LABUAN – Two ferry terminals here are expected to be busier than usual ahead of the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations, given also the reopening of Malaysia’s international borders on April 1.
Ferry operators have reminded those who plan to use the roll-on, roll-off or passenger ferry services this weekend to book tickets in advance, arrive early at terminals, and be prepared for long waits.
Two ferry operators, namely Labuan Mainland Link Sdn Bhd and Juta Bonus Sdn Bhd, have confirmed that tickets from April 27 until the eve of Hari Raya Aidilfitri on May 2 are fully booked.
Labuan Marine Department director Alimuddin Amirudin said the department had approved 12 trips daily for two ferry operators plying the Labuan-Menumbok-Labuan route, and two return trips between Labuan and Muara, Brunei.
He said Labuan Mainland Link, operating the three Kimanis 1, Putrajaya 1, and Goodwill Star ferries, is providing nine trips, while Juta Bonus is operating its sole Galaxy ferry with three trips daily for the coming celebrations.
“The ferries are now operating every hour instead of every two and three hours on normal days. We already expect a surge in demand for the coming Hari Raya celebrations, as travellers will make a beeline for ferry tickets back to mainland Sabah.
“We expect the two ferry operators will submit applications for additional trips in addition to the 12 trips due to the high demand. We will look at their applications for consideration and approval,” he said today.
Alimuddin said his department is expecting 18,000 passengers and 4,000 vehicles to use the ferry services 10 days before Raya, adding that the numbers would increase by at least 10% with the additional one trip.
Labuan Mainland Link chairman Datuk Chin Hon Vui said that Raya would see an overwhelming number of passengers using ferry services after muted celebrations in the last two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic
“Therefore, it is important that ferry-goers arrive at the terminals at least 45 minutes before departure…do not rush to the ferry line too early, or the terminal will be congested and impassable, and follow the trip schedule.
“Expect a delay when travelling towards the ferry terminals. If you give yourself plenty of time, it will be smooth sailing,” said Robert Ling Song Thieng, the manager of Labuan Ferry Terminal ticketing agent company Labuan Point Enterprise Sdn Bhd.
Binabalu Sdn Bhd manager Lo Pei Ling said she hoped the Labuan Marine Department would approve the application for additional trips, to avoid more people being stranded at the ferry terminals.
Meanwhile, LDA Labuan (Holdings) Sdn Bhd executive director Mohammad Ridzuan Ibrahim said the Labuan International Ferry Terminal, which handles passengers boarding ferries to several destinations in Sabah (Kota Kinabalu, Sipitang, and Menumbok), as well as Limbang and Lawas in Sarawak, had obtained approval for an additional one to two trips, based on destination and date. – Bernama, April 26, 2022
