TAWAU: The ferry services between Tawau and Indonesia’s Tarakan and Nunukan have not been operating since Tuesday, leaving more than 700 people stranded in this town.
A check by Bernama revealed that the operators of the services, based in Tarakan and Nunukan, were dissatisfied with the RM10 increase in the ferry terminal charge imposed by Tawau at the new ferry terminal that started operating on Dec 5.
The charge at the old terminal was RM5. The terminal charge is included in the ferry ticket.
In Tawau, the ferry tickets are sold by concessionaire Fokasjadi Sdn Bhd while Indonesian companies sell the tickets in Tarakan and Nunukan.
A one-way ticket between Tawau and Tarakan costs RM145 (for adults) and RM80 (for children) while a one-way ticket between Tawau and Nunukan costs RM90 (adults) and RM45 (children).
Fokasjadi General Manager Lim Yit Kiong, when contacted, confirmed that the “ferry strike” had left hundreds of people bound for Tarakan and Nunukan stranded in Tawau.
Tawau Municipal Council President Alijus Sipil said the council had not received any formal complaint on the matter.
Indonesian Consulate Chief Representative in Tawau, Krishna Dielani, when contacted, said the ferry services had not been operating since yesterday and that the consulate had not received any official complaint.
“It is learnt that the ferry operators in Tarakan and Nunukan have yet to come to an agreement over several matters, including the higher ferry terminal charge,” he said.
Stranded passengers have expressed disappointment over the situation.
Ratna Abu Bakar, 50, of Nunukan said she had travelled overnight by bus from Kota Kinabalu and arrived in Tawau at 6am today to take the ferry back.
“I had wanted to return to Nunukan this morning. Tickets were not on sale and I was informed at 11am that there is no ferry to Nunukan,” said Ratna who had been in Sabah for the past 21 days visiting her child who had undergone surgery at a hospital in Kota Kinabalu.
Masnah Madung, 53, an Indonesian national married to a Malaysian and living in Inanam, had wanted to go to Nunukan on an official matter.
“I want to have my passport stamped as it is expiring on Dec 19. I was told that there is no ferry to Nunukan,” she said. Masnah had taken the overnight bus from Kota Kinabalu as well.
Aris Wahyudi, 27, of Tarakan is forced to spend the night at the terminal.
“I was in Sandakan for three days to attend a business fair and arrived here this morning but ferry tickets are not on sale.” — Bernama