SIBU: The government must have control over air fares to ensure airlines do not dictate the prices, said Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
He said this is to ensure that the poor are not burdened.
“Airlines should not be allowed to dictate the ticket prices as they please according to the economic power of supply and demand.
He was commenting on Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Ab Aziz Kaprawi’s recent statement that the government was in the midst of drafting the ceiling price of airfares for domestic flights.
Ab Aziz had reportedly said the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom) was expected to complete the draft before the middle of this year when replying to a question from Oscar Ling Chai Yew (DAP-Sibu) on Mavcom’s role in controlling the airfares as well as the measures implemented by the government to address the high price of air tickets for domestic routes, particularly the Kuala Lumpur-Sibu route during festive seasons.
Abdul Karim, who is Asajaya assemblyman, said: “If this proposed ceiling price for domestic airline fares can become a reality, this is very much welcome.
“More so, it will definitely be good for the tourism industry. There has been lots of complaints from the public whereby domestic plane ticket (prices) have shot sky high every time there is a long religious festival like Hari Raya, Chinese New Year, Christmas, Gawai Dayak or when there is school term break.”
Meanwhile, Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian had recently said that he would discuss a proposal for airfare price controls during Chinese New Year with the related ministries. -TheBorneoPost
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