Malaysians travelling between Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia during festive seasons would face airfares of up to RM1,000 each way if not for the government’s subsidy programme, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook.
Speaking in the Dewan Rakyat today, Loke said the subsidy scheme — which caps one-way fares at RM499 — has greatly eased the financial burden on those flying home to Sabah and Sarawak for major celebrations such as Chinese New Year, Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Gawai, Kaamatan and Christmas.
“Without the subsidy, a one-way ticket from Kuala Lumpur to Tawau, Sandakan or Kota Kinabalu could easily cost around RM1,000, depending on demand, booking time and seat availability,” he said.
Before the programme’s rollout in 2024, the average fare for Kuala Lumpur–Sandakan flights during Chinese New Year 2023 reached RM907.
Loke noted that the Transport Ministry spent RM11 million last year to subsidise nearly 27,000 tickets priced above the previous RM599 limit. The allocation rose to RM19.5 million in 2025 following the lower fare ceiling and additional flights.
He added that the ministry is in discussions with airlines to ensure transparency by displaying the amount of subsidy applied to each ticket, allowing passengers to see how the government’s assistance helps reduce their travel costs.
