I indeed will be “dungu” if I did not demand for transparency &, accountability especially when the government intents to venture into such a risky industry which will have big impact on economic security of all Sarawakians and long-term economic sustainability of Sarawak.
I have said it from the beginning, that I am supportive of what is good for Sarawak especially to find ways to improve connectivity and stabilise tickets prices into Sarawak, but have strong reservations that setting up a boutique airlines is the best way to achieve that as it may not be sustainable and economically feasible and will come at a huge economic cost to Sarawak.
So instead of being transparent and accountable with the cost of whole project, economic feasibility and sustainability study, and cost-effectiveness analysis among others, they have resorted to utter gutter politics by “name-calling” and avoiding the core issue in the first place.
I express my concern as this decision may cost a lot of public funds to set up, let alone find it tough to sustain the business model and maintaining the assets as Sarawak may not have the economy of scale to keep it sustainable.
Fact of the matter, the statement from the Minister of Tourism himself on top of other statements have confirmed that the initiative is only to “stabilise” flight prices during peak seasons and even went further to admit that they do not expect this company to be profitable. This is concerning as such industry is not merely some bus or even public transport company, but a whole airline in itself which will cost billions of public funds to set up, run, maintain and keep sustainable.
We do not want to see after a period of time, the Sarawak Government will have no choice but to use huge sum of our public funds to bail out the airlines to keep it afloat as it cannot remain sustainable.
No matter if the government had additional funds at current moment, it does not give the excuse to spend it irresponsibly at the expense of the economic future of the region.
Since the beginning I have suggested a better option at a much lower cost and risk, which is to find ways with existing private national and private airlines to improve connectivity, especially domestic routes within Sarawak by offering incentives and even subsidies especially during those peak seasons.
This will achieve what they want to without the need to take on a whole airline company which requires high investment, high cost and high expertise which may not be beneficial especially on the long term.
So instead of resorting to “name calling”, just deal with core issue and be accountable and reveal the cost of whole project, economic feasibility and sustainability study, and cost-effectiveness analysis and long-term plans of the whole project. Our public funds belong to all Sarawakians, and should not just be spent on the whims and fancies of certain people.