KOTA KINABALU: The State Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment wants the Federal Ministry of Transport (MOT) and AirAsia to seek a win-win situation in resolving differences over the matter of the budget airline’s relocation to the new Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) terminal.
Its minister, Datuk Masidi Manjun said the issue should be regarded from the viewpoint of national interest rather than cost and profit.
“I hope the Ministry of Transport and AirAsia will sit down and seek a win-win situation. AirAsia has some good points but they also need to look at the points raised by the government,” he told reporters during a press conference at the Canadian Education Fair here yesterday.
“I think finally we need to look at the national interest other than just profit and other considerations. AirAsia, being a low-cost airline wants to be efficient and cut costs but they must also consider that the government spent millions to build the new terminal in Kota Kinabalu,” he added.
He also regretted that his ministry and the Sabah Tourism Board were implicated in the issue by AirAsia Group chief executive officer Dato Sri Tony Fernandez.
As a minister of tourism, Masidi said he definitely wanted more tourists coming into the state but his ministry had no jurisdiction over any of the airports.
“If the issue is cost, I’m sure the government would be more than happy to listen but for us, in Sabah, especially my ministry, I don’t think we should even be quoted as having any interest because we don’t own or run any of the airports,” he said.
Sabah Tourism Board chairman Dato Seri Tengku Zainal Adlin also responded that the issue was between the Ministry of Transport, Malaysia Airport Berhad (MAB) and AirAsia.
Its minister, Datuk Masidi Manjun said the issue should be regarded from the viewpoint of national interest rather than cost and profit.
“I hope the Ministry of Transport and AirAsia will sit down and seek a win-win situation. AirAsia has some good points but they also need to look at the points raised by the government,” he told reporters during a press conference at the Canadian Education Fair here yesterday.
“I think finally we need to look at the national interest other than just profit and other considerations. AirAsia, being a low-cost airline wants to be efficient and cut costs but they must also consider that the government spent millions to build the new terminal in Kota Kinabalu,” he added.
He also regretted that his ministry and the Sabah Tourism Board were implicated in the issue by AirAsia Group chief executive officer Dato Sri Tony Fernandez.
As a minister of tourism, Masidi said he definitely wanted more tourists coming into the state but his ministry had no jurisdiction over any of the airports.
“If the issue is cost, I’m sure the government would be more than happy to listen but for us, in Sabah, especially my ministry, I don’t think we should even be quoted as having any interest because we don’t own or run any of the airports,” he said.
Sabah Tourism Board chairman Dato Seri Tengku Zainal Adlin also responded that the issue was between the Ministry of Transport, Malaysia Airport Berhad (MAB) and AirAsia.
Continue reading at: AirAsia and Ministry urged to resolve differences
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