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LABUAN – The implementation of the new fare rates for the roll-on-roll-off (ro-ro) ferry plying the Labuan-Menumbok-Labuan route has been postponed indefinitely.
The upward fare rate revision was scheduled to take effect on Sunday, but ferry operator Labuan Mainland Link Sdn Bhd today decided to postpone the implementation in the interests of travellers.
Its chairman Datuk Chin Hong Vui said the decision was made to ease the financial burden of travellers from Labuan and mainland Sabah.
“We have to postpone the implementation of the new rates after considering various factors – more than 60% of ferry tickets from Labuan-Menumbok-Labuan had been purchased earlier (for festive seasons – Chinese New Year and Hari Raya), and we felt that we are being unfair to those travellers purchasing tickets after January 1, 2023.
“Another factor is that the economic situation has still not permitted us to proceed with the newly increased rates. Therefore, we have no choice but to absorb the extra cost financially burdening us, and this is part of our obligation to the public,” he said today.
Labuan Mainland Link operates three ferries, namely MV Kimanis 1, MV Putrajaya 1, and MV Goodwill Star, providing five to eight trips daily.
Last week, ticketing management company Labuan Point Enterprise Sdn Bhd issued a notice on the revised rates, the first in 15 years, involving various types of vehicles.
In the notice, it stated a fare hike of 42.5% for private and commercial vehicles and 73.3% for motorcycles.
The ro-ro operator first proposed that the implementation of the new rates be effective from November 1, but it was postponed after then Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob ordered the Transport Ministry to look into the matter following public outcry.
Chin said they would decide on the implementation of the revised fares when the company could no longer absorb the rising operating costs. – Bernama, December 30, 2022