SARAWAK rights activist Peter John Jaban has urged the government to accelerate the rollout of AirBorneo, stressing that its mandate must prioritise the people of Sabah and Sarawak amid surging travel demand.
He commended Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg bold initiative, describing the airline as a vital act of economic autonomy and a strategic investment for Borneo’s future.
Despite air travel being a critical public utility for the region’s dispersed population, Jaban warned that East Malaysians currently face penalties due to fluctuating and excessive airfares.
He called for a “Borneo‑First” policy to ensure fair, stable, and affordable domestic connectivity before expanding internationally.
“Therefore, we call for the urgent acceleration of AirBorneo’s operational rollout, anchored by a ‘Borneo-First’ policy,” he said in a statement.
He added that the project is far more than a commercial aviation venture; it is a vital act of economic autonomy and a strategic investment in the long-term development of Sarawak and the wider Borneo region.
“However, as plans move toward operational reality, AirBorneo’s core mandate must remain crystal clear: the people of Sabah and Sarawak must come first.”
Highlighting Sarawak’s rapid economic growth in energy, industry, and digital sectors, he said AirBorneo must immediately fill the gap to secure accessibility, social justice, and family unity.
Public funds, he added, must translate into greater mobility and resilience for Sabahans and Sarawakians.
According to him, Sarawak’s rapid economic expansion in energy, heavy industries, digital infrastructure, and foreign investment has triggered unprecedented demand for air connectivity across Borneo.
The movement of professionals, business leaders, and families has reached a tipping point, underscoring the urgent need for reliable and accessible aviation services.
Yet East Malaysians are burdened by fluctuating, excessive airfares in a market that treats air travel purely as a profit centre, he claimed.
For a geographically dispersed population, air transport is not a luxury but a critical public utility, comparable to roads, bridges, and digital grids, he further added. — Focus Malaysia
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