Subsidy for airline tickets is the government's commitment to reduce the cost of living for the people - Armizan
December 16, 2023
Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali (fourth, right) during the symbolic opening of the Platinum Jubilee celebration of St Joseph Papar National Secondary School today. - BERNAMA photoSubsidy for airline tickets is the government's commitment to reduce the cost of living for the people - Armizan
Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali (fourth, right) during the symbolic opening of the Platinum Jubilee celebration of St Joseph Papar National Secondary School today. - BERNAMA photo
DISPLAY: Subsidizing the purchase of economy class flight tickets above RM599 one way from the Peninsula to Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan for travel three days before the festival proves the government's high commitment to alleviate the cost of living issue life faced by the people.
Minister of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said this is the second flight ticket assistance implemented after Flysiswa, and that the initiative is part of the government's agenda to address the cost of living issue in the transport sector.
He said the agenda to deal with the issue of people's cost of living is coordinated through the National Cost of Living Action Council (NACCOL) managed by the NACCOL Secretariat in his ministry with strategies and approaches across various ministries and agencies.
"The agenda to deal with the cost of living is moved under several clusters such as housing, income and transport. Each cluster is made up of various ministries and agencies.
"The subsidization of airline tickets is the latest initiative of the transport cluster implemented by and through the allocation of the Ministry of Transport," he said at a press conference after officiating a meeting at St Joseph's National Secondary School here tonight.
Yesterday, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the initiative will start during this year's Christmas celebrations with purchases starting at 12.01 midnight tonight for travel three days before the festival which is Dec 22, 23 and 24.
Loke said the same policy will continue next year for the Chinese New Year, Aidilfitri, Kaamatan Festival, Hari Gawai and Christmas with ticket purchases opening at 12.01 midnight on 1 Jan 2024.
Armizan also said that the flight ticket assistance during the Christmas celebration is a pilot project for similar initiatives in other festivals to see the effectiveness, implementation procedures, costs and various factors involved in continuing the initiative after this.
"After this we look back at all those factors to enable this initiative to run smoothly and provide many benefits to our people.
"I hope the people do not miss the opportunity to take the help given by this government to return to Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan at the next festival," he said.
-- BERNAMA
