Kukup ferry terminal finally reopens

PONTIAN: The Kukup International Ferry Terminal here has finally reopened after being closed for about two months.

The terminal was closed after the state government terminated the agreement of the concessionaire.

Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Dr Sahruddin Jamal said that the state government received clearance from the Indonesian government to allow Malaysian ferries to anchor at Tanjung Balai, Indonesia on Wednesday (Nov 6).

"There have been a few delays in the opening earlier but we are glad that the ferry terminal here was able to operate fully today.

"The terminal will be managed by the state government, under the Public Transport Corporation (PAJ) for the time being until we get a permanent concessionaire," he said.

He said this to the press after welcoming the first batch of ferry passengers from Tanjung Balai ferry terminal here on Thursday (Nov 7).

It was earlier reported that the reopening of the ferry terminal, which was initially scheduled on Wednesday (Nov 6), had been postponed.

Sahruddin said earlier that the initial delay was because the state government had yet to receive clearance from the Indonesian government to anchor at Tanjung Balai in Indonesia.

"The previous company operating the ferry terminal painted a negative image and had loans from both the Indonesian government and the state government.

"They (Indonesia) want to ensure that the new management is not related to the previous concession company," he had said in a press conference on Wednesday.