Tawau: The ferry schedule from Tawau to Nunukan and Tarakan from the terminal here will be updated Based on a daily rotational system.
Tawau Municipal Council president, Alijus Sipil said the new schedule will set based on ballot by ferry operator to both destinations.
He said this was to put an end to allegations of unfairness from disgruntled quarters dissatisfied with the present ferry schedule.
There is one operator for two ferry trips to Tarakan and Four operators for six ferries to Nunukan and according to Alijus all of them have
agreed to the rotational system. He was speaking at press conference after chairing the Ferry Management Technical Committee here, yesterday.
Fares and baggage charges at the Tawau Ferry Terminal will remain unchanged. Ticket for adult are RM 15 and for children, RM 10, while baggage
below 10 kilos are free and RM 1.30 per Kilo for excess weight. “The charges are rational and among the cheapest. Passenger have no problems paying
this rate ,” said Alijus. Tickets are only sold at the counters and manage fully by a concession company so that any purchase of ticket from an agent will not be accepted.
“We will introduce this for a month’s trial period. Tickets sold at counter will prevent middle men from taking advantage of passengers,” he added.
A letter will be submitted to the Indonesian Consul here to inform Kabupaten Nunukan of ferry schedule as well as passenger fares and baggage charges.
‘I’ve been made to understand that there is no schedule in Indonesian and passengers tent to wrestle for seats but we ask that our counterpart in Indonesia does the same as what we have done,” he said.
Operation at the new ferry terminal has been haphazard since it was opened last 5 December after ferry operator refused to use the terminal claiming they were not satisfied with the fares and charges.
Credit to New Sabah Times
