Malaysian authorities have granted permission to Singapore's low-cost carrier Tiger Airways to fly from the city-state to three destinations in Malaysia's Sarawak state on Borneo Island, a news report said Monday.

The airline will be allowed to fly to the cities of Kuching, Miri and Sibu in Sarawak to boost tourist arrivals in the state, The Star newspaper quoted Sarawak State Tourism and Urban Development Minister Wong Soon Koh as saying.

A statement released Monday by Tiger Airways, however, said the carrier had not received any official permission, but added that it was "well positioned to start air services between the two countries".

"Tiger Airways would like to confirm that it is the process of formalizing its application for routes between Singapore and Malaysia to the respective aviation authorities and has yet to receive formal approval for the route applications," the statement said.

Sarawak's minister Wong was quoted as saying that officials hoped that lower airfares offered by Tiger Airways would attract Singaporeans and other foreign visitors to fly to the state.

The Star did not give any other details, and Wong could not be reached at his office. Officials from the Transport Ministry were not immediately available for further details.

At present, most routes to Sarawak are served by national carrier Malaysia Airlines and no-frills airline AirAsia. Singapore's Silk Air also flies to Sarawak, but only to the state capital, Kuching.