Sabah Air questioned over expansion plans

Both Sabah and the federal government have been urged to give Sabah Air contracts to service Petronas and Carigali.

KOTA KINABALU: State-owned Sabah Air Aviation Sdn Bhd is not ready to take over domestic and regional routes surendered by Malaysian Airlines, according to opposition DAP.

Cautioning the government, the party said the Sabah Air was simply not ready to fly passengers.

The warning came after Sabah Air offered itself as an alternative airline following the suspension of several flights in and out of the state from this month by MAS.

“Sabah DAP is not too sure how successful Sabah Air will be in achieving their grandiose plan knowing their track record is very poor.

“Sabah Air must first address all the issues raised by the Auditor-General Report 2010,” said DAP secretary Dr Edwin Bosi.

He cited that financial and administrative mess within the state-owned company, with many of its activities implemented without the approval of it board, as reason for the state-government not to help finance any such venture.

“The Board of Directors especially the chairman Yusoff Kasim is also not too sure of the original objective of Sabah Air.

“His statement that the objective of Sabah Air is predominantly in saving life is way out of the original objective which is to ready transportation for passengers, cargo and activities or services related to air transportation.

“This issue of saving life is basically charitable or mercy flights,” Bosi said.

Give Sabah Air contracts

However, he said that since Yussof had revealed the company’s plan of an alternative airline, they must prove themselves.

“We will keep them (Sabah Air) on our radar screen. Sabah Air can expect our full support in this respect and we wish them well,” he said.

Sabah Air has a long experience in providing helicopter and fix-winged plane services in Sabah and Sarawak but several of its core businesses and other subsidiaries are dormant.

Bosi reiterated that Sabah Air should be given the task of handling the ‘flying doctor’ service which it has excelled in for more than 20 years.

“We also want the state and federal government to give Sabah Air the contracts to service the Petronas and Carigali Oil and Gas.

“Failure of Sabah Air to get these contracts inevitably means that the company will soon close shop.

“The “Ali Baba” activity must cease. As far as Sabah DAP is concerned, these are the tasks that Sabah Air is superior at,” he said.

Bosi also questioned the composition of the current five-member Board of Directors and suggested that the government headhunt more qualified people from the various communities in the state.

“The concept of 1Malaysia must be implemented and not just a lip service,” he stressed.