AirBorneo apologises for disruptions, vows to restore reliability

 The Sarawak-owned airline says its flight delays and cancellations were caused by delays in maintenance and technical work.

AirBorneo said affected guests had been contacted regarding rebooking arrangements, refunds, and other travel assistance, while meals, accommodation and ground transportation were provided where required.  (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:

AirBorneo has apologised to guests affected by recent flight delays and cancellations across Sarawak and Sabah, acknowledging the inconvenience and uncertainty experienced by travellers and their families over the past few days.

The Sarawak-owned airline said the disruptions were caused by several aircraft being unavailable simultaneously because of scheduled maintenance, and delays in the delivery schedule of key replacement components.

“Our focus now is on restoring reliable service while ensuring every aircraft in our fleet meets the highest standards of safety and airworthiness,” Bernama reported AirBorneo CEO Megat Ardian Wira Aminuddin as saying today.

Megat said AirBorneo has implemented additional measures to strengthen fleet resilience and support the gradual restoration of normal services.

The airline said affected guests had been contacted regarding rebooking arrangements, refunds and other travel assistance, while meals, accommodation and ground transportation were provided where required.

This comes after AirBorneo issued an advisory on Monday warning passengers of possible delays, cancellations and schedule changes as it continued to manage operational disruptions that began on June 5.

Give AirBorneo time to develop, says Sarawak minister

Sarawak tourism, creative industry and performing arts minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah defended the airline, saying it should be given time to develop instead of being subjected to repeated criticism.

Karim said it was unfair to single out AirBorneo when flight delays and cancellations were affecting multiple airlines across the board, Borneo Post reported.

He was responding to Federation of the Sri Aman and Betong Divisions Chinese Association president Ngu Piew Seng, who  described the Sarawak government’s acquisition of MASwings and its rebranding as AirBorneo as a “completely misguided and mistaken decision”.

Ngu had argued that instead of taking over MASwings, which he said was already burdened by longstanding operational issues and an ageing fleet, the state government should have established a  new airline and gradually built a modern fleet through aircraft purchases or leasing arrangements.

Karim asked: “Does (Ngu) expect AirBorneo to be like Singapore Airlines? We have only just started to build it up, and already people are attacking it left and right. How are we going to build it up if people keep criticising it like this?”

Separately, the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) said it was monitoring AirBorneo’s services, reminding the airline that while safety remained the highest priority, affected consumers must be treated fairly and in accordance with the Malaysian Aviation Consumer Protection Code 2016.

CAAM said consumers could submit complaints through the FlySmart website, via email, or by calling 1800-18-6966 within Malaysia or +603-7651 2777 from overseas. - FMT

PDRM FC, Kelantan TRW fined RM10,000 each for incomplete document submissions

 The two clubs were also found to have employee salary arrears and outstanding payments to government agencies.

Kelantan The Real Warriors (in blue) and PDRM FC in action during a Malaysian Football League match. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:

PDRM FC and Kelantan The Real Warriors (TRW FC) have each been fined RM10,000 for failing to submit complete documentation for the fifth in-season Financial Fair Play (FFP) assessment of the 2025-2026 Malaysian Football League (MFL) season.

MFL FFP First Instance Body chairman Sheikh Nasir Sheikh Sharif said the failure constituted a violation of Article 11 of the 2025-2026 Season FFP Regulations.

He said both clubs were also found to have employee salary arrears and outstanding payments to government agencies as of April.

“Both clubs have been given 14 days to submit the outstanding documents and provide proof of payment or a settlement plan for the arrears,” Bernama reported him as saying today.

Sheikh Nasir said Kuala Lumpur City FC also had employee salary arrears and outstanding payments to relevant government agencies.

He said the club would be subject to closer monitoring and had been given 14 days to submit proof of payment or a settlement plan for arrears accumulated up to April.

Six clubs – Johor Darul Ta’zim FC, Selangor FC, Penang FC, Kuching FC, DPMM FC and Immigration FC – were found to have fully met the MFL FFP requirements, with zero salary arrears or outstanding payments to government agencies.

While Sabah FC, Melaka FC, Negeri Sembilan FC and Terengganu FC do not have employee salary arrears, they still have outstanding payments to government agencies.

Sheikh Nasir said official reminders would be sent to these four clubs to ensure the arrears are settled within the stipulated timeframe.

He also explained that the club licensing and FFP regulatory frameworks differed in terms of their mechanisms, evaluation criteria, reporting periods and submission deadlines.

