cancel flights, as there is a high load from the central region. As for AirAsia, he recalled when the low cost carrier spread its wings to Sarawak some years back, people were eagerly anticipating it competitive fare.

“But we have seen what they are capable of doing – they come in with full force, and leave at their whim and fancy,” Tan lamented. He recalled that when the Sibu-KK route was abruptly scrapped, holidaymakers and the business community were hard hit. He further grimaced that during peak seasons, a one-way ticket to KL or JB would cost more than RM600.

Asked his view on rumours of a regional airline in the offing, Tan said the idea was noble but servicing rural routes may be complicated. Minister of Tourism Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg was reported to have hinted that “one regional airline” might take to the skies soon in response to the air rationalisation anxiety caused by the recent swapping of shares between MAS and AirAsia.

Tan also revealed that he had been swarmed with calls from concerned long haul travellers as they had encountered problems in baggage connectivity from KL, and onward to overseas destinations.

Sarawak Central Region Hotel Association chairman Johnny Wong Sie Lee echoed Tan’s view but doubted if the state would be given any say in the business. “Sitting on the board without having any say is no better than window dressing. It is high time they do something for Sarawak, in particular Sibu, which has long been ignored,” Wong said.