KUCHING: The Sarawak government will officially take over MASwings Sdn Bhd (MASwings) on Feb 12 with the signing of a sale and purchase agreement (SPA).
Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the date would mark another milestone for Sarawak’s aviation sector and will further enhance connectivity.
“On Feb 12, we will be taking over MASwings and among the destinations we have identified is to introduce several direct international routes to major cities in Indonesia.
“This move will ease connectivity between the people of Sarawak and Indonesia, as well as other destinations, which will further boost Sarawak’s tourism industry to greater heights,” he said.
He said this in his speech at the Borneo Cross Border Cycling Tour 2025 dinner reception held at a hotel here, last night (Feb 8).
When met at the sidelines, Abdul Karim said the airline will undergo a name change once the takeover is completed.
“We will also determine the destinations we want to serve. Of course, the airline will maintain its existing routes between Sabah and Sarawak including to Peninsular Malaysia, before introducing new routes beyond Sarawak.
“There is a possibility that one day it will expand to become a major airline connecting cities within the Nusantara, East Kalimantan, Southeast Asia, and eventually to other major cities worldwide,” he said.
This initiative aligns with Sarawak’s long-term plan to establish its own airport. However, Abdul Karim emphasised that aviation sector development takes time and cannot be achieved overnight.
On Jan 13, Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg confirmed that negotiations with Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) had been finalised.
He announced that after the SPA signing in Kuching, the airline’s new name would be revealed.
Among the international destinations under consideration for the upcoming Sarawak-based airline are Germany, Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, and Bangkok.
