19-07-2025
Suria Capital refutes claims concerning ferry terminal
Published on: Saturday, July 19, 2025
Published on: Sat, Jul 19, 2025
By: Jonathan Nicholas Text Size: Ng (middle) with Phoon on her right and Saidi beside Phoon during the press conference yesterday. Kota Kinabalu: There is no reason for Suria Capital Holdings Berhad to change management and operations at the Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal (JPFT), especially with a long-term vision of redeveloping the old Kota Kinabalu Port into a vibrant and integrated waterfront destination. Managing Director Datuk Ng Kiat Min refuted reports that suggested a transfer of operational control to Easybook, as well as a mistaken association with Suria Sabah, a privately-owned shopping mall in Kota Kinabalu.
Advertisement 'Suria Capital Holdings Berhad would like to emphasise that the Suria Sabah mall is not affiliated in any way with the company. The two entities are entirely distinct and unrelated. 'The JPFT is operated exclusively by Suria Bumiria Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Suria Capital Holdings Berhad, and not by Suria Sabah or any other party,' she stressed. Group Chief Financial Officer Phoon Wai Wah said all 23 passenger operators at Jesselton Point have largely benefited from the transition to the Easybook system which eliminated monopoly. 'Previously, smaller businesses were marginalised, but now the fares are standardised. There is no increase to the terminal fee and we plan to implement more controls to avoid illegal activities as well as digital tagging for sustainability of the six islands. 'We categorically refute the claims made concerning the transfer of operational management and allegations of sudden increases in terminal fees. These statements are not only inaccurate, but also damaging to the integrity and sustainability of Sabah's tourism sector,' he said. Phoon said the group is also considering legal action against the perpetrators, suspecting them to be politically motivated. Tour operator Saidi Yusop, said the system brought the smaller fries justice, quadrupling profits from RM3,000 to RM13,000 per week. 'We would be eaten up by touts during the old system. When tourists arrive they would aggresively approach with prices we cannot match. The worst part is there are many incidents where the passengers are abandoned on the island,' he said. Easybook has been appointed solely as the ticketing platform for the Centralised Terminal Ticketing (CTT) system, which facilitates offline ticket transactions to nearby islands. Jesselton Point terminal meanwhile is the main point to six islands surrounding Kota Kinabalu. Ng said the initiative represents not only a strategic use of valuable land assets but their commitment to supporting Sabah's broader vision for urban renewal, tourism and economic diversification. 'A central element of this waterfront revitalisation is the proposed New Ferry Terminal Complex which is of international standard, which will be seamlessly integrated within the proposed Jesselton Docklands masterplan. 'To facilitate the redevelopment, the current ferry operation at Jesselton Point will be temporarily relocated to South Jetty by the end of 2025. 'This interim facility at the South Jetty will maintain island connectivity for around five-six years while the permanent terminal is being developed within the Docklands complex. 'This entire redevelopment effort is not just a property project. It is a strategic transformation initiative beneficial to the State,' she said. Suria Capital is a public-listed government-linked company (GLC), with 51pc equity held by the State Government and 49pc by public shareholders. The Group's primary business is in port operations, undertaken through Sabah Ports Sdn Bhd. which manages eight major ports across Sabah. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
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