Direct flights from S’pore to Tawau and Sandakan
By RUBEN SARIO (The Star Online)
KOTA KINABALU: Budget air carrier AirAsia and other airlines can begin operating direct flights between Singapore and the east coast Sabah towns of Sandakan and Tawau from June, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat said.
He said the development came following the successful conclusion landing rights talks between Malaysian and Singapore officials at the island republic on Tuesday.
The direct flights from Singapore is certain to boost the economy of these two towns, particularly the tourism sector, he said after a three-hour dialogue with Sabah Chinese community leaders at the Kian Kok Middle School here Friday.
Ong said the new air links was not only aimed at attracting more Singaporean visitors to Sabah but also foreign travellers on transit at the island republic.
He said it would be up to the respective airlines to determine the frequency of the flights they intend to mount between Singapore and the two towns known as the gateways to Sabah’s wildlife and diving havens.
Late last year, Ong had announced direct flights between Singapore and Kota Kinabalu, Miri and Kuching which have since been operated by AirAsia.
On the dialogue, Ong said various issues under the purview of the federal and Sabah governments were raised at the meeting including those involving education, social issues as well as matters affecting his ministry.
He said the Sabah Chinese community leaders also handed a memorandum containing wide-ranging concerns and issues to him at the meeting.
“We will study the memorandum and will seek the assistance of the relevant ministry to respond to the points raised there,” he said.
On the unpopular cabotage policy barring foreign shipping lines from operating domestic routes in the country, Ong said his ministry was prepared to submit a Cabinet paper on the matter.
He said the business community from Sandakan and Tawau had also highlighted to him their concerns over a move to make the Sepanggar port near here as a shipping hub where containers from the peninsula would be barged to the east coast towns.
This matter is within the absolute jurisdiction of the Sabah government but we view it with concern, Ong said.
He said the development came following the successful conclusion landing rights talks between Malaysian and Singapore officials at the island republic on Tuesday.
The direct flights from Singapore is certain to boost the economy of these two towns, particularly the tourism sector, he said after a three-hour dialogue with Sabah Chinese community leaders at the Kian Kok Middle School here Friday.
Ong said the new air links was not only aimed at attracting more Singaporean visitors to Sabah but also foreign travellers on transit at the island republic.
He said it would be up to the respective airlines to determine the frequency of the flights they intend to mount between Singapore and the two towns known as the gateways to Sabah’s wildlife and diving havens.
Late last year, Ong had announced direct flights between Singapore and Kota Kinabalu, Miri and Kuching which have since been operated by AirAsia.
On the dialogue, Ong said various issues under the purview of the federal and Sabah governments were raised at the meeting including those involving education, social issues as well as matters affecting his ministry.
He said the Sabah Chinese community leaders also handed a memorandum containing wide-ranging concerns and issues to him at the meeting.
“We will study the memorandum and will seek the assistance of the relevant ministry to respond to the points raised there,” he said.
On the unpopular cabotage policy barring foreign shipping lines from operating domestic routes in the country, Ong said his ministry was prepared to submit a Cabinet paper on the matter.
He said the business community from Sandakan and Tawau had also highlighted to him their concerns over a move to make the Sepanggar port near here as a shipping hub where containers from the peninsula would be barged to the east coast towns.
This matter is within the absolute jurisdiction of the Sabah government but we view it with concern, Ong said.
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