Suria Capital Holdings Berhad and its subsidiary, SCHB Engineering Services Sdn Bhd, have refuted claims that the delay in the Labuan-Kota Kinabalu ferry service was due to unprepared facilities on their part.

“The jetty was decommissioned in late 2023 for safety reasons, and all commercial boat operations have ceased,” the group said in a statement on Tuesday.

The company further clarified that it was not informed about the ferry’s resumption and therefore could not make the necessary preparations.

“Advance consultation would have clarified the jetty’s status and aligned plans with our waterfront redevelopment,” Group Managing Director Datuk Ng Kiat Min said in Kota Kinabalu.

The Labuan-Kota Kinabalu ferry service was initially scheduled to resume on December 15 last year. However, the failure to restart operations sparked backlash from several Labuan-based NGOs, who blamed Sabah for the delay, citing a lack of infrastructure.

Sabah Works Minister Datuk Shahelmy Yahya countered the claims, stating that Labuan officials did not engage with the state government in a timely manner.

“They only engaged with us around December 17 or 18, after publicly announcing the service would resume on December 15,” Shahelmy said.

By the time discussions took place, Jesselton Point jetty—the original stop for the ferry service—had already been closed since 2023 due to structural issues and was deemed “unfit for use.”

Alternative docking options were also ruled out, as other facilities either required repairs or were unsuitable for ferry operations.

It is understood that Suria Capital plans to redevelop Jesselton Point as part of its waterfront expansion project.

Suria Capital is Sabah’s primary port operator, managing key port facilities and providing integrated logistics and maritime services. – January 14, 2025.