State to take over Penang ferry service
Athi VeerangganPublished: Jun 10, 2009 8:52 AM | Updated: Jun 10, 2009 10:31 AM
The Penang executive council has unanimously approved the takeover of the iconic ferry service between the island and Seberang Perai.
The Penang executive council has unanimously approved the takeover of the iconic ferry service between the island and Butterworth.
The decision was made at the weekly exco meeting today, but the state government will now have to obtain the Transport Ministry's endorsement in order to implement its plan.
Lim Hock Seng, the executive councillor in charge of (air, sea and railway) transport, will write formally to the ministry this week, informing it of the decision and seeking its approval.
“We will work it out based on the reply from the ministry, which I hope will be positive,” he told a press conference.
The plan is for the Penang Island Municipal Council to manage the service as an interim measure until the state government sets up a statutory body to run the operations.
The state government will enact a state law to form the new body, to be known as the Penang Heritage Ferry Services Board.
Penang Port Commission (PPC) chairperson Tan Cheng Liang had said recently that current operator Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB) has been suffering massive annual financial losses in running the ferry service. She hinted that the PPSB was prepared to hand over the operations to the transport ministry.
This raised concern among Penangites that the service may be stopped, leading to Lim to suggest that the MPPP could take over the operations.
“We are a caring people’s government that wants to preserve and conserve the state’s heritage,” he said..
“Others may not be interested, but the current state government is keen to handle the ferry operations and safeguard the state’s heritage icon.”
He indicated that the state would explore all ways to turn around the ferry service into a profitable venture that provides an affordable, reliable and efficient mode of transport.
However, the state government does not want to inherit the PPSB’s liabilities.
‘Extend and diversify service’
In an immediate response, Penang Heritage Trust trustee, Prof Anwar Fazal welcomed the move and suggested that a professional body should run the operations.
The service should be reinvented and diversified from the current George Town-Butterworth route, he said, and be extended to other parts of the state and the northern region of the peninsula.
Anwar said the service has tremendous potential as an affordable, viable, efficient, reliable and relaxing form of transport.
For instance, it could transport commuters from George Town to the tourist belt between Tanjung Tokong and Teluk Bahang, as well as from the Bayan Lepas International Airport to the tourist belt. Additional services could ply between Butterworth and Kuala Muda (Kedah) and Kuala Krai (Perak).
“Sea-cruise type services could be provided for locals and tourists. The ferry service was a hugely profitable business before the Penang Bridge was built. It was so profitable that it even subsidised other port operations,” said Anwar the Penang City Council assistant executive secretary from 1965-1972.
He proposed that the ferry service be linked, even merged, with other modes of public transport especially buses.
For instance, a single ticketing system would enable passengers to board buses and ferries to travel across the state daily.
“Ferries can become sea-buses to provide commuters a beautiful and wonderful view of Penang during a relaxing ride,” he said.
A private company began operating the ferry service in 1920 until the PPC took over in 1956.
PPSB, which began handling the operations from Jan 1, 1994, has eight vehicular-cum-passenger double-decker ferries, but deploys only six at a time. Some 6,500 passengers and 3,000 vehicles use the service daily.
The decision was made at the weekly exco meeting today, but the state government will now have to obtain the Transport Ministry's endorsement in order to implement its plan.
Lim Hock Seng, the executive councillor in charge of (air, sea and railway) transport, will write formally to the ministry this week, informing it of the decision and seeking its approval.“We will work it out based on the reply from the ministry, which I hope will be positive,” he told a press conference.
The plan is for the Penang Island Municipal Council to manage the service as an interim measure until the state government sets up a statutory body to run the operations.
The state government will enact a state law to form the new body, to be known as the Penang Heritage Ferry Services Board.
Penang Port Commission (PPC) chairperson Tan Cheng Liang had said recently that current operator Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB) has been suffering massive annual financial losses in running the ferry service. She hinted that the PPSB was prepared to hand over the operations to the transport ministry.This raised concern among Penangites that the service may be stopped, leading to Lim to suggest that the MPPP could take over the operations.
“We are a caring people’s government that wants to preserve and conserve the state’s heritage,” he said..
“Others may not be interested, but the current state government is keen to handle the ferry operations and safeguard the state’s heritage icon.”He indicated that the state would explore all ways to turn around the ferry service into a profitable venture that provides an affordable, reliable and efficient mode of transport.
However, the state government does not want to inherit the PPSB’s liabilities.
‘Extend and diversify service’
In an immediate response, Penang Heritage Trust trustee, Prof Anwar Fazal welcomed the move and suggested that a professional body should run the operations.
The service should be reinvented and diversified from the current George Town-Butterworth route, he said, and be extended to other parts of the state and the northern region of the peninsula.Anwar said the service has tremendous potential as an affordable, viable, efficient, reliable and relaxing form of transport.
For instance, it could transport commuters from George Town to the tourist belt between Tanjung Tokong and Teluk Bahang, as well as from the Bayan Lepas International Airport to the tourist belt. Additional services could ply between Butterworth and Kuala Muda (Kedah) and Kuala Krai (Perak).
“Sea-cruise type services could be provided for locals and tourists. The ferry service was a hugely profitable business before the Penang Bridge was built. It was so profitable that it even subsidised other port operations,” said Anwar the Penang City Council assistant executive secretary from 1965-1972.
He proposed that the ferry service be linked, even merged, with other modes of public transport especially buses.
For instance, a single ticketing system would enable passengers to board buses and ferries to travel across the state daily.“Ferries can become sea-buses to provide commuters a beautiful and wonderful view of Penang during a relaxing ride,” he said.
A private company began operating the ferry service in 1920 until the PPC took over in 1956.
PPSB, which began handling the operations from Jan 1, 1994, has eight vehicular-cum-passenger double-decker ferries, but deploys only six at a time. Some 6,500 passengers and 3,000 vehicles use the service daily.
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