KUCHING: AirBorneo should consider offering special fares and benefits for Sarawakians through a secure identity verification system integrated with SarawakPass, says SUPP Kuching Branch’s Acting Secretary and Youth Chief, Nicholas Wung Duk Ying.
He said while the state-owned airline would serve domestic, international and regional passengers, it should also provide tangible benefits to Sarawakians as Sarawak’s own airline brand.
According to Wung, Sarawak’s vast geographical landscape makes air travel a necessity for many residents, particularly for education, employment, medical treatment, family visits and daily mobility.
He noted that many Sarawakians are studying, working or living outside the state, including in Peninsular Malaysia and overseas.
“For Sarawakians away from home, especially students, every trip back can be costly.
“AirBorneo is not merely a commercial aviation project. It also carries the expectation of improving regional connectivity, reducing travel costs and serving the people,” he said in a statement today.
Wung pointed out that the Sarawak Government already provides assistance through the i-GPS student flight subsidy scheme, which offers eligible Sarawakian students studying outside the state RM300 per application, up to twice a year, or a maximum of RM600 annually.
He proposed that AirBorneo integrate its ticketing platform with SarawakPass and the relevant subsidy system, enabling eligible students to receive their flight subsidy as a direct deduction when purchasing tickets instead of applying for reimbursement later.
“If the subsidy can be deducted directly at the point of booking, it will ease immediate cash-flow pressure for students and allow government assistance to reach recipients faster and more effectively,” he said.
Wung added that if AirBorneo introduces special fares, student discounts, resident benefits or membership privileges for Sarawakians, a reliable verification mechanism would be necessary to prevent abuse.
He said SarawakPass could verify users’ eligibility, minimise impersonation and repeated claims, and provide a smoother booking experience for qualified passengers.
“SarawakPass should not be viewed as an exclusive platform limited only to Sarawakians, but as a digital verification tool that supports an open ticketing system while enabling specific benefits for eligible groups.
“The value of digitalisation is not in form, but in solving real problems faced by the people,” he said.
Wung expressed hope that the relevant authorities would study the feasibility of introducing Sarawakian benefits, direct student subsidy deductions, and SarawakPass-based verification when developing AirBorneo’s online platform and future fare policies.
He also commended the Sarawak Government and the AirBorneo team for turning the vision of a Sarawak-owned airline into reality, expressing confidence that the airline would grow into a trusted carrier and a symbol of Sarawak’s progress and aspirations.
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