14/08/2026
Kota Kinabalu Assemblyman Loi Kok Liang Supports Calls to Review Airfare Mechanism and Ease the Burden on Sabahans Working and Studying Away from Home
Kota Kinabalu, 11 August — Kota Kinabalu Assemblyman Loi Kok Liang expressed his support for the concerns raised by Datuk Michael Lui Yen Sang, President of the Sabah Federation of Chinese Associations and President of the Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Sabah) / Kota Kinabalu Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, regarding the significant disparity in airfares between Kota Kinabalu and Kuala Lumpur. He urged the relevant authorities to seriously review the existing airfare mechanism.
Kota Kinabalu Assemblyman Loi Kok Liang said many Sabahans travel to Peninsular Malaysia for further education, while many young people also leave Sabah because of limited local employment opportunities, rising living costs and relatively low wages, in search of better jobs, income and career prospects. The latest official data also shows that Sabah's median wage for formal employees remains among the lowest in the country.
“These Sabahans studying and working away from home are not tourists. They want to return home to see their parents and reunite with their families, but they increasingly have to bear the heavy burden of airfares,” he said.
He said airlines have legitimate commercial considerations and use dynamic pricing, which is understandable. However, when fares on the same route can rise from several hundred ringgit to more than RM1,600 within just a few days, the authorities should listen to public concerns and take into account the difficulties faced by the people.
“I support Datuk Michael Lui Yen Sang’s call. The relevant authorities should seriously review flight frequency, seat availability and the existing airfare mechanism, and seek a more reasonable balance between airlines’ commercial operations and the affordability of travel for the people,” YB Liang stressed.
He pointed out that Sabah is separated from Peninsular Malaysia by the South China Sea, and Sabahans do not have the alternatives of travelling home by train, bus or private vehicle.
“For many Sabahans, flying is not a luxury. It is a necessary means of transportation to go home. We should not allow our children studying away from home, or our Sabahans working hard elsewhere, to have to think twice about returning home and reuniting with their families simply because of the cost of an air ticket,” he said.
黎國亮支持雷遠生呼吁促
檢討機票機制體恤沙遊子
亚庇11日讯
|亚庇亚庇区州议员黎国亮支持沙闽中总兼亚庇中华工商总会总会长拿督雷远生针对亚庇往返吉隆坡机票价格悬殊所提出的关注,并促请有关当局认真检讨现有票价机制。
亚庇亚庇区州议员黎国亮表示,沙巴有许多遊子远赴西马深造,也有不少年轻人因为本地就业选择相对有限、生活成本压力高及薪资水平偏低,选择离乡到西马寻找更好的工作、收入及发展机会。最新官方数据也显示,沙巴正式员工的薪资中位数仍处于全国较低水平。
「这些在外求学和打拼的 Sabah anak,不是遊客。他们想回家看看父母、 与家人团聚,却必须面对越来越沉重的机票负担。」
他说,航空公司有商业及动态定价考量可以理解,但当同一航线相隔数日, 票价可以从数百令吉上涨至超过 RM1,600,有关当局就应该听取民声、体恤民意。
「我支持拿督雷远生的呼吁。有关方面应该认真检视航班数量、座位供应以及现有票价机制,在航空公司的商业营运与人民负担之间取得更合理的平衡。」黎国亮强调,沙巴与西马隔着一片海,人民没有火车、巴士或驾车回家的选择。
「对很多沙巴人而言,飞机不是奢侈品, 而是回家的必要交通。不要让我们的孩子在外深造、我们的遊子在外打拼之后, 连回家与家人团聚,都要因一张机票而三思。」
