BERJAYA TIOMAN BEACH, GOLF & SPA RESORT WORKS WITH CREDIBLE FERRY OPERATORS AND RECOMMENDS DIRECT FLIGHTS AS AN ALTERNATIVE

MERSING, JOHOR - The Seagull Express ferry tragedy in Mersing which caught fire and sank at Pulau Tioman has resulted in Berjaya Tioman Beach, Golf & Spa Resort encouraging guest and travelers to travel via the Tanjung Gemuk jetty or taking direct flights via Subang Airport.

Berjaya Tioman Beach, Golf & Spa Resort would want to assure guests and travelers that the resort has a sole dedicated counter in Tanjung Gemuk which engages the trustworthy ferry services of Fast Ferry Venture Sdn. Bhd. Operating with valid ferry licenses and good-condition boats with emergency equipments, Fast Ferry Venture brings guests right to the front of the resort, providing convenience and most of all, safety to traveling guests. Alternatively, the resort also vouches for the fastest and most convenient 40-minutes direct flight via Berjaya Air from Subang Airport to Tioman Airport. No time is wasted as Berjaya Air flies daily to Tioman and the journey takes 40 minutes, with direct flights from Subang Airport, Kuala Lumpur and Seletar Airport, Singapore.

On the incident in Mersing involving Seagull Express which caught fire and sank due to poor ferry condition and maintenance, general manager Gordon Koh elaborated, "In Mersing, we work with and vouch for the reliable and credible ferry services of Blue Water Ferry Services. These ferries of Blue Water are new and made of high-quality fiberglass materials. We have always enforced strict standard operating procedures and controls with our appointed operators to ensure the quality and safety of all passengers to our resort. Only ferries with ample emergency equipments and adhering to strict safety standards are allowed to transport passengers to our resort. Although grateful that no guest of the resort was injured in the incident involving Seagull Expess, we are saddened by this incident and offer our condolences to families and friends of the victims".

The resort is currently working with government officials and its related agencies to resolve the matter as quickly as possible. In the meantime, director of marketing communications Thang Han-Ni states that Berjaya Hotels & Resorts at corporate level is taking steps to notify all of its customers and a special hotline has been set-up at its reservations office +603 2141 0088 for inquiries from guests traveling to their 361-room Tioman resort. The resort is also taking precautions to avoid recurrence of this tragic incident by providing additional information on operation schedules from Mersing and Tanjung Gemuk, plus safety measures to be taken during an emergency in order to facilitate a smoother transportation to Tioman island. "In situations such as this, the company's first priority is the safety of our guests, employees and immediate neighbors. This situation poses no threat to our guests' safety and the resort is back to business. We maintain high standards and strict practices in traveling safety. It's a tragedy that could have been avoided and arising from this tragic incident, we endeavor to work together with government officials and agencies to reinforce the safety of our customers as our customers will, and have always remain, our highest priority", Thang adds.

For media enquiries, please contact Berjaya Hotels & Resorts Corporate Office: Thang Han-Ni - Director of Marketing Communications (Tel: +603 2149 1828 or Email: hanni@hr.berjaya.com.my)