High airfares force Sabahans to cancel trips, miss funerals
KUALA LUMPUR: Airfares between the peninsula and Sabah and Sarawak, which have surged by more than 200 per cent, are placing a growing burden on Malaysians working in the peninsula, particularly those from the B40 group.
High airfares between the peninsula and Sabah and Sarawak have caused difficulties for Malaysians working in the peninsula, particularly those from the B40 group. Some Sabahans have canceled trips to attend family funerals due to the high fares, which have forced others to be stranded in their hometowns unable to afford return flights.
Housewife Nur Sarina Saleh, 47, had been stranded in Sandakan for almost two months after her family could not afford the costs of flights. Private-sector employee Muhammad Ehsanulhadi Karim spent RM2,500 on a return flight after his relative died, and he expressed concern about increasing fares. Ehsanulhadi stated that fares should be reviewed, considering both airlines' operating costs and the burden on consumers.
Sabah resident Nurul Syazwani Alias, 30, had to give up attending her father-in-law's funeral because airfares were too expensive, estimating the cost for a family of three to be around RM8,000. Sudin Labiding, president of Pertubuhan Kebajikan Anak Sabah Kami Bersatu Selangor, called for measures to regulate fares and bring them down to a reasonable level.
Amanda Omeychua, a mountain-hiking operator, reported a 40% loss in business due to high airfares, which have forced customers to postpone or cancel trips. Wagner Naftley Daniel, president of Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris Ikatan Sepadu Anak Jati Sabah Supreme Council, expressed concern about the impact on students, particularly those facing financial constraints, and hoped for an increase in the subsidies provided by the Sabah and federal governments.
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