THE ferry transport industry in Langkawi risks going out of business if measures to reduce the travel schedule are not implemented immediately following the sudden spike in industrial diesel prices.
Langkawi Ferry Line Ventures Sdn. Bhd. General Manager, Dr Baharin Baharom, said that the increase in fuel costs of more than 100 per cent has put great pressure on operators to the point that daily operations are no longer sustainable to continue as usual.
According to him, ferry operators have been forced to take steps to rearrange the travel schedule by reducing the frequency from five to only three trips per day.
“This decision was made as a stabilisation measure to ensure that ferry operations are not completely stopped because the increase in diesel costs has directly affected operating expenses, including maintenance and logistics.
"This reduction in schedule is not an option, but a necessity to ensure that ferry services continue to survive. If no adjustments are made, the industry is at risk of not being able to operate in the near future," he said in a statement.
Meanwhile, he explained that there were those who blamed ferry operators for the reduction in schedule because it allegedly affected users.
He explained that the relevant parties need to take into account the reality facing the industry at this time.
“For the record, ferry fares to Langkawi are among the lowest in Malaysia, at around 88 sen per nautical mile.
“It is much lower than routes to other islands such as Pulau Tioman and Pulau Pangkor, which reach around RM2.00 for the same distance,” he said.
He said the low fares have been maintained to ensure affordable access for the public.
However, in a situation where operating costs have increased dramatically, it is now a major challenge for ferry operators, he added. – March 26, 2026
