LABUAN: Labuan Corporation (LC) should seriously consider operating a modern ro-ro ferry service on the Labuan-Menumbok route as an obligation to ensure commuters are not left to the mercy of private operators.
Member of Parliament Datuk Suhaili Abdul Rahman said disruptions on this important connection with mainland Sabah happened too many times, with the latest last week.
“Should the private operators for any reason reduce services citing fuel prices and unadjusted fares or technical problems, services will still be available with LC as an additional operator.
“In fact, commuters may even rely on the LC service more, “ he said in parliament.
He said LC’s entry into the maritime business could also be the best alternative to the long-awaited proposed bridge which would likely take time to become a reality.
Suhaili said LC should have no problem acquiring a suitable vessel at a competitive price. At present two ro-ro ferry operators service the route with one having three vessels and another one.
The service is hugely popular and used daily by hundreds, with thousands during holidays, often needing a month of advance booking to be sure of a ticket. During such occasions some 12 trips are operated daily to cope with the traffic.
Suhaili believes such woes would subside with LC complementing the service. Recently an operator suspended its online ticketing services saying it was upgrading the system and this frustrated hundreds of commuters who are still waiting for the service to return to normal.
Suhaili also thanked the Prime Minister for approving RM38 million for the Labuan Mariner project under Budget 2026 bur regretted the “peanuts” allocation of RM45 million fot Labuan Corporation noting that LC being the lead local agency should be allocated RM200 million carry out its economic programmes for Labuan.
On tourism, he credited Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa for staging such novel events like Borneo Floral Fest from July 26 to 30 which is said to have drawn over 100,000 visitors.
Now the Borneo Arts Festival (BAF) would be held from Nov 13 to 17 and is expected to draw another 30,000 visitors.
