KOTA KINABALU: Malaysia Airlines' decision to stop direct flights between Sandakan and Kuala Lumpur will not augur well for Sabah's tourism and will lead to a monopoly of the route.
Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister's Department Datuk Edward Khoo said the decision by MAS, through its subsidiary Firefly, to stop the direct flights would hamper the state government's efforts to promote the east coast district as a tourism spot and an educational hub.
“This will also put a damper on our efforts to attract investors to the palm oil industrial cluster in Sandakan,” said Khoo, who is Sabah MCA chairman.
Speaking to reporters before leaving for Kuala Lumpur yesterday, Khoo alleged that the move smacked of a monopoly. “MAS used to have daily return direct flights between Sandakan and Kuala Lumpur. When Firefly came in to service this route, MAS stopped. “Lately, Firefly has stopped its flights and we are now left with only AirAsia serving the route,” he said. “I still remember that when MAS and AirAsia had a share swap, it was announced that it would not create a monopoly for air travel.”
-thestar online.
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