Loke also reiterated that the initiative, which applies to several other festive seasons as well, was by the transport ministry with no specific funding from the Treasury.

“Of course, if I could do it, I would have it throughout the year, but it is a cost that the government has to bear. Even for the three days, it will cost us a few million ringgit.

“I understand the sentiment, but this is a limitation that we face, and in terms of financial resources, it won’t be enough to cover (the cost of subsidising the airfares for two weeks).”

The RM599 maximum fare for one-way economy class flights from the peninsula to Sabah, Sarawak, or Labuan only applies for travel on the three days before Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

The initiative was also carried out during Christmas and Chinese New Year, and will apply during Kaamatan and Gawai.

The Consumers Front of Sabah had called for the subsidised airfares for Aidilfitri to be extended to two weeks from the current three days, to allow more residents from East Malaysia to enjoy reasonable flight ticket prices when returning to their hometowns.

It claimed the current offer was unfair to those who cannot take leave during the Hari Raya holidays, as they have to work during the festival and return to their hometowns after the holidays are over.