Why did the former minister cite only one app for airfare prices?

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Former Transport Minister's Airfare Price Inquiry Methodology Questioned

Transport Minister Anthony Loke expressed confusion regarding his predecessor Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong's method of checking airfare prices, stating that Wee cited only the AirAsia app and instructed his aides to do the same. This approach was taken despite the common understanding among travellers to compare prices from multiple sources to find the best deals. Loke suggested that Wee chose not to verify prices across various platforms before making public statements about increased airfares.
Reliance on a Single Application

Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong reportedly based his claims about high airfare prices on a check conducted using the AirAsia app. According to Loke, Wee then directed three of his aides to replicate this process, highlighting a singular source for their price inquiries. This method was employed when Wee stated that a return economy class ticket from Kuala Lumpur to Tawau for April 20 would cost RM3,138.
Discrepancy in Reported Prices

Minister Anthony Loke countered Wee Ka Siong's claim by stating that a straightforward check would have revealed economy flight prices for the Kuala Lumpur to Tawau route to be significantly lower, ranging between RM209 and RM841. Loke implied that Wee's methodology, which focused solely on one application, led to potentially misleading public statements regarding the cost of air travel. He likened this singular approach to attempting to purchase KFC products at a McDonald's outlet, emphasizing the incongruity of checking one service provider's prices through another's platform.
Suggestion of Deliberate Price Selection

Loke suggested that Wee Ka Siong was aware of the need to compare prices from multiple sources but opted not to do so. Instead, the former minister allegedly chose to highlight information from a single source to support his assertion of an airfare spike. Loke indicated that Wee had the opportunity to cross-reference prices across various airlines and booking platforms but instead focused on a specific, potentially inflated, figure.

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Why did the former minister cite only one app for airfare prices?

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