BY MEDECCI LINEIL & ALVERDTEKOSTER ANYAP
LUNDU: The Sarawak government is still waiting for approval from the Indonesian government pertaining to the implementation of direct flights from Kuching to Pontianak.
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Lee Kim Shin said he hoped the decision would be made in the near future so that the initiative could be implemented again next year.
“The consul general of Indonesia in Kuching, Raden Sigit Witjaksono always gives support and cooperation to Sarawak, especially in improving transportation links.
“In fact, last month we already discussed the matter and Raden told me that he had expressed his wish to Jakarta.
“So far we are still waiting for approval from the Indonesian government to reopen the air route,” he said.
He said this at a press conference after an official working visit to Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) Biawak at the Lundu District Office, today.
“I think we will get a decision soon and maybe next year we will be able to resume direct flights between Kuching and Pontianak.
“But starting from which month, it has not been confirmed yet. We are still waiting for a reply from Jakarta,” he said.
Last September, Lee said the Sarawak government would discuss with Indonesia to start direct flights from Kuching to Pontianak.
He said that his side also understood that AirAsia had made an application to start flights for the route and hoped that it could be realised soon so that the country’s transport sector could return to the way it was before the COVID-19 pandemic.
