Review high ticket prices to Sabah, says Shafie Apdal

KOTA KINABALU - Flight tickets from Peninsular Malaysia to Sabah must be re-evaluated following their preposterous prices during this Hari Raya season.

Semporna MP Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said the issue of expensive airfare from Kuala Lumpur to Sabah, particularly Kota Kinabalu, Tawau, Sandakan, and Labuan, is not a new issue.

"This has happened years ago, it usually occurs during festive seasons. We know and understand that the operational cost of a plane is not cheap, with fuel prices continuously fluctuating with the world's economy.

"However, all the people want is for the government and relevant authorities' discretion and intervention, hoping that the tickets would be priced reasonably during the festive season," he said in a statement on Monday.

The Warisan president said ticket prices for domestic flights in Sabah had increased by a few folds.

"The Sabah people have only two choices, which are flights or by road. We know how the road conditions are in Sabah. Some are seriously damaged and dangerous.

"These conditions will indirectly increase the time taken to travel from eight hours to 10 or 12 hours to reach their destinations," he said.

The former Sabah chief minister also wanted the ministry and agencies to consider increasing the frequency of flights between cities, particularly in Sabah.

"For example, currently there are only two flights from Kota Kinabalu to Tawau. This could be increased to three or more.

"Finally, I hope the ministry and other related authorities will take this matter seriously to ensure a fair cost for Sabah and Sarawak users when using air transport, especially since it is the only transport available at the time," he said.