PKR MP demands govt intervention over flight tickets to Sarawak

 

Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Abdul Karim demanded Transport Minister Wee Ka Siong to take action against airline operators who are allegedly taking advantage of voters in the upcoming Sarawak state election by raising ticket prices.

Hassan said a sharp spike in flight ticket prices could prevent Sarawakians in Peninsular Malaysia, including many factory workers in his constituency, from returning to cast their ballots on Dec 18.

"I want an answer from the transport minister as to how it could happen today that a flight ticket from Kuala Lumpur to Miri, Sarawak, is more expensive than a ticket from Kuala Lumpur to Dubai?

"Is this unfair phenomenon purposely created so out-of-state voters cannot return to vote in Sarawak?" asked Hassan.

He also pointed out the move by airline operators to increase prices in time for the election could go against provisions of the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011.

"This would mean only the wealthy can afford to go back and vote in the Sarawak state election next month," he added.

Meanwhile, a coalition of civil society organisations under the CSO Platform for Reform (Sarawak chapter) said a similar increase in price was also detected in flights from Sabah to Sarawak.

Additionally, they said the Election Commission (EC), despite promising reforms since 2019, has not made any provisions for Sarawakians residing out of state in other parts of West Malaysia or Sabah to vote as absentee voters despite numerous calls by civil society and political parties.

"Before this, there are already issues on flight delays, retiming, and cancellation that have inconvenienced passengers who have purchased tickets for personal or business matters.

"It incurs a loss of time and money, especially for Sarawakians who might be facing financial difficulties," said the groups.

Malaysia Airlines in a statement today said it has received approval from the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) to operate additional flights to Sarawak, for the period of Dec 11 to Jan 5.

The airline said for the Kuala Lumpur-Kuching route, the frequency of flights will be increased from 21 to 35 weekly.

For the KL-Bintulu, KL-Miri route, and KL-Sibu routes, the weekly flight frequencies will be increased from seven to 14.

'Remove restriction on election monitors'

Meanwhile, the groups also called on the EC to remove a requirement that "only individuals residing in Sarawak" are eligible to apply as election observers for the state polls.

"This is unprecedented and undemocratic to limit the election observers to only individuals with Sarawak residential addresses to apply as ‘Pemerhati Pilihanraya’ under the EC," they said.

"We call on the EC to immediately allow observers from Sabah and Peninsular Malaysia to apply and participate actively in the election monitoring, in accordance with Covid-19 safety measures, to ensure an election that is clean, free, and fair.

"The right to vote is a constitutional and basic right of every citizen, and this time around, it feels as though our rights are being undermined," they stressed. - Mkini