PUTRAJAYA, 05 November 2025: Transport Minister Anthony Loke announced today that the government will continue its subsidy programme for airfares to Sabah and Sarawak during the upcoming Christmas holiday period. This critical intervention ensures that prices for flights back to East Malaysia remain capped, providing significant financial relief to travellers, especially students and those working away from home.
The government subsidy is specifically designed to combat the notorious surge in airfare prices during peak festive seasons. For the Christmas period, the subsidy ensures that tickets for eligible routes to Sabah and Sarawak will be capped at a maximum price of RM499, a sharp contrast to the surging market rates that sometimes reach nearly RM1,000 without the intervention. This measure is crucial for easing the travel burden on Malaysians returning to their hometowns.
FlySiswa Expansion Considered
In a related development, Minister Loke also revealed that the government is open to extending the FlySiswa voucher programme to include students enrolled in private universities. Currently, the scheme provides a subsidised flight voucher to students of public universities (IPTA) from the Peninsular to Sabah and Sarawak (and vice-versa).
The potential expansion of the FlySiswa initiative reflects a broader commitment to ensuring equitable access to affordable festive travel for all Malaysian students, regardless of whether they are studying at public or private institutions. The government views these subsidies as essential for maintaining social cohesion and allowing families to reunite during major holidays.
