THE Penang government has welcomed the assurance by Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz that the state’s iconic ferries would remain in service.
Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said he hoped that the iconic ferries will continue to serve Penangites, Malaysians from other states and tourists alike.
Tengku Zafrul said in the Dewan Rakyat today, that the Federal Government would impose a condition on Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB) to continue the iconic and heritage ferry service.
PPSB will take over the ferry service from Prasarana Malaysia Berhad on Jan 1 next year.
Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng had told the Dewan Rakyat today that RM30 million had been allocated by the Pakatan Harapan government previously for PPSB, on condition that PPSB maintain the ferry service.
Tengku Zafrul confirmed that the RM30 million allocation was approved by the Pakatan Harapan government.
“The RM30 million allocation will be made in instalments (two payments). The first RM15 million will be made in 2021 and has been included in the Supply Bill 2021. The remaining RM15 million will be prepared,” Tengku Zafrul said.
Chow said the Penang government had told PPSB and PPC about two weeks ago that the state wanted the ferry service to continue.
“When Penang Port Commission (PPC) and PPSB briefed the Penang government on their proposal to run the catamaran service and the interim plan (which would begin from Jan 1 next year), we told PPSB and PPC to bring the matter to the Ministry of Transport (MoT) and ask the ministry to reconsider and review its decision.
“I raised the matter again in Parliament and urged the ministry to reconsider the state’s request when I had the opportunity, reiterating Penang’s request made to PPSB and PPC earlier.
“I believe that many commuters have called for the ministry to continue the Penang ferry service. The Penang ferry is the ‘symbol’ of Penang. It must be maintained,” Chow told a press conference in Komtar today.
He added that the main issue was about the lack of allocation.
“PPSB told us that the company has no problem in managing the iconic ferries if the assets can be funded by the Federal Government or the MoT.
“The reason given to us by Penang Port was that the existing ferries lack ‘seaworthiness’.
“Penang Port said that it is dangerous to continue the ferry service if they are not seaworthy.”
Chow said the state was told that the cost for new iconic ferries could be three times more than the cost for new catamarans.
“If RM30 million can be used to run the catamaran service, can’t the MoT or the Federal Government consider allocating RM90 million to bring in new iconic ferries to replace those ferries which are not seaworthy?” he questioned.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Noor Siti Nabilah Noorazis
Video by Alvie Cheng