I refer to the recent ferry disaster off Pulau Tioman. I had gone to Pulau Tioman in the ferry operated by the same company. My family and friends as a group of 15 paid for 'speed ferry' but we were told for the time stated we have to go on a normal ferry, which I believe was what the victims took though they might have paid for a 'speed ferry'.

I could clearly see that the ferry I took had more than the designated passengers with at least 20 extra people who were either standing on the open deck or seated on the wooden steps in the ferry. There were no demonstration of what to do in the case of emergency. I am not surprised at what happened in the ensuing panic.

But hold on. Last March, we visited Pulau Redang as a group of 15. We had to take a ferry from Merang some 15km from Kuala Terengganu. I was anticipating either a ferry of the sorts used between Kuala Perlis and Langkawi. To my shock, they were wooden fishing boats. There were five extra passengers in each boat. There were no floating vests.

The boat was manovering over the high waves of the South China Sea and on many occasions sea water hit us. Some of us vomited. Luckily, we brought plastic bags and water. Only a handful of us could swim and I was praying to God that we reach safely.

We were told that only during popular tourist seasons that large ferries are used. On our return journey, we refused to board the 'ferry' unless all of us were strapped with life jackets. Only after some argument, they brought in additional jackets from other boats nearby. I can easily envisage that it is a matter of time that a boat tragedy in Pulau Redang would happen.

Will the authorities wake up and understand that human lives are at stake here?