{
  "id": 20083549,
  "title": "AirBorneo milik Sarawak, mengapa Persekutuan masih beri subsidi?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/15/airborneo-milik-sarawak-mengapa-persekutuan-masih-beri-subsidi",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-15T00:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/bahasa/tempatan/2026/11/15/airborneo-milik-sarawak-mengapa-persekutuan-masih-beri-subsidi"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Sarawak now controls AirBorneo, but the federal government's RM209 million subsidy for the inland flight remains necessary to ensure residents continue to have access to air transportation, particularly in areas with limited travel options. Firdausi Suffian, an economist, stated that the need for the subsidy should be assessed based on its importance to residents, rather than just who owns the airline company. Without the subsidy, transportation costs could become significantly higher, making it crucial to provide access, especially in non-urban areas. The 2027 budget continues the RM209 million subsidy for the inland flight, which is expected to accommodate around 820,000 passengers, following the transfer of MASwings to Sarawak and its renaming as AirBorneo. The subsidy funds air services to remote areas under the obligation of the public service transport, ensuring essential routes continue to be managed even if they are not commercially viable. However, not all AirBorneo routes receive the subsidy. The Transportation Ministry previously explained that routes such as Kuching-Sibu, Kuching-Miri, and Kuching-Bintulu are not part of the RAS category and can be commercially operated. Rapid air travel, especially in emergency situations, plays a vital role in Gwynth Vincent's daily life as a schoolteacher in Kota Kinabalu. The 50-minute flight between Kota Kinabalu and Lahad Datu saves her a significant amount of time compared to the eight-hour drive. She has relied on flights for emergencies, such as when her grandmother fell sick or when she needed specialized eye care in Kota Kinabalu. In her opinion, time is critical during emergencies. According to Michael Roman, a civil servant, 28, using air travel for work between Kota Kinabalu and eastern Sabah cities like Lahad Datu, Sandakan, and Tawau is beneficial. The air journey takes around 45 minutes to an hour, compared to a travel time of eight to ten hours by road. He has used the last flight from Lahad Datu to Kota Kinabalu when his brother was in critical condition in the hospital. He believes that the cost of the flight is not much different from the cost of traveling by road when considering fuel, food, and potential accommodation expenses. He supports the government's assistance to ensure flight accessibility but hopes both the federal and state governments will accelerate road improvements to provide more transportation options for residents. In Sarawak, civil servant Nuruddin Sabali, 32, uses AirBorneo for work, including trips from Kuching to Mukah, Miri-Limbang, and Lawas. He believes that the RAS subsidy should be maintained because the inland flight not only facilitates movement to the capital city but is also important for bringing supplies and obtaining healthcare. \"Eliminating the subsidy would increase costs for residents outside the city,\" he said. Nuruddin noted that infrastructure in Sabah and Sarawak differs from the mainland, making flights essential for some communities. While acknowledging the importance of the inland flight, he stated that the value of the flight cannot be measured solely by profit, as it provides essential access to the community. He added that the need for the subsidy could decrease if the road network and ground transportation options improved. However, until residents face access constraints, he believes the government has a role to play in ensuring the essential service remains available. \"In a situation where residents face access constraints, the government's role is to help through the subsidy. This is not about whether the investment is profitable or not, but for the welfare of the people,\" he concluded.",
  "summary": "Subsidi RM209 juta menyokong penerbangan pedalaman supaya penduduk terus mendapat akses kepada rawatan, pendidikan dan urusan harian, walaupun pengendalinya bertukar pemilik.",
  "key_points": [
    "Sarawak controls AirBorneo, renamed from MASwings.",
    "Federal government provides RM209 million subsidy for inland flight.",
    "Subsidy ensures access to air transportation in remote areas."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}