THE Penang government has been told by the Ministry of Transport (MoT) that the Penang ferry service would be stopped for three months from Sept 1 onwards to allow adjustment works to the ferry terminals.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said that the state was only informed about the plan, middle of this month.
“The MoT sec-gen has informed the Penang State Secretary, just two weeks before the proposed date, that the ministry had to stop the ferry service for three months beginning Sept 1.
“They (the ministry) have plans for Penang Port Sdn Bhd to take over the operation of the ferry service from RapidFerry Sdn Bhd and introduce a new ferry service. It requires them to make adjustments to the terminals.
“So, what is the alternative?” Chow questioned during a press conference in Komtar today.
Chow said it was a sudden announcement from the MoT.
He said the Penang government had requested for an alternative plan during the three-month period.
“They do not have any solid plan to present to the Penang government. Their solution is to provide shuttle bus services and they asked for our cooperation to support the bus services during that period, which is to pay for the amount needed for the bus services,” he said.
Chow said that the state had urged the party involved to prepare an overall plan and present it to the state before implementing the project.
“We want to know what plan they have with regard to the new ferry service.
“Will vehicular traffic be allowed on the ferries? Are they catamarans or ferries for only passengers?
“We want to know the details of the upgrading works and the ferry operations before project is implemented,” he said.
Later today (Aug 25), Dr Wee was reportedly saying that that the Penang ferry services would operate as usual and there is no suspension.
When questioned if the Penang government was interested to take over the ferry service, Chow said that it would require a huge sum to subsidise the ferry service.
“According to the original privatisation agreement, the port operator has to operate the ferry service because the port operation is a ‘profitable operation’.
“The port operator has to also run the ferry service in view of the profit they gain from the port operation. Without the revenue from the operation of the port, it would be a burden for any operator to get profit from the ferry operation (alone),” he said.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Ahmad Adil Muhamad
Video by Alvie Cheng