Sarawak agrees in principle to take over MASwings

Sarawak premier Abang Johari Openg said the state government still had to do its due diligence before entering into a formal agreement to take over MASwings. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: Sarawak has agreed in principle to the federal government’s proposal for the state to take over rural carrier MASwings, as a Sarawak-based boutique airline, premier Abang Johari Openg said.

According to Abang Johari, Sarawak was in negotiations with its federal counterpart, The Borneo Post reported.

“There is a proposal from the federal government for us (Sarawak state government) to take over MASwings,” he said, adding that there was an agreement in principle but the state government still had to do its due diligence.

Abang Johari Openg.

He added that Sarawak would look into the possibility of MASwings operating routes beyond Borneo, as the state wanted a boutique airline that also offered regional routes.

“The idea is for us to moderate the airfares, particularly within Malaysia.

“At the moment, MASwings cannot fly to KL. We want to fly to KL as well as Singapore, so there has to be international routes.

“Yet, in principle, the state government has agreed to take over MASwings,” he said.

MASwings, a Malaysia Airlines Bhd subsidiary, is a regional airline operating the rural air services in Sarawak and Sabah. It took over routes operated by FlyAsianXpress and RAS flights in 2007.

On April 17, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the federal government had agreed with the Sarawak state government’s request to establish its own airline to address the spiralling cost of flights between East and West Malaysia.

Last month, Abang Johari told the Sarawak state assembly that the upcoming boutique airline would not be focused on profit.- FMT