Menumbok needs second ferry ramp
Published on: Friday, March 22, 2019
By: Sohan Das
LABUAN: Former MIC Chief here, Datuk Ramasamy Rengasamy (pic), lamented that despite more roll on-roll off (ro-ro) ferries plying the Labuan-Menumbok route, improved marine connectivity between the two points has been affected by lack of facilities at the Menumbok terminal.
“With the additional ferries, what was expected was the travel time would be shorter but this was usually not the case because there was only one landing ramp at Menumbok,” he said.
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“Last week, we boarded the ‘Putra Jaya’ ferry here. Its departure was delayed by 20 minutes from 6am to 6.20am and at Menumbok, we had to wait for another half an hour because the ramp there was occupied, resulting in about an hour wasted.”
He said such avoidable delay caused inconveniences and frustration to commuters who included seniors and children.
“The State Government should speed up its plan to have a second ferry landing terminal. It’s an important piece of infrastructure, considering that hundreds travel on the ferries daily.
“It also makes it quite pointless to have more ferries but inadequate facilities at the port,” said Ramasamy.
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He further noted that the Sabah Port and Harbour Department collected shipping/landing fees from all vehicles of RM14 or more and also passenger terminal fees.
“The amounts collected should be for the improvement of the facilities at the Menumbok terminal,” he said.
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Labuan already has a second landing ramp.
On another note, Ramasamy said the road from Menumbok to Beaufort was littered with potholes and dangerous for those who seldom use the road.