KUCHING: Sarawak is looking to officially acquire MASwings within the next three months and commence its first flight by next year.
With the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Management of Rural Air Services by Acquisition of Shares in MASwings, Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said this means there will be due diligence and detailed discussions on the acquisition between state and federal Transport Ministries as well as Khazanah Nasional.
“We want a majority bloc of the share, meaning 100 per cent (of shares). Maybe the Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) wants some shares too, but the majority has to be Sarawak.
“I have given them about three months… If possible, we want to see it flying by next year,” he said.
He told reporters after witnessing the MoU signing ceremony between the Ministry of Transport Sarawak (MOTS), Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) and Hornbill Skyways Sdn Bhd at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) on today.
Abang Johari also said currently, MASwings provides rural air service in Sabah and Sarawak only and thus wants to expand by offering regional destinations of about six to seven hours away.
“Our suggestion to the federal government is that when we take over Maswings, it must fly beyond Borneo.
“With the regional destinations about six to seven hours away, this will include Far East countries such as Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, India and Australia,” he said.
He added it would be flying on a small airline, but most importantly Kuching will be the main hub for direct flights.
“Our model for this airline is different from others, it will not require a lot of aircrafts. But as long as there is frequency, otherwise there will be precision cost,” he added.
When asked on the possible name of the airline, Abang Johari responded that he will look for inspiration first.
On whether Sarawak plans to take over Kuching International Airport (KIA), Abang Johari said the state plans carefully and takes things one step at a time.
“Now we have our own television station, TVS. Next is the airline. So, slowly, step by step. We also have to look at Sarawak’s capacity,” he said.
Earlier, during the MoU, Sarawak government was represented by MOTS permanent secretary Datuk Ir Alice Jawan Empaing and Aviation Technical advisor Sio Yew Hua, while Hornbill Skyways Sdn Bhd was represented by its chairman Tan Sri Dr Abdul Aziz Hussain and its chief executive officer (CEO) Captain Miron Kumer Gangulu, while MAG by its group managing director Captain Datuk Izham Ismail and its chief strategy officer Brian Foong.
