Pressure is mounting on the government to intervene in the ongoing reduction of ferry services to Langkawi, with stakeholders warning that the cut is dealing a serious blow to the island’s tourism-dependent economy.
Hundreds gathered at the Kuah Passenger Jetty Terminal in a peaceful protest on Sunday evening, with representatives from several non-governmental organisations calling for an immediate restoration of full ferry schedules.
Since March 25, daily ferry trips to Langkawi have been cut from five to three services, a reduction that operator Ferry Line Ventures Sdn Bhd attributed to surging industrial diesel costs that threatened the financial sustainability of its operations.
Dr Baharin Baharom General Manager from Ferry Line Ventures Sdn Bhd said, the company had no choice but to scale back, citing concerns that continuing at full capacity under current fuel prices could force a complete halt to services.
However, the move has drawn sharp criticism from island stakeholders. Anak Muda MADANI Kedah Chairman Datuk Zuraidi Rahim warned that the reduced schedule is already dampening tourist arrivals and squeezing small traders who form the backbone of Langkawi’s local economy.
The impact is being felt across multiple sectors. Langkawi Tourism Association Chairman Zainudin Kadir noted that with approximately 70% of tourists relying on ferry services to reach the island, reduced trips have slowed visitor inflow significantly, forcing many travel agent counters to close.
Meanwhile, the Langkawi District Bus Drivers Association reported a wave of cancelled transport bookings this month due to the limited ferry schedule.
Residents are also bearing the brunt of the disruption. Ramli Ahmad, Deputy Chairman Langkawi District Senior Citizens Association said, ferry tickets are now selling out rapidly, leaving vulnerable groups — including the elderly — scrambling for alternatives such as Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) services in emergency situations.
Datuk Zuraidi urged ferry operators to restore up to eight daily trips following the government’s introduction of a targeted bunker fuel surcharge, effective yesterday, as a temporary relief measure against rising diesel costs.
Should rationing persist, he called on Putrajaya to open the route to additional operators to safeguard both public mobility and Langkawi’s vital tourism industry.
