PETALING JAYA: With ferry operations at the Kuala Kedah terminal cancelled until Saturday (Sept 21), many stranded holidaymakers are now forced to find their own way back home as the school break draws to a close.
Over 12,000 ferry passengers are thought to be affected by the cancellations due to strong winds and high waves of up to 3.5m.
Many of those stranded were forced to find overnight accommodation on Langkawi or alternatively catch a boat to Kuala Perlis and then make their way to Kuala Kedah, where many parked their cars before hopping onto the ferry to Langkawi.
Some have even cancelled their trips to Langkawi outright.
On Facebook, holidaymaker Roziah Daud said she had been on Langkawi for five days and four nights.
“Initially, my plan was to stay for three days and two nights. But for two days, the ferry trip to Kuala Kedah was cancelled,” said Roziah.
Lamenting on Facebook, Ahmad Shahrol Nizam, who is on a business trip to Kuala Kedah, said his ferry back to Langkawi was cancelled due to inclement weather.
“I would have to stay overnight at Alor Setar. I’ll try to hitch a ride back via Kuala Perlis,” he said on Wednesday (Sept 18).
On Thursday (Sept 19), he said waves were also high at the Kuala Perlis ferry terminal.
Cristal Ching said she had to forfeit her hotel booking because the Kuala Kedah ferry was cancelled.
Suthesh Kumar wrote on Thursday that he had been stuck in Langkawi for two days.
“Today, we got on the 8.30am ferry (but) on the way we were told that it can’t move on,” he said, adding that they had to turn back to Langkawi.
He said the ferry services management arranged for them to go to Kuala Perlis.
Social media was full of pictures and videos of rough waves at the Kuala Kedah ferry terminal as well as turbulent rides on some ferries which had to turn back.
Announcing the cancellation of the ferry trips from Kuala Kedah, Konsortium Ferrylines Ventures Sdn Bhd general manager Captain Dr Baharin Baharom said: “During the temporary closure of the Kuala Kedah Passenger Terminal, passengers are advised to reroute through the Kuala Perlis Passenger Terminal until the weather improves.”
Many Malaysians have taken advantage of the long weekend and the school break to travel.
The school break ends on Saturday for states like Kedah and Johor, and Sunday for states like Selangor, Penang and Perak.
