Jesselton Point tour boat operators hoping to provide services for anglers

 By Olivia Miwil - November 4, 2020 @ 1:59pm

Aliakbar pledged that he would bring the matter to the state Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry and the management company to talk about a moratorium for the time being. - NSTP/MALAI ROSMAH TUAH.

KOTA KINABALU: Tour boat operators at Jesselton Point here are hoping that the authorities would think of ways to allow them to bring anglers out to sea.

Arwin Singkang, 39, said knowing that the tourism industry was at stake due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the operators should look for alternatives in sourcing incomes.

"Some of us have spent about RM90,000 to buy a boat which initially was to cater for the demand in tourism. But now, we are hoping that the licensing board and other authorities will give permission or find ways for us to use our boats to take anglers out to sea or for us to rent our boats to them.

"By doing so, we could still at least pay our workers on a daily basis if there is any business," he said, adding there is now more demand from anglers who want to fish out at sea than tourists wanting to go to Tunku Abdul Rahman Park.

Arwin was speaking during a dialogue with appointed assemblyman Dr Aliakbar Gulasan of Pas with about 50 operators at the Jesselton Point terminal here.

He said, despite the obvious drop in number of tourists into the state since early this year, operators and shops tenants at the terminal still have to pay full rental fees to Suria Capital Holdings Bhd.

"They gave us a 70 per cent discount for two months early this year, but now we are told to pay at full rate.

"If we refuse to pay, the management company will terminate our contract and might not renew it next year should the tourism industry recover," he said, adding that most operators are law-abiding people who would want to use Jesselton Point as designated jetty for tourists.

After about a 30-minute dialogue, Aliakbar pledged that he would bring the matter to the state Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry and the management company to talk about a moratorium for the time being.

He said he would also meet the operators in the near future to discuss short and long term solutions for the group as well as the formation of an official body for the 251 operators.