Fed govt urged to provide more flights to Sibu, review fare structure
SIBU: The federal government is urged to look seriously into opening up Sibu as the gateway into the central region of Sarawak.
In making the call, Minister of International Trade and ECommerce Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh said the federal government should consider seriously Sibu’s quest for better air connectivity, including the review of the fare structure.
“Sibu wants better air connectivity and more Boeing flights for Sibu- Kota Kinabalu route as well as air connectivity from Singapore.
“There should be a Boeing flight for Sibu-Kota Kinabalu and SibuSingapore. And only this way, we can promote tourism in Sibu and develop Sibu further,” he pointed out in his address at the grand finale of Borneo Cultural Festival (BCF) 2017 at Sibu Town Square on Saturday night.
Sibu Resident Hii Chang Kee, Sibu Municipal Council ( SMC) chairman Datuk Tiong Thai King, who is also Dudong assemblyman, and SMC deputy chairperson Rogayah Jamain, who is also the organising chairlady, were in attendance.
Wong, who is also the Second Finance Minister, stated that the tourism industry definitely has many economic spin- offs.
Thus, he said, the federal government should look at the air connectivity for Sibu, which serves as a centre for the central region.
He added that the people of Sibu looked forward to the BCF every year.
“Every year during this time, people of Sibu look forward to this occasion and every year we expect that BCF be organised in a more grandeur scale which could attract bigger crowd to the BCF.
“I notice that many people come from nearby towns or districts and so on. But I do not see many foreigners come to our festival.
“I know, in order to attract more foreign tourists, perhaps we have to solve some of the obstacles facing us as far as promoting tourism is concerned,” he said.
To attract foreigners, he said it is essential to overcome lack of air connectivity and review the expensive airfares.
He added that there is a need to have more Boeing flights for Sibu- Kota Kinabalu route as Sibu is not only a destination for Sibu people, but it is a gateway to the central region.
“Sibu is such a big town, with a population of about 260,000. And of course it is the commercial centre of the central region, as we have colleges, we have a university, international school, and big business organisations, as well as the halal hub in Tanjung Manis,” he pointed out.
Touching on BCF, Wong stressed that it is a good and appropriate platform for people of different races and backgrounds to come together as one community in the spirit of 1Malaysia.
“Through BCF, we gather together as one community. We have strong social solidarity and strong social cohesion.
“This is one of the reasons we could organise BCF so successfully with the participation of Chinese, Dayak and the Malay/ Melanau communities.
“I would like to call on Sibu folk to stand united so as to bring Sibu a step forward and work together as one united community to make Sibu a better place for all of us,” he added.