The Borneo Post reported that Kuamut assemblyman Masiung Banah of Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah would be tabling the motion.

Masiung said the state government should emulate Sarawak’s move to establish its own airline.

He said the time has come for Sabah to have its own aviation industry as a long-term investment.

“There is a need to create Sabah’s aviation industry for the benefit of the people in the state as well as to contribute to domestic development,” he was quoted as saying.

Masiung claimed that East Malaysians were “always bullied” by the national airlines which hiked up the airfares by about 500% during the festive seasons.

Sarawak had proposed to have its own airline two years ago.

The plan is initially for a state-owned domestic airline to provide direct flights from Sarawak to Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia and Hong Kong.

Sarawak premier Abang Johari Openg said a new airline would help stabilise airfares. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has agreed in principle to the proposal.