Give AirBorneo more time to develop in stages before opening more flight routes, says tourism minister

MIRI. July 7 2026: Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzan said AirBorneo airline needs to be given more time to develop in stages before opening more flight routes.

Caption: Minister Abdul Karim  Rahman Hamzah (third from right) appeals to the travelling public to give time to AirBorneo as it was only launched in January this year

He said  AirBorneo is still in the early stages of operations and needs time to build capacity, including in terms of the number of aircraft and flight network.

“AirBorneo was only launched in January and there are not many aircraft yet. We cannot expect it to continue to be like Singapore Airlines or Malaysia Airlines. Be patient.

"AirBorneo will develop in stages as stated by  the premier (Abang Johari Openg). It is not appropriate to compare with international airlines such as Emirates or Singapore Airlines," he said when met by the media after opening the International Conference on Responsible Tourism and Hospitality in Miri on Tuesday.

He was responding on whether Air Borneo would open routes from other parts of Sarawak to Kuala Lumpur.

In a statement on its Facebook page, AirBorneo announced that the inaugural flight on the Kuching-Kuala Lumpur route is expected to begin on July 20, before being followed by the opening of the Kuching-Singapore route on July 27.

The statement also said AirBorneo is offering promotional fares as low as RM375 one-way for the Kuching-Kuala Lumpur route through the Sarawakku Sayang Fare campaign, thus providing more affordable air travel options for passengers.

 Karim also described the RM375 fare for the inaugural Kuching-Kuala Lumpur route as one of the cheapest airfares for the route.

He said that the development of an airline requires careful planning, especially in terms of obtaining or leasing aircraft, which is not an easy and time-consuming process.

According to him, AirBorneo will focus in stages, starting with strengthening the flight network within Sarawak before expanding routes to other destinations such as Brunei and Singapore.

“Give it two or three years. Now AirBorneo has just acquired jet aircraft and they have a business plan to expand in stages,” he said.

Elaborating further, he said the rate showed AirBorneo’s efforts to offer more competitive air travel options to consumers.

He said fare setting needs to take into account various factors including fuel costs, passenger demand and operational capabilities to ensure the airline can be operated sustainably.

He added that as an island state, Sarawak needs a strong air transport system and having its own airline can reduce its complete dependence on external parties.

He explained that AirBorneo’s success needs to be assessed after a certain period when the company has more aircraft and a wider flight network.

Works Minister attending tender briefing on the overall implementation of Sarawak Cancer Centre

KUCHING, July 7 2026: Works Minister Alexander Nanta Linggi today attended a tender briefing to have a clearer picture on the scope requirements, site conditions and overall implementation pf he Sarawak Cancer Centre.

Caption: Works Minister Alexander Nanta Linggi says that existence of the Sarawak Cancer Centre will bring great meaning - especially to patients and families who need access to closer, integrated and quality cancer treatment.

He also visited the  site in Samarahan to review the initial progress of the project.

The project is a collaborative initiative between the federal  and Sarawak government, involving the construction of a 310-bed health facility with outpatient, inpatient, diagnostic and treatment services, medical support and non-medical support.

“More importantly, this facility will provide comprehensive health services for cancer and oncology patients in Sarawak, including stem cell transplantation, cellular therapy, diagnosis, radiotherapy and chemotherapy in a more integrated manner at one location,” Nanta said in his Facebook post.

He added the project has certainly been long awaited by the people of Sarawak, saying that its implementation is not just about building a new health facility, but reflects the commitment of the federal government to strengthen the health service delivery system, improve the well-being of the people and ensure that access to quality treatment can be enjoyed more comprehensively.

He said the  Malaysian Public Works Department has been given a great trust and responsibility to realize this project.

“I am confident that with the expertise, experience and commitment of the department, this project can be implemented well according to the scope, quality, cost and period that has been set.

“I also express my appreciation to all parties involved in the planning phase until this project successfully entered the procurement stage, including the Ministry of Health,  Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Finance,  Sarawak government and related agencies.

“The close cooperation between the federal and Sarawak governments is proof that when we move together, great benefits can be translated to the people,” he said.

Nanta told all prospective tenderers and companies that the tender process can be carried out transparently, fairly and with integrity.

“The government is always committed to ensuring that each participation is assessed professionally based on the conditions, qualifications and criteria that have been set.

“I hope that the Sarawak Cancer Centre will in the future become another landmark in health services that brings great benefits to the people of Sarawak — not only for today, but also for future generations,” he said.

He added the existence of the Sarawak Cancer Centre will bring great meaning - especially to patients and families who need access to closer, integrated and quality cancer treatment.

