2027 SEA GAMES: SARAWAK PROPOSES AIRBORNEO AS AN OFFICIAL AIRLINE PARTNER

KUCHING, Jan 19 (Bernama) -- Sarawak has proposed AirBorneo be appointed as one of the official airline partners for the 2027 SEA Games, which will be co-hosted by the state.

Sarawak Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the proposal was personally conveyed during discussions with the Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS) last year, as Sarawak will also host the opening ceremony.

“The meeting was with Hannah Yeoh (the Youth and Sports Minister at the time), I have personally requested two things. One is AirBorneo to be considered as one of the official airlines for the SEA Games and TVS as another official broadcaster, besides RTM,” he said.

Abdul Karim, who is also the State Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister, said this at a media conference after receiving a courtesy call from the top management of AirBorneo led by its chief executive officer Megat Ardian Wira Mohd Aminuddin, here today.

By becoming an official airline partner, AirBorneo would be able to support regional connectivity for participating countries in Southeast Asia, either through scheduled or chartered flights, depending on the airline’s fleet readiness at the time, he said.

He also expressed hope that AirBorneo would already have jet aircraft in operation by September 2027, enabling it to operate charter services to the 10 Southeast Asian countries participating in the SEA Games.

Abdul Karim added that Sarawak had demonstrated strong commitment to hosting the SEA Games, with the state government allocating RM350 million, or half of the RM700 million hosting cost, as part of a guarantee presented to the federal government.

-- BERNAMA