I AM a Public Services Department (JPA) scholar studying in Poland. I am concerned over the overpriced flight tickets I and a few other friends received for our trip home.
As government scholars, we are entitled to return tickets, first to our destination of study, and, as soon-to-be graduates, we recently claimed our final flight home. We were shocked to find that the one-way journey cost upwards of RM15, 000 for a regular economy class ticket, no less.
Being no strangers to buying international flight tickets, especially tickets back to Malaysia, we are sure that this is overpriced and unjustifiable. If bought personally (not via JPA), a return flight via the same route and airline would only cost around RM4,000.
Sadly, this issue is old news. Time and time again, JPA scholars were given tickets at more than three times the price of virtually all other travel agents and airline websites.
Many have inquired with JPA and prompted an explanation every year, and apart from the impersonal reply that they will investigate the matter, JPA has remained mum.
In the end, most of us simply opt to buy our own tickets, seeing as we can save so much of the people’s money this way. But, not everyone can spare the expense at the end of the year.
I find this an appalling waste of taxpayers’ money. People sometimes forget that we scholars have parents who are taxpayers, too, and it is only right for us to receive an explanation on how that money is spent.
Even a simple enquiry is sometimes seen as a “complaint” and we are so easily labeled ungrateful.
I refuse to believe that JPA is unaware of cheaper alternatives to these tickets.
Why is something as simple as airplane tickets not transparent?
Why aren’t our suggestions
and concerns adequately addressed?
Hopefully, this nonsense will cease finally and immediately.
A.M., Kemaman, Terengganu