KUALA LUMPUR: A wait of over an hour is unacceptable for passengers using the Labuan ferry service at the Labuan roll-on roll-off (Ro-Ro) ferry terminal, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
In a Facebook post, Anwar said he had asked the Maritime Department to immediately improve the pier management methods during his visit to the jetty.
He said that he wants them to work with immigration and police to ensure more efficient ferry and passenger movements.
"Although the government has agreed to develop a second jetty (with an allocation of RM 22 million), the congestion will not be resolved if immigration and vehicle traffic management are not overhauled," Anwar said.
"Even though the Madani government has debts and liabilities of the country exceeding RM 1.5 trillion, I will not compromise on the need to solve basic problems that affect people's livelihood," he added.
He also said that Labuan will be exempt from the rationalisation of diesel subsidies, considering the high level of diesel consumption in the region.
"Targeted diesel subsidies aim to redirect assistance away from the wealthy and foreigners to those who are poor and in need," he said.
Anwar added that the priority is to make sure issues affecting people's lives such as electricity and water supply are immediately resolved.
"This is in addition to tackling poverty in Labuan no later than the end of next July," he said.