Wong optimistic of future of RAS

MAS’ past experience in serving rural Sarawak should put Firefly in good stead, says Tourism Minister

KUCHING: Urban Development and Tourism Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh said Fly Asian Xpress (FAX) had “done its best” in the short time that it operated the rural air services (RAS).

“I suppose that in such a short period of time, they have done their best. They try to recruit enough personnel and train them within those eight months. It is not easy to provide the type of service we would like to see,” he said.

As such, Wong felt FAX was probably “relieved” to hand over the RAS in East Malaysia to Malaysia Airlines’ (MAS) Firefly so that it could concentrate on its aim to be the world’s first long haul low cost airline.

Wong thanked the Federal Cabinet for giving the nod on Wednesday for the new no-frills carrier, Firefly, to take over the RAS and he was confident that MAS’ past experience with the RAS would be useful.

In pointing out that the RAS provided the only access in some places in Sarawak, Wong said: “We depend solely on air transport to make all these places accessible and therefore, we need very efficient air services to make things happen.

“So I welcome the decision of the Federal Cabinet to reinstate the services previously provided by MAS and this time of course to Firefly.”

Speaking to reporters after opening the “Titian Seni Sabah Sarawak” art exhibition at Galleria here, he emphasised that the RAS was part of the social obligations that the government has to fulfill.

And it was for that reason, he said, that the government was willing to subsidise Firefly up to RM70 million a year for the RAS, which also showed that the Malaysian government was a caring government.

“Air services in the rural areas cannot be calculated based on dollar and cents. This is part of the social obligation of the government to provide efficient services for the people who live in the upland and rural areas,” he said.

He believed that MAS was familiar with all the RAS stops in Sarawak and that the company would do a good job particularly in interlining air services vital to the tourism industry.

Wong said without the interlining services, international tour operators and travel agencies could not offer packages to the very destinations that tourists would like to go to.

“So we need that complete interlining on the global distribution system so that they become easily accessible to the prospective tourists who would like to come to Sarawak,” he said.

To a question, he said he had not yet met Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy on the change over but he believed that Firefly would be expected to operate the RAS as soon as possible.

He said after the terms and conditions of the change over had been worked out it would have to be approved by the Federal Cabinet.

When asked if Sarawak hoped to be included in the discussions during the interim period, Wong said: “I hope Sarawak and Sabah will be involved.”

Sabah’s Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Karim Bujang, who was also at the press conference, agreed with Wong that FAX had tried its best and the Federal Cabinet had made the right decision to reinstate MAS through Firefly.

“We have been hearing too many complaints from the rakyat. We always look for better service for the people. So it’s nothing personal against FAX but we are hearing the request and grievances of the rakyat,” he said.

Written By:
Raynore Mering
The Borneo Post
28th April 2007