Sarawak gives up on MASwings
Stalling by parent airline MAB in takeover negotiation forces state to pull out, says Abang Johari
KUCHING: The state government has given up taking over MASwings from Malaysia Airlines Berhad ( MAB).
Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg said the state had negotiated with MAB to take over MASwings but unfortunately the holding company for MASwings – MAB – was dragging its feet over the negotiation.
“Because of ding dong, ding dong, we decide to forget about it – after all we have alternative. Yes, it was our intention before to take over MASwings, but since they make it so difficult, we just forget about it ,” he told a press conference after witnessing the memorandum of understanding ( MOU) between the state government and four major companies from China at Wisma Bapa Malaysia here yesterday.
Abang Johari, who is also Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, the state was studying other alternatives.
“We have no choice but to change car. If we can’t have a Proton Saga, we go for other car,” he said.
He said the state would look into the possibility of asking the China Express Airlines Co Ltd, which had signed the MOU with the state government, to
It was our intention before to take over MASwings, but since they make it so difficult, we just forget about it.
provide charter flight for Chinese tourists to remote tourism spots in Sarawak.
The Sarawak and Sabah governments had been trying to acquire MASwings’ equity since 2012. Both state governments wanted to turn the rural air service carrier, which was then fully owned by Malaysia Airlines ( MAS), into a mediumhaul airline to serve the Asean region from Kuching and Kota Kinabalu.
The state’s proposal, which the Sabah government had agreed to, was also to make MASwings a regional airline to serve routes with fight duration within seven hours to destinations like Bali, Jakarta, Bangkok, Tokyo and Australia.
However, the negotiation stalled when Malaysia Airlines was taken over by a new management, Khazanah Nasional Berhad.
Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg, Chief Minister
KUCHING: The closure of Tourism Malaysia offices overseas and in the country will not affect Sarawak’s tourism sector.
Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg said while he regretted the closures, he believed the decision had no impact on the state’s tourist arrivals.
“From the start I cannot rely on Tourism Malaysia to promote Sarawak and boost our tourism sector.
“So if they want to close their offices here, let it be,” he told reporters after witnessing the signing ceremony of the memorandum of understanding ( MoU) between the state government and four major tourism companies from China.
Abang Johari, who is also Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister said the state had its own ways to promote Sarawak to foreign visitors.
Tourism Malaysia offices throughout the country will be closed with immediate effect to avoid job duplication with state agencies in promoting tourist attractions.
Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz said the closure of the 14 tourism offices, however, did not involve the termination of services of the staff because they would be absorbed into the ministry’s headquarters and other departments.
He said the move could save about RM6mil in cost annually and it could be utilised for other expenses.
“Although all the Tourism Malaysia offices will be closed, we will create five information offices, namely in Penang for the northern region, Terengganu for the eastern region, Johor for southern region, Sabah at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport, and Sarawak at the Kuching International Airport,” he was quoted as saying by Bernama (Also see Page 18).
On Jan 14, the ministry announced that at least four Tourism Malaysia offices abroad, namely in New York, Perth, Stockholm and Johannesburg would be closed with immediate effect following the termination of Malaysia Airlines Bhd services there.