Its general manager, Baharin Baharom, said the fare hike will now only apply to foreign tourists and it will take effect from Jan 1, 2025 as announced earlier.

“Following advice from the transport ministry and the Kedah government, the fare increase for Malaysian citizens starting Jan 1, 2025, has been cancelled.

“However, the new fares for foreign tourists will be implemented as planned on the same date,” he said in a statement issued this afternoon.

Earlier today, the media reported that ferry ticket prices for round-trip services from Kuala Kedah and Kuala Perlis to Langkawi will increase between RM3 and RM10.50 from next month.

Langkawi Ferry Line Ventures’ operations manager Norhafiz Abdul Wahid was quoted as saying that the fare for local tourists will go up by RM3 for adults, while foreign tourists will have to pay RM10.50 more.

The announcement drew a swift response from transport minister Loke Siew Fook, who expressed disappointment over the ferry operator’s abrupt decision.

He said the transport ministry secured approval from the finance ministry on Friday to provide diesel subsidies for all ferry operators on major islands nationwide, starting Jan 1, 2025.

Loke called for the Langkawi ferry operator to retract the fare hike announcement, warning that failure to do so would render them ineligible for any diesel subsidy.