KUALA TERENGGANU: Visitors to Pulau Redang were caught in the centre of a dispute between the residents and the ferry operators over a fare hike which took effect last month.
More than 1,000 residents took part in a demonstration near the resort island’s jetty yesterday.
They carried banners denouncing the ferry operators’ decision to raise the ferry fare for Pulau Redang residents from RM20 to RM25 (S$8.25 to S$10.31), and the introduction of a RM5 charge for every 10kg of goods.
Pulau Redang village committee chairman Ladin Awang said the villagers were angered by the fare hike, which he alleged was done without prior consultation.
[Photo: Pulau Redang residents staging a protest at the jetty against ferry operators who had raised the ferry fare and imposed a levy for every 10kg of goods.]
He said the villagers would only allow the ferry to dock at the jetty if the fare hike and the new charge for goods were rescinded.
“We have to rely on the ferry to bring in food and other basic supplies. The RM5 charge for every 10kg is too high and was decided without any consultation.”
As the jetty became off limits to them, the ferries stopped about three kilometres from the island and the passengers, including foreign tourists, had to board smaller boats to go to the island.
Batu Rakit assemblyman Khazan Che Mat said the government was still waiting for the ferry operators to give a suitable date for a meeting regarding the villagers’ plight.
“We had asked the company to conduct a meeting with the residents’ representatives, the Marine Department and the police to find a solution as we do not want the dispute to hamper tourist arrivals to Pulau Redang.”
-New Straits Times
