50 stranded in Langkawi after ferry tickets sell out

LANGKAWI: About 50 Malaysian and foreign tourists were stranded when ferry tickets back to the mainland were sold out on Saturday.

Many of them would have had to spend the night along the five-foot ways of the closed Jetty Point Complex if not for a group of Good Samaritans who arrived at 11pm and offered them hotel rooms.

Kuah assemblyman Nor Saidi Nanyan, who organised the aid, said ferry tickets to Kuala Kedah and Kuala Perlis on the mainland were sold out since 10am on Saturday.

“I think nearly a thousand tourists were caught off-guard. These 50 were stuck at the ferry complex as they had checked out of their hotels and handed in their rented cars.

“They bought ferry tickets for the next day and remained at the Jetty Point Complex,” he said.

Nor Saidi called several hotel managers and they were gracious enough to provide free rooms.

“We gave priority to children and senior citizens. We also provided meals,” he said, adding that suitable places for all the stranded tourists were arranged by 2am yesterday.

Source : The Star Online