Batik Air launches first direct flights between KL and Timor-Leste
KUALA LUMPUR: Batik Air has launched a new direct air link between Kuala Lumpur and Dili, becoming the first Malaysian airline to operate scheduled commercial flights to Timor-Leste.
The airline said its entry into the emerging Timor-Leste market is a timely and forward-looking move that supports the growth of Malaysia's tourism sector by attracting new travellers from one of Asean's youngest nations.
Operated by a Boeing 737 aircraft, the direct flight between Dili and Kuala Lumpur takes approximately four hours and 15 minutes.
The twice-weekly service reflects Batik Air's commitment to enhancing regional connectivity through strategic market expansion.
With Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA T1) serving as a central hub, passengers from Dili now enjoy convenient onward connections to over 60 destinations across 20 countries, spanning Asia, the Middle East and Australia.
Chief executive officer Datuk Chandran Rama Muthy said the airline see enormous potential in this new route, not just in terms of passenger movement, but in the wider opportunity to invite Timorese travellers to discover Malaysia's diverse tourism offerings.
"As Timor-Leste expands its global outlook, we are honoured to offer a gateway to Malaysia and beyond, through KLIA's extensive connectivity and Batik Air's growing international network.
"Batik Air is proud to play a role in making Malaysia more accessible and attractive to new markets, while contributing to the region's tourism revival and long-term development," he said in a statement.
Tourism Malaysia director general Datuk Manoharan Periasamy said the launch of this direct route between Kuala Lumpur and Dili is a timely and strategic effort in strengthening bilateral tourism cooperation.
"With Malaysia having welcomed 38 million international visitor arrivals in 2024, we are optimistic that this new connectivity will further enhance visitor numbers and contribute positively to the success of our Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign.
"Malaysia's diverse tourism offerings, ranging from world-renowned gastronomy and rich cultural heritage to premium shopping experiences, make it an ideal destination for Timorese travellers seeking quality leisure and business experiences," he said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Rakyat Post
an hour ago
- Rakyat Post
Taiwanese Woman Complains Malaysian Food Is ‘Not Fit For Human Consumption'
Subscribe to our FREE What started as a simple vacation complaint turned into an international incident that taught everyone a lesson about watching what you post online. A Taiwanese couple decided to explore Malaysia in late May, spending their time like typical tourists. They snapped photos at Kuala Lumpur's famous twin towers, walked around historical sites, and tried the local food scene. Everything seemed normal until their last day. Picture this: You're at the airport, tired from travelling, maybe a bit homesick. The woman decided to vent her frustrations on social media. But instead of saying 'I miss home cooking,' she wrote something much worse: calling Malaysian food unfit for people to eat. I want to go back to Taiwan to eat 'human' food. The controversial social media post that sparked international outrage: The Taiwanese tourist's airplane selfie accompanied by her declaration that she would 'never return to Malaysia' and wanted to go back to Taiwan to eat 'human' food, implying Malaysian cuisine was unfit for human consumption. (Pix: Oriental Daily) Digging the Hole Deeper As if that wasn't bad enough, she kept complaining to friends online: 'Malaysian food is terrible, everything's just mixed together' 'Everything's way too salty' 'I'd rather eat instant noodles three times a day' Even complained about visiting historical monuments, saying, 'Why am I looking at other people's monuments? I don't even know who these people are!' Here's where things got interesting. Malaysians saw these posts and were not having it. The comments spread like wildfire across Malaysian social media. People were sharing screenshots, expressing their anger, and defending their beloved local cuisine. Damage Control Mode Realising she'd stepped into a hornet's nest, the woman quickly backtracked. She deleted the offensive 'human food' comment and attempted to soften her message to 'Food not suiting your taste is really painful,' even adding #ILoveTaiwan to show her affection. This whole mess reminds us of a simple truth: when you're visiting someone else's home (or country), it's probably best not to insult their cooking, especially not on the internet where everyone can see it. Different places have different tastes, and that's perfectly okay. A little respect goes a long way, whether you're travelling across town or the world. The timing made it even more awkward – many people have been praising Malaysia as one of the best places for Taiwanese to migrate to, citing its friendly culture, affordable living costs, and diverse food scene that many Taiwanese actually love. READ MORE : Parts of this story have been sourced from Share your thoughts with us via TRP's . Get more stories like this to your inbox by signing up for our newsletter.
