KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom) should not allow any increase in passenger service charges until after the 14th General Election (14th GE).
Senator Datuk Abdullah Mat Yasim said this is to prevent angering the people as they will blame the government.
"Mavcom must take this seriously and not fool around when it comes to imposing and raising charges.
“With the general election looming, any increment in charges should be postponed,” he said when debating the Mavcom (Amendment) Bill 2017 in Dewan Negara today.
The Rantau Panjang Umno division head said Mavcom should make sure that its action will not burden the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
He said people tend to blame the prime minister and Barisan Nasional when prices of goods and services increase.
“Mavcom should help the prime minister by making sure that there won’t be an issue that can emerge during the election,” he added.
Senator Datuk Kadzim M. Yahya said Mavcom should do something about the sizeable rise in air ticket prices especially for domestic flights during the festive seasons.
“A one way air ticket from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu can shoot up to RM1,300 during festive season.
“This does not make sense at all,” said the Borneo Development Corporation (Sabah) Sdn Bhd chairman.
Meanwhile, Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Abd Aziz Kaprawi told the New Straits Times that Mavcom will engage with local airlines to iron out this issue.
He conceded that plane tickets to domestic destinations can be incredibly expensive.
“The price increase can be fivefold during peak season.
“Indeed, the government will have to intervene on the profiteering approach of airlines.
“The rakyat really feels the burden especially students travelling back to their hometown in East Malaysia,” he said.
The deputy minister said Mavcom will review and research the floor price and ceiling price for air tickets to domestic destinations.