KUALA LUMPUR – The government has been urged to intervene in the ongoing reduction of ferry services to Langkawi, which stakeholders say is crippling tourism and disrupting the daily lives of residents.
The call came during a peaceful gathering at the Kuah Passenger Jetty Terminal yesterday evening, attended by hundreds of locals and activists.
Anak Muda MADANI Kedah chairman Datuk Zuraidi Rahim said the cut in services — from five to three daily trips since March 25 — has already dented tourist arrivals.
“This situation is particularly affecting Langkawi residents who depend on tourism, especially small traders. If it continues for another month or two, the island’s economy could deteriorate further,” he warned.
Zuraidi stressed that the gathering was held in accordance with regulations to pressure ferry operators to end the rationing. He noted that the government’s targeted bunker fuel surcharge, effective today, was a temporary measure to offset rising diesel costs.
“We urge operators to restore up to eight daily trips to boost tourist arrivals and ease travel for the public. If rationing continues, we call on the government to allow more operators to provide ferry services to Langkawi,” he added.
Langkawi Tourism Association chairman Zainudin Kadir echoed the concern, saying nearly a month of reduced services has led to a sharp drop in domestic tourist arrivals.
“About 70 per cent of tourists rely on ferry services to reach Langkawi. When trips are reduced, it slows down the inflow. Many travel agent counters here are now closed,” he said.
Transport operators are also feeling the pinch. Langkawi District Bus Drivers Association chairman Mohamad Syukri Saad said numerous bookings have been cancelled this month.
“Fewer trips make it difficult for tourists, especially large groups, to arrive early and maximise their time on the island,” he explained.
Residents, too, are struggling. Ramli Ahmad, deputy chairman of the Langkawi District Senior Citizens Association, said tickets are increasingly hard to secure.
“In the past, it was easy to get tickets because there were more trips. Now, tickets sell out quickly. In emergencies, we sometimes have to rely on RoRo services,” he said.
Ferry Line Ventures Sdn Bhd general manager Dr Baharin Baharom previously defended the move, saying the reduction was necessary to sustain operations amid soaring industrial diesel costs.
“We had no choice but to scale back operations to ensure continuity and avoid a complete halt,” he said, citing financial sustainability concerns. – April 20, 2026