LANGKAWI – The time has come for the authorities to consider better transport connectivity into Langkawi as the average passenger ferries are unable to operate due to a prolonged low tide season.
The issue is blamed on the rising mud phenomenon along the coastline, which has caused the low tide to linger at the Kuala Perlis (Perlis) and Kuala Kedah (Kedah) ferry terminals.
Passenger ferries operating out of Kuala Perlis were unable to operate between February 10 to February 13 due to the low tide, the Marine Department’s northern division had disclosed.
Granted that both ferry terminals are crucial supply lines for bringing in food, cargo, and passengers especially tourists, Langkawi Tourism Organisation chairman Ahmad Pishol Isahak said there is a need to hastily improve on the connectivity to the island.
Pishol suggests that more roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) ferries, which can transport people and vehicles, be commissioned as they can operate better during low tides.
There are only three ferry operators at present, who were recently reprimanded by the authorities for alleged price fixing through the establishment of a cartel.
It was reported that the Malaysian Competition Commission had fined the three operators RM2.2 million for forming a price-fixing cartel, which led to inflated prices for goods and services on the tourist island.
The commission determined that the rise in prices were mainly due to higher fares for commercial vehicles using RoRo ferries between Langkawi and Kuala Perlis.
Kuala Perlis is the top maritime inbound destination for Langkawi due to the relatively shorter journey, taking about 90 minutes, whereas the ferry ride from Kuala Kedah takes about two hours.
Pishol said that besides the move to conduct dredging along the coastline, there is also a need to possibly relocate the ferry terminals in Kuala Perlis and Kuala Kedah due to the presence of slime and mud, which have formed along the present jetty sites.
“Better and more equipped ferries that can navigate through mud and debris – which have piled up over the decades due to the indiscriminate dumping of waste into the rivers and oceans here – should also be deployed,” he said.
Pishol also urged the aviation authorities to consider increasing more flights at affordable prices for those travelling to Langkawi from domestic airports.
“Perhaps budget airliners can consider routes between Alor Setar and Langkawi to cater for those from Perlis and Kedah who work on the island here,” he said.
Meanwhile, the marine authorities announced that a fourth RoRo vessel called the Wantas Roro has been granted emergency approval to operate the Langkawi-Kuala Perlis route from February 10 in view of the low tide.
The special vessel can transport people and vehicles and it has been classified as part of the essential services in view of the possible acute shortage of ferries here.
Pishol also urged the authorities to check if any form of pollution is occurring upstream, which might be washing down mud and slime from the rivers into the Straits of Malacca. – The Vibes, February 9, 2022
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