More people choose social media platforms to air complaints, but better if they use their real names

SIMANGGANG, July 7 2026: The use of social media as a channel to submit complaints regarding public service issues and community problems is increasingly becoming the choice of residents in Sri Aman Division, thus reflecting the increasing awareness of the community on the rights and importance of more responsive government service delivery.

Caption: Participants of the Town Hallo session and officials from Sarawak Ombudsman Office 

Sri Aman Division Resident Mahra Salleh said the development is a positive sign because the community is now more proactive in providing feedback to government agencies, but the effectiveness of follow-up action depends largely on the willingness of the complainant to use their real identity.

“When they submit a problem on social media using their real name, it makes it easier for us to find and meet them to get an explanation before the solution can be implemented. On the other hand, the use of pseudonyms makes the process more difficult,” he said.

He said this when officiating the Sarawak Ombudsman Town Hall Session with Civil Servants and Communities in the Southern Zone organised by the Sarawak Ombudsman Office today.

Mahra added that Sri Aman Division is also among the areas that recorded a high number of complaints to the Sarawak Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) involving human rights issues, governance, and the quality of public service delivery.

According to him, the development shows that the community in the area is increasingly understanding their rights and daring to voice issues that require the attention of the authorities for the sake of improving government services.

He also encouraged the community to continue to use the correct and responsible channels in submitting complaints so that each issue can be investigated and resolved more effectively.

Meanwhile, the Town Hall session aims to increase understanding among civil servants and the community about the Sarawak Ombudsman Ordinance 2023, in addition to expanding knowledge about the functions and roles of the Sarawak Ombudsman in strengthening governance and improving the quality of public service delivery.

 

Also present were Lingga State Assemblyman and Sarawak Ombudsman Special Select Committee chairman Dayang Noorazah Awang Sohor and Sarawak Ombudsman Chiefi Abdul Ghafur Shariff.

Tabuan Jaya Health Clinic to receive its first patient on July 20

KUCHING, July 5 2026: After a long wait, Tabuan Jaya Health Clinic is expected to receive its first patient on July 20, after a delay of over two years.

Caption: Dr Sim Kui Hian says the state JKR is scheduled to hand over Tabuan Jaya Health Clinic to the Ministry of Health on July 9

Deputy Premier Dr Sim Kui Hian said the state Public Works Department (JKR) is scheduled to hand over the clinic to the Ministry of Health (MoH) on July 9.

“This $24 million Ministry of Health’s Type 2  is expected to serve between 800 and 1,000 patients per day,  serving not just Tabuan Jaya,  but Samarahan (up to Universiti Malaysia Sarawak) and Stutong areas,” Dr Sim, who is also the state Ministry of Public Health, Housing and Local Government, said in his Facebook post today.

He said the clinic will face immediate challenge as it has 136 car parks  considering that it can serve up to 1,000 patients per day.

He said the clinic was planned for construction under the rolling plan of the 10^th Malaysia Plan (10MP) (2010-2015).

“After three tenders, it was finally awarded to a successful contractor on Dec 2021.  It was supposed to be completed in June 2024.

“After extension of time (EoT) for additional Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) requirement, hence further delayed till now,” he added.

Tabuan Jaya Health Clinic, he said, is the second Type 2 clinic of MoH. After Petrajaya Health Clinic,” he said.

He added Tabuan Jaya Health Clinic will be staffed by 179 personnel, and he hoped that MoH will post enough personnel to optimise its facilities.

Dr Sim said Sarawak currently has 4,275 beds, and it needs additional 1,925 beds.

He said the state currently has 4,614 doctors, a shortage by 2,649 doctors.

Alex Nanta helps to comfort victims of road accident in Selangau

SELANGAU, July 6 2026: Works Minister Alexander Nanta Linggi and the ministry’s staff briefly stopped to provide comfort to the victims of road accident as they were on their way after completing a survey work this afternoon.

Caption: A staff of the Works Ministry helping to comfort a victim of the road accident while Alexander Nanta Linggi (standing, second from right) watches at the scene of the accident

“We came across a road accident on a nearby road,” he said in his Facebook post.

“My team and I immediately stopped to check on the condition of the victims and ensure that the necessary assistance could be provided immediately.

“In situations like this, the safety of the victim and other road users is a priority,” he explained.

While waiting for the medical team to arrive, Nanta said he and the ministry team helped calm the victims involved in the accident.

“This incident also serves as a reminder to all of us to always obey the rules and speed limits set and be careful when driving, especially on busy and risky roads,” he said.