Ministry looking into request for larger aircraft to service Sibu-KK sector
The ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports is seriously looking into the request for Sibu-Kota Kinabalu (KK) sector to be serviced by jet airliners.
“We are seriously looking into the matter and we hope it will be resolved soon.
“I am aware of the problems and we are seriously looking into it,” its minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said when contacted on sunday.
He was asked on to comment on the request of three local branches of Chamber of Commerce and Industry through a signature campaign that has collected 4,082 signatures calling for the prime minister’s intervention for the resumption of Sibu-Kota Kinabalu (KK) route using jet airliners for the convenience of business and leisure travellers.
Sibu Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCCI), Dayak Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) Sibu branch, and Dewan Usahawan Bumiputera Sarawak (DUBS) Sibu obtained the signatures from different industries, companies, associations and the local residents.
At the press conference here last Friday, SCCCI president Dr Hii Sui Cheng read out the cover letter to Najib, accompanied by the collected signatures.
The letter reads: “We, the residents of Sibu, hereby jointly request that the Sibu-KK route be serviced by airlines, including the low cost carrier AirAsia, using Boeing/Airbus aircraft for the convenience of business and leisure travellers.
“In our opinion, it is highly unacceptable that Sibu-KK sector is still classified under rural air service (RAS) to be served solely by MASwings. We humbly appeal to YAB Prime Minister to therefore instruct Malaysia Aviation Commission (Mavcom) to take immediate steps to exclude the Sibu-KK sector from RAS for the benefit of travellers.”
On this, Abdul Karim, who is Asajaya assemblyman said: “We do listen to the pulse on the ground. If the load seems good, I don’t see any reason why that KK-Sibu sector should still be treated as RAS sector.”
Meanwhile, Johnny Wong, chairman of Sarawak Central Region Hotel Association, also rallied behind the call for this key sector to be served by bigger aircraft.
“With regards to Sibu/KK/Sibu route, it is important for Sibu that this sector is serviced by jetliners because MASwings is flying with smaller aircraft hence, cannot carry more passengers at any one time.
“Tourists travelling in bigger group cannot fly at one go.”
Wong added that passengers travelling from Sibu to Tawau or Sandakan could not reach their destination within a day.
Therefore, with more airlines flying within this sector, there would be competition besides benefiting air travellers with more choices, he added.
Meanwhile, DUBS Sibu treasurer and acting secretary Dr S Nasir said Kota Kinabalu is a popular destination for tourists from China. He said there were many direct flights from KK to China, and that KK is the nearest landing port from China, compared to Kuala Lumpur and Kuching.
“If there is good air connectivity, my view is that Sibu will stand to be benefit from it,” he added.