“Compliance with one framework does not automatically mean compliance with the other, and clubs must fulfil the requirements of both processes separately,” he said. - FMT

Suhakam urges cops to swiftly complete Taiping prison riot probe

 Commission welcomes minister's assurance the government is prepared to facilitate further investigations based on its inquiry findings and recommendations.

More than 100 inmates at Taiping prison were assaulted by about 60 wardens during a relocation exercise in January 2025, resulting in the death of one detainee. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA:

The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) has called on the police to wrap up their investigations into the Taiping prison riot thoroughly and without delay, taking into account the findings from its public inquiry.

Suhakam welcomed home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail’s assurance the government is prepared to facilitate further investigations based on its inquiry findings and recommendations.

In a statement, it said Saifuddin’s assurance that “what is wrong is wrong”, and that no wrongdoing would be protected, reflected an important commitment to accountability and the rule of law.

Suhakam said its public inquiry had uncovered serious human rights violations involving detainees, and raised concerns over the conduct of prison personnel, institutional accountability, and safeguards in places of detention.

“In this regard, Suhakam hopes that the police will complete their investigations thoroughly, independently and expeditiously, taking into account the findings and evidence presented during the public inquiry.

“Where sufficient evidence exists, appropriate criminal prosecution should be taken against all individuals found to have committed offences, regardless of rank or position,” it said.

Suhakam also welcomed the prisons department’s commitment to cooperate fully with the authorities and review the inquiry’s findings and recommendations.

It said it would convene an engagement session with relevant agencies to obtain updates and monitor follow-up actions arising from the inquiry.

More than 100 Taiping prison inmates were assaulted by about 60 wardens during a transfer exercise from Hall B to Block E on Jan 17 last year.

One detainee, Gan Chin Eng, died in the incident.

One warden has been charged with culpable homicide over Gan’s death, but Suhakam called for criminal charges to be filed against other wardens involved in the incident following its public inquiry. - FMT

Ling Ching saves 3 match points to enter last-16 in Australian Open

 The world No 34 Malaysian had to bring out her best before subduing her 69th-ranked Indian rival in three close games.

Wong Ling Ching overcame India’s Aakarshi Kashyap 21-19, 19-21, 22-20 in a 76-minute match that saw both players fighting point for point. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:

National singles shuttler Wong Ling Ching saved three match points when she opened her Australian Open campaign today, before defeating India’s Aakarshi Kashyap in three games to advance to the second round of the World Tour Super 500 tournament.

Ling Ching, ranked world No 34, had to dig deep into her reserves before overcoming Aakarshi, who is ranked world No 69, by a score of 21-19, 19-21, 22-20 in 76 minutes at the Quaycentre Arena in Sydney.

The decider saw both players fighting point for point before the Malaysian sealed her victory.

She will face Taiwan’s world No 31 Huang Yu-Hsun in the last 16 tomorrow.

Also through to the second round are two new Malaysian mixed doubles pairs – Hoo Pang Ron-Lai Pei Jing and Jimmy Wong-Cheng Su Yin – who both had fairly easy opponents in their opening ties.

Pang Ron-Pei Jing beat home pair Michael Owen-Gronya Somerville 21-17, 21-14 in 30 minutes, while Jimmy-Su Yin defeated another Australian pair, Andika Ramadiansyah-Nozomi Shimizu, 21-15, 21-16 in 37 minutes.

However, national singles shuttler Eogene Ewe was bundled out in the first round by Hong Kong’s Lee Cheuk Yiu 18-21, 21-10, 21-15 in 52 minutes. - FMT

Ministry launches VM2026 number plates

 Bidding will open from June 13 to 17 for the series, starting at RM300 for 'running' numbers, and RM20,000 for 'golden' ones.

The special ‘V-MY’ series of vehicle registration numbers will range from ‘V 1 MY’ to ‘V 9999 MY’. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:

The tourism, arts and culture ministry today launched a special series of vehicle registration numbers in conjunction with the Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) campaign.

The ministry said bidding for the special “V-MY” series, ranging from “V 1 MY” to “V 9999 MY”, will open through the road transport department’s JPJeBid system on June 13 and close at 10pm on June 17.

It said it launched the series in collaboration with JPJ and the transport ministry.

“This collaboration aims to encourage wider participation from government agencies, the private sector and the public in supporting the VM2026 campaign,” its minister, Tiong King Sing, said in a statement.

Bidding for “golden” numbers starts at RM20,000, “premium” numbers at RM5,000, “attractive” numbers at RM2,500, “popular” numbers at RM500 and “running” numbers at RM300. - FMT