KANGAR: The Kuala Perlis ferry terminal was deserted yesterday as tourists are staying away from visiting the popular island destination of Langkawi following the surge in new Covid-19 cases from the Telaga and Sungai clusters.
Effective yesterday, those who wanted to visit Langkawi could only do so through Kuala Perlis since the Kuala Kedah ferry terminal had been ordered to close until Sept 25 as part of measures enforced under the administrative Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO) in Kota Star, Kedah, from Thursday midnight.
However, those who had bought tickets at the Kuala Kedah ferry terminal could board ferries from Kuala Perlis.
A check at the ferry terminal saw only a handful of people there, who were subjected to the standard operating procedures under the administrative EMCO.
A tourist police supervisor at the Kuala Perlis jetty, Corporal Mohd Awatif Mohd Syukri, said until noon yesterday, tourist arrivals were low despite additional ferry trips in conjunction with the weekend.
"On weekends, the number of ferry trips is increased to eight with a two-hour interval between each trip. For all three departures since this (yesterday) morning, the number of passengers was lower than usual at only 300.
"The same period in the past could see between 500 and 600 people."
Awatif said tourists had to follow the SOPs, which were being strictly enforced, including allowing passengers to enter the departure hall only 40 minutes before the trip.
A spokesman for the Langkawi Jetty Vehicle Transportation in Kuala Perlis said he received a number of last-minute cancellations from passengers yesterday following the enforcement of the administrative EMCO.
"Usually, we have packed ferries, especially on Fridays due to weekend holiday-goers.
"Although passengers who bought tickets from Kuala Kedah can now board from Kuala Perlis, most of them decided to cancel their trips.
"A number of them also changed their departures to other dates after the administrative EMCO ends."
In Alor Star, people have scaled back on the first-day jitters resulting from the administrative EMCO and were no longer thronging shops for panic-buying. Checks by New Straits Times revealed that there were sufficient food supplies at wholesale markets, mini markets and grocery stores that were allowed to operate until 8pm.
Yesterday, it was reported that residents resorted to panic buying in Kota Star when the district was placed under the administrative EMCO.
Only the head of the family or one representative was allowed to go out to buy supplies, and he or she is required to strictly follow the SOPs.
Housewife Nordiana Yaacob, 49, hoped that people would remain calm and not resort to panic-buying as shops were open until 8pm.
"I saw the photo that went viral on social media yesterday, where people were panic buying essentials, resulting in huge crowds at the markets. It should have not happened since we have enough supplies and the grocery stores are open until 8pm."
Sunday 99 wholesaler supermarket manager Ooi Kel Ven said stocks at his premises were sufficient for the entire administrative EMCO period.
"Yesterday, there were huge crowds who wanted to purchase goods in large quantities, but we limited the number of people entering the premises to prevent overcrowding."
Ooi said the number of customers entering the premises was limited to 10 since the administrative EMCO was implemented. On Thursday, Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob had announced that the administrative EMCO would be implemented for 14 days in Kota Star, starting yesterday until Sept 25.
The administrative EMCO involved 360,000 households covering a 422km radius. - NST
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