KUCHING: Cheaper airfares for those going home for Gawai Dayak and Hari Raya celebrations are what Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof wants.
Fadillah, who is Petra Jaya Member of Parliament, is the parliamentary chief whip for Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).
In a press statement on Monday, he said airlines in Malaysia should offer cheaper fares for Gawai Dayak and Hari Raya celebrants this time as those who celebrated Chinese New Year in February were offered cheap fares.
“For Chinese New Year last February, Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook announced that three airlines – MAS, AirAsia and Malindo – would add a total of 376 low-fare late-night flights between January 30 and February 12.
“We hope that similar offers would be made to those who want to go home for the coming Gawai and Raya,” he said.
Fadillah then thanked the Malaysian Aviation Commission (MAVCOM) for having approved 851 additional domestic flights for this year’s Kaamatan Festival, Gawai Dayak, and Hari Raya Aidilfitri from May 25 to June 17.
He further asked that this should be followed by the offers of cheaper fares to ease the burden of those who want to return home for Gawai Dayak and Hari Raya.
Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar James Jemut Masing also said the three airlines should offer cheaper airfares as it is part of their corporate social responsibilities (CSR) to include more flights for the festive seasons.
“On its part, the people-centric GPS government has offered RM600 one-off subsidy for each Sarawak student studying outside the state to help them come home for the festive occasions,” he said.
Like Fadillah, Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) Women’s chief Datuk Sri Doris Sophia Brodie also called for cheaper airfares from MAS, AirAsia and Malindo.
She said, “There were cheaper fares during the last Chinese New Year, so they should be able to do the same for Gawai, Hari Raya and Pesta Keamatan.
“As there are thousands of East Malaysians working and studying in Malaya who want to come home during the festive seasons the least the airlines could do is offer cheaper airfares.”
She reckoned that the airlines would not make any loss by offering cheaper fares as there will definitely be sufficient passenger loads during the festive period.
Tasik Biru assemblyman Datuk Henry Harry Jinep thought that it would be fair for the major airlines to offer lower fares instead of taking advantage of the peak seasons to raise the fares to the detriment of the celebrants.
He added that just like certain goods and commodities are controlled, the government must also have control over airfares.
Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Youth deputy chief Miro Simuh said airlines should mind their corporate social responsibilities by not taking advantage of festive occasions to raise their fares.
According to Youth and Sports Deputy Minister Datuk Snowdan Lawan festive seasons are times for merry making and not a burden.
Hence, he supported Fadillah for having urged MAS, AirAsia and Malindo to offer cheaper fares to Sarawak students in Malaya to come home for Gawai and Raya.
Urging the airlines to be compassionate, he explained that most of the students are from poor and rural backgrounds who just want to enjoy the festive seasons with their families.
“Though we understand that the airlines are profit-making organisations, I urge them to practice their corporate social responsibilities.
Snowdan, who is also the Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) Youth chief, reiterated that Gawai and Raya are occasions for family reunions, so they ought to be helped to be with their families.