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
Govt committed to increase women-owned companies
KUALA LUMPUR: The percentage of women-owned companies in Malaysia are still low compared to other ASEAN countries, at about 20 per cent or 210,000 companies out of all enterprises in the country. Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz said the government through the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) would strive to increase the percentage through various new programmes and policies. 'In helping women access overseas markets more effectively, the government is committed to providing trade facilities such as MADANI Digital Trade, Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS) and also trade missions to various countries,' he said during the opening ceremony of the Women in Export (WiEX) Forum 2025 today. Tengku Zafrul said the initiative implemented was open to women entrepreneurs who wanted to explore international markets, including emerging markets such as West Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe, which have high demand for Malaysian products. 'MATRADE also constantly monitors the participation of female entrepreneurs in international exhibitions and overseas trade missions so that women can become competitive exporters on the international stage,' he said. Meanwhile, MATRADE chairman Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican said the participation of Asian women in the economy, comprising only 30 to 35 per cent, shows that there are still untapped economic opportunities. 'Therefore, to assist women-owned companies in the export market, MATRADE has allocated 40 per cent of the RM14.89 million in export grants to 6,711 women-owned companies,' he said at the event. Regarding the organisation of WiEX, he said the forum was important as a meeting place to empower women in the export ecosystem and, by 2026, the forum would be known as the Women International Exporters Expo. 'The WiEX Forum has become the perfect platform to celebrate and recognise women entrepreneurs who want to make a name for themselves in the international arena. All the knowledge, inspiration and strategies shared today are valuable gifts that can guide their respective journeys,' he said. Therefore, Reezal Merican said MATRADE has launched an e-directory that serves as a bridge connecting products and services provided by women-owned companies. 'This platform will showcase to the world the great products and services produced by Malaysian women. It will facilitate business collaboration, build international networks and, most importantly, provide direct access to global markets. 'This initiative is in line with the National Women's Policy 2025-2030 and sustainable development goals, demonstrating the government's unwavering commitment to empowering women in the trade sector,' he added. Also present were Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, chairman of the Umno Malaysia Women's and Family Affairs Council (HAWA) Tan Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil and MATRADE chief executive officer Datuk Mohd Mustafa Abdul Aziz.
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
Malaysia boosts women-owned firms in exports
KUALA LUMPUR: The percentage of women-owned companies in Malaysia are still low compared to other ASEAN countries, at about 20 per cent or 210,000 companies out of all enterprises in the country. Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz said the government through the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) would strive to increase the percentage through various new programmes and policies. 'In helping women access overseas markets more effectively, the government is committed to providing trade facilities such as MADANI Digital Trade, Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS) and also trade missions to various countries,' he said during the opening ceremony of the Women in Export (WiEX) Forum 2025 today. Tengku Zafrul said the initiative implemented was open to women entrepreneurs who wanted to explore international markets, including emerging markets such as West Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe, which have high demand for Malaysian products. 'MATRADE also constantly monitors the participation of female entrepreneurs in international exhibitions and overseas trade missions so that women can become competitive exporters on the international stage,' he said. Meanwhile, MATRADE chairman Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican said the participation of Asian women in the economy, comprising only 30 to 35 per cent, shows that there are still untapped economic opportunities. 'Therefore, to assist women-owned companies in the export market, MATRADE has allocated 40 per cent of the RM14.89 million in export grants to 6,711 women-owned companies,' he said at the event. Regarding the organisation of WiEX, he said the forum was important as a meeting place to empower women in the export ecosystem and, by 2026, the forum would be known as the Women International Exporters Expo. 'The WiEX Forum has become the perfect platform to celebrate and recognise women entrepreneurs who want to make a name for themselves in the international arena. All the knowledge, inspiration and strategies shared today are valuable gifts that can guide their respective journeys,' he said. Therefore, Reezal Merican said MATRADE has launched an e-directory that serves as a bridge connecting products and services provided by women-owned companies. 'This platform will showcase to the world the great products and services produced by Malaysian women. It will facilitate business collaboration, build international networks and, most importantly, provide direct access to global markets. 'This initiative is in line with the National Women's Policy 2025-2030 and sustainable development goals, demonstrating the government's unwavering commitment to empowering women in the trade sector,' he added. Also present were Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, chairman of the Umno Malaysia Women's and Family Affairs Council (HAWA) Tan Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil and MATRADE chief executive officer Datuk Mohd Mustafa Abdul Aziz.
