Ferry service to boost Sabah-Brunei ties
By Rosli Abidin Yahya

A LFC ferry.

The Labuan Ferry Corporation (LFC) is prepared to launch the return of its Menumbok-Brunei services once the greenlight is given.

The New Sabah Times had quoted LFC Managing Director, Eddie Chua, saying that the Malaysian government through the Ministry of Transport has approved LFC's application to operate services between the two destinations. He said the service would be a joint venture with a Brunei operator to be appointed by the government of the Sultanate under the BIMP-EAGA economic cooperation.

"However, we in LFC have the resources and expertise to operate the services on this sector on our own, should Brunei ask us to go ahead alone," Chua said.

While maintaining that LFC can start the services at any time, he said the company would prefer to hold discussions with the Brunei counterpart first.

The paper also quoted the deputy director of the Brunei Ports Department, Mahadi Mohd Yusof, saying that the Sultanate would launch the ferry services at the latest by the end of the year. He said that works to build a jetty at Serasa in the Muara district was well underway and would be completed by August.

Mahadi said he was impressed with the professionalism showed by the LFC staff and that Brunei would send its personnel for attachment and training.

He said the commencement of ferry services between the two ports would be a big boost to the tourism sector.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin