Exit points between Sabah and Labuan, Brunei, the southern Philippines and three destinations in East Kalimantan are plagued by ferry woes in Tawau, Sandakan, Kota Kinabalu and Menumbuk.

This is an old problem but is worsening of late.

NONE The 14 ferries running between Tawau and Nunukan in nearby East Kalimantan are a case in point.

At least 2,000 passengers commute daily between the east coast town and Nunukan. Then there are passengers to Sungei Nyamuk and Tarakan in East Kalimantan.

The situation in Tawau, as in Sandakan, is becoming increasingly chaotic as complaints mount from passengers, ferry operators, the Customs Department and the Indonesian consulate, among others.

The focus of their collective wrath is the proposed Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex (CIQ), announced last year, but apparently still on the drawing board in Putrajaya.

Indonesian consul Abas Basori said the facilities at Tawau port should follow the example of the port at Nunukan. There, a new, dedicated terminal for passengers was built while the existing one will be used solely for cargo.

He also noted the need for improved Immigration handling at Tawau port to effectively track smuggling of goods and the entry of illegal immigrants.

harris mohd salleh former sabah chief minister Former Sabah chief minister Harris Salleh described the condition at the Tawau Ferry Terminal as “a disgrace” where safety is concerned.

For starters, there are no separate platforms for passengers and cargo. It is also too easy for a passenger to miss his or her footing between the jetty and the vessel and fall into the sea.

This is a contrast with jetties in Peninsular Malaysia at Tioman and Langkawi, added Harris.

Harris urged the authorities to commence work on the proposed CIQ Complex in Tawau as soon as possible to ensure more efficient handling of passengers and cargo.

NONE Customs officer Julardi Balardi agreed that the Tawau Ferry Terminal needs immediate improvement especially in passenger safety.

“Despite having a scanning machine, it is difficult for us to cope when there is a large crowd waiting in the holding area,” said Julardi.

Suwardi Mastor, the manager of PT Nunukan Jaya Lestari, opined that “safety warrants no less attention with workers”.

Mohd Sharif Nanang, chairperson of the Konsortium Feri Penumpang Tawau, said he wants the RM5 per person tax reviewed pending completion of the new CIQ complex.

If the situation at the ferry terminal improves, Tawau has potential as a tourist and shopping destination, he said.

Labuan ferry woes

The Menumbuk-Labuan and Kota Kinabalu-Labuan ferry runs have their own tales of woe.

patrick sindu Fomca vice-president Patrick Sindu charged that it is common to see a ferry pulled by a tugboat all along the Menumbuk-Labuan route because the propellers often break down.

Sindu has called for an end to the monopoly exercised by the present ferry operator on the Menumbuk-Labuan and Menumbuk-Bandar Seri Begawan runs.

Peter Kong Ping Sen, chairperson of the Labuan Ferry Corporation Sdn Bhd, said this would be unfair “just because of some isolated incidents of the ferry being delayed by a few hours”.

Former Labuan MP Suhaili Abdul Rahman said he believes the government should make a new ferry available to solve the Menumbuk service limitations. The current ferry operator, he said, cannot afford the RM60 million a new ferry would cost.

The various chambers of commerce see a proposed 17km RM550 million bridge linking Tanjung Aru in Labuan and Membakut as the long-term solution to traffic between the Sabah mainland and the duty-free island.  

Universiti Malaysia Sabah has finalised a feasibility study on the bridge for inclusion in the 10th Malaysia Plan (2010-2014).

There are also trouble-plagued ferry services between Labuan and Muara in Brunei and Limbang in Sarawak.