Tiong says the proposal followed recent discussions with representatives from Royal Brunei Airlines and Flydubai during his official visit to the Middle East. – Photo via Facebook/Dato Seri Tiong King Sing
SIBU (May 2): The Federal Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture is hopeful that Royal Brunei Airlines will consider expanding its services to more Malaysian destinations such as Melaka, Johor Bahru and Bintulu.
Minister Dato Seri Tiong King Sing said the proposal followed recent discussions with representatives from Royal Brunei Airlines and Flydubai during his official visit to the Middle East.
“Engaging with airlines to explore new route opportunities was a key focus, unlocking pathways to increase visitor numbers and further strengthen Malaysia’s tourism potential,” he said in a Facebook post.
Tiong said he met with Royal Brunei Airlines regional manager Jalal Sanaur Rahman, who highlighted that the airline operates a fleet of 254 aircraft servicing both long- and short-haul routes, and has offered Brunei–Dubai–London services for over 30 years.
Jalal also spoke of the airline’s collaboration with Tourism Malaysia (TM), including the ‘Hello Kawan’ travel package featuring Kuala Lumpur, Kuching, and Kota Kinabalu as destinations, he said.
“He also highlighted the ease of visa access for Indian travellers to Brunei and the three weekly Chennai–Brunei direct flights, which are commonly used by tour groups heading to Kota Kinabalu,” he said.
Tiong said TM director Datuk Manoharan Periasamy had suggested capitalising on the strong connectivity between Kota Kinabalu and Kuching by creating stopover packages tailored to the Middle Eastern market — a strategy considered more appealing than promoting Brunei as a standalone destination.
“I expressed my commitment to facilitating smoother visa processes for Indian travellers and pledged support in working with Malaysia’s Ministry of Transport to expedite route approvals.
“We hope Royal Brunei Airlines will consider expanding services to additional Malaysian destinations such as Melaka, Johor Bahru, and Bintulu,” he said.
On his meeting with Flydubai, Tiong thanked the airline for its existing Dubai–Penang route and proposed Melaka as a new potential destination, citing its status as a Unesco World Heritage Site with strong cultural tourism appeal.
He said Flydubai had also raised concerns about limited passenger connectivity between Penang and Langkawi, suggesting code-sharing arrangements as a possible solution.
“I assured them I would follow up with the relevant agencies upon my return to determine the most suitable way forward,” Tiong said.
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