GEORGE TOWN: The decision by Langkawi ferry operators to announce an increase in ferry fares on Sunday (December 15) is disappointing, says Transport Minister Anthony Loke.
"I am deeply disappointed by the hasty decision of Langkawi ferry operators to announce an increase in ferry fares," he said in a Facebook post.
He said that the ministry recently received in-principle approval from the Ministry of Finance last Friday to provide diesel subsidy assistance to ferry operators on major islands across the country - including Langkawi - from Jan 1 of next year.
On this, Loke added that ferry operators will not be eligible for diesel subsidies if they proceed with fare increases, particularly for local residents and domestic tourists.
He said it would be better for all operators to immediately withdraw this announcement and engage in discussions with the ministry as soon as possible.
It was reported on Sunday that a ferry company has increased the ferry fare for each round trip from Kuala Kedah and Kuala Perlis to Langkawi by between RM3 and RM10.50 starting Jan 1.
Ferry Line Venture Sdn Bhd stated that the increase involves the categories of domestic tourists, foreign tourists, and local residents.
"For domestic tourists, the one-way trip from Kuala Perlis to Langkawi, originally priced at RM21 for adults, will be increased by RM3 to RM24, while the children's fare, previously RM16, will increase by the same amount to RM19,” it said.
"The fare for the Kuala Kedah to Langkawi route will increase from RM26.50 to RM30 for adults, an increase of RM3.50, while the children's fare will rise from RM20.50 to RM24," added the company.
For non-citizen adult tourists, the fare for the journey from Kuala Perlis to Langkawi will increase from RM27 to RM35, an RM8 hike, while the fare from Kuala Kedah to Langkawi will rise from RM34.50 to RM45, an increase of RM10.50.
The children's fare in the same category for the Kuala Perlis to Langkawi route will go up from RM19.50 to RM25, a RM5.50 increase, while the fare for the Kuala Kedah to Langkawi route will rise from RM25.50 to RM32, an increase of RM6.50.
For Langkawi residents, the adult fare for the Kuala Perlis to Langkawi route will increase from RM15 to RM18, and the children's fare from RM10 to RM13, both rising by RM3.
For the Kuala Kedah to Langkawi route, adult fares will increase from RM20 to RM23.50, while children's fares will rise from RM14 to RM17.50, both by RM3.50.
However, the fares for senior citizens and disabled people will remain unchanged at RM13 and RM17, respectively, for the Kuala Perlis to Langkawi route, and at RM10 and RM14 for the Kuala Kedah to Langkawi route.
