New Ferry Terminal To Be Completed Soon In Labuan
By Rosli Abidin Yahya

Labuan - Travellers from Brunei to Labuan will find it more comfortable disembarking from their ferries and vessels when the new ferry point is expected to be completed by the end of this month.

The RM30 million ferry passenger terminal is on its last phase of construction. It was earlier said the project was to be completed last December.

The state-of-the-art terminal will have a jetty, passenger's terminal building and offices for Labuan government agencies such as the Malaysian Royal Custom and Immigration Department.

The terminal will also have a duty free shop, praying room or surau, a car park area and a large waiting area.

The project is a priority because it is the main gateway for tourists who come by sea from Brunei Darussalam, Sabah and Sarawak.

Datuk Suhaili Abdul Rahman, Member of Parliament of Labuan, earlier said the terminal, the most modern and beautiful in Southeast Asia, would be a vital gateway for tourists on their way to various destinations in and around the island.

The new complex will be able to accommodate more passengers at one time.

The present ferry terminal has not been able to accommodate the arrival of many people, especially during public and school holidays.

During this school holiday, the ferry point is struggling to cope with the high number of passengers from Brunei Darussalam.

The new terminal will also be expected to accommodate sea travellers from Menumbok and Sipitang in Sabah and Limbang and Lawas from Sarawak.

Labuan, with a 70,000 population, has been a Federal Territory since 1984 and was gazetted as an International Offshore Financial Centre in 1990.

The tax-free haven is also a favourite shopping and holiday destination for travellers from Brunei Darussalam.

Its various tourist attractions include the Labuan International Seawater Sports Complex where a number of water sports international competitions are held, the Marine Museum in Tanjung Purun, the Birds Garden at Tanjung Kubong, the World War II Memorial Monument at Tanjungt Batu, the Peaceful Garden at Layang-Layangan, the Chimney Information Centre at Lubok Temiang and the Water Village at Patau-Patau Satu.

Professional divers can access four sea-wreckage locations: the American Wreck, Blue Water Wreck, Cement Wreck and the Australia Wreck conveniently located not far from Labuan Island.

The island is also the choice of some Brunei students for tertiary education at Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kampus Antarabangsa Labuan (UMS-KAL), and Kolej Matrikulasi Dataran Labuan. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

Click Here To Have Your Say On This Story

Brudirect.com News