PARTI Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu Youth wants airlines to reduce airfares to Sarawak to help voters return home for the 12th state elections, as well as for the holiday season next month.

Its deputy chief Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman expressed hope that increased flight frequency to Sarawak as announced by the state government recently would also lead to a drop in air ticket prices.

“This would also ensure maximum voter turnout during the state elections and at the same time, facilitate the return of the voters to exercise their democratic right.

“We would like to advise all Sarawakians returning home as well as tourists coming into the state to continue to abide by the Covid standard operating procedure (SOP) set by the authorities,” he said in a statement today.

Checks by Bernama on several websites of airlines operating flights from the peninsula to Sarawak yesterday showed that the cheapest one-way ticket for the KL-Kuching route was RM1,299, KL-Sibu (RM888) and KL-Miri (RM665).

Nomination day is fixed on December 6 and polling on December 18. Early voting is on December 14.

Meanwhile, Fazzrudin said it is crucial to abide by the Covid-19 SOP as it will ensure the safety of all during this period of high traffic in and out of Sarawak, as well as limit the possibility of the virus spreading, more so on the back of a new variant emerging.

“While Covid-19 cases have dropped in Sarawak, this does not mean we can be complacent as a resurgence of cases will impact the livelihood of the people,” he said. – Bernama, November 27, 2021.