THE Ministry of Transport (MoT) has given Prasarana Malaysia Berhad the green light to proceed with the plan to upgrade the Penang ferries and terminals.
Rapid Ferry Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Prasarana, took over the Penang Ferry operations from the Penang Port Sdn Bhd on May 1 last year (2018).
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the RM90 million allocation for the upgrade has not been disbursed to Prasarana due to some legal issues between the current and previous operators.
“I had a meeting with Prasarana and the Finance Ministry recently; and Prasarana has been given the permission to proceed with the plan to upgrade the Penang ferries and terminals.
“In the meantime, Prasarana must continue to solve the legal issues with the previous operator.
“Prasarana will have to raise the funds through internal channels. It is a policy decision.
“We have to solve the legal issues between the current and previous operators before we can proceed,” Loke told a press conference after launching the Mutiara Pass at Weld Quay Bus Terminal (Terminal B) today. The Mutiara Pass provides the card owner with unlimited rides on Rapid Penang buses and the Penang ferry for 30 consecutive days.
Back to the ferry services, Loke said the ministry had asked Prasarana to spend capex (capital expenditure) on upgrading the ferry services, purchase more catamarans and upgrade current ferries to tourist ferries.
“I understand that Penangites are very sentimental towards the Penang ferries. I assure you that the ferries will be maintained.
“We plan to turn some of the Penang ferries into tourist ferries, carrying only passengers without vehicles. Perhaps two or three ferries can be retained to transport vehicles.
“We have six ferries now.
“We would also like to introduce the catamaran or water taxi services. The catamarans can be used to transport passengers.
“These are in the pipeline. The details have not been finalised. However, I am confident that the plan can be implemented by next year (2020) and we can look forward to better ferry services in a few years,” he said.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the state welcomed the proposal by the ministry.
“We welcome the idea to turn some of the Penang ferries into tourist ferries; however, we appeal that it should not compromise the services of our existing ferries.
“Since there is a plan to use catamarans, we can consider using ferries that are not involve in active duties as tourist ferries.
“Like what the minister had said, this is just a plan. Details have not been finalised,” Chow said.
He said that Penang, during the 1980s, had medium-sized boats taking passengers to the Penang Bridge and Pulau Jerejak.
“Perhaps now with the increase number of visitors to Penang, it can be a tourism product that may be feasible and financially self-sustain.
“Any initiative (proposed) must be able to financially self-sustain, or the Government might have to provide a huge subsidy to sustain the services.
“It will be a new attractive tourism product for the state if it is able to financially self-sustain,” Chow said.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Ahmad Adil Muhamad
Video by Law Suun Ting