FORMER transport minister Wee Ka Siong today expressed disappointment over the government’s failure to keep air ticket prices low for people travelling home for the Hari Raya holidays.

He said he was let down by the Transport Ministry’s claim that it had no control over airfares and that prices are determined by a dynamic mechanism.

“This is something shocking and disappointing to the people, especially those who are public transport users,” Wee said in a Facebook post today.

Wee said an one-way economy ticket from Kuala Lumpur to Tawau costs RM3,138 during the Hari Raya period.

It is unclear which airline was charging such a high fare. Checks at the websites showed the cheapest one-way, economy AirAsia ticket from Kuala Lumpur to Tawau was priced around RM650 during the festive period. A Malaysia Airlines ticket for the same flight route cost RM1,000-RM2,000, depending on the date of departure.

Wee questioned how poor and middle-class earners are able to go home for Hari Raya when flight tickets are so expensive.

“How are the B40 and M40 community, especially those from East Malaysia who are on the peninsula, going to celebrate the festive season this year?

“Airlines have no excuses not to increase flight frequency as long as there is capacity and passenger load is no longer capped at 50% like it was during the pandemic, which justified the high airfare.

“Currently, there are no more restrictions due to the pandemic or maintenance, repair or operations but the airfare for Kuala Lumpur to Tawau and vice versa costs as much as RM3,138 per person,” he said.

Wee urged flights operators to reconsider the high airfares.

“Please do not give the impression that the airlines are out to recover losses suffered during the pandemic within a short period of time by exploiting the current situation and imposing higher airfares.”

Wee when he was the transport minister had said that the government would not interfere in the fixing of domestic airfares. – April 16, 2023.