The government should utilise the sea to provide a water-based transportation system in Penang, similar to that in Bangkok, suggests a social activist.

This could include expanding the ferry service the George Town-Butterworth route to link major areas on the island and mainland.

Social reform grouping Aliran treasurer Anil Netto said that, since Penang is surrounded by sea, it should only be natural for the authorities to utilise the water to upgrade the public transportation system.

Aliran is among 25 groups that are part of a lobby called Cepat to improve public transportation in Penang.

Netto said ferries and lighters could supplement an integrated metropolitan public transport service, particularly since the bus service has failed yet again in Penang.

For instance, one could travel from Balik Pulau on the southwest of the island to Teluk Bahang at the northern end, or from Tanjung Bungah on the island and Bagan on the mainland.

"The land and sea transport system can be complementary. We may not need a second bridge after all," Netto told malaysiakini.

At the same time, the federal and state governments should continue with efforts to provide a cost-effective and reliable bus service.

He cited the example of Curitiba town in Brazil, where the local authority has formed a consortium comprising several private operators and allows them to utilise state-owned buses.

Commuters insert the fare into a coin box before boarding the bus. The daily proceeds are tallied centrally and then disbursed to the operators based on the distance travelled.

Netto further suggested the re-introduction of tram-buses as a cost-effective, reliable and affordable transport system for Penang, rather than embarking on such "mega projects as the monorail, light rail transit, bridges and outer ring road".

"The modes (like tram-buses) would be environment-friendly and add value to the heritage and tourism sector in Penang," he said.

'Poor enforcement'

Other member-groups of Cepat like the Penang Heritage Trust (PHT) and Save Ourselves (SOS) also called for improvements in view of grouses about the bus service launched last April.

Among the complaints are the long wait for buses, the poor condition of vehicles and irregular operation hours. Commuters also allege that drivers stop randomly to pick up passengers and ply routes at their whims and fancies.

PHT president Dr Choong Sim Poey blamed poor policy implementation and law enforcement for this.

He said bus drivers have been flouting the law at will, but that enforcers seem unperturbed by this.

"The authorities should be more cohesive in enforcing the law. Only then can the metropolitan bus service policy be implemented effectively," he said.

The entrepreneur development ministry in the federal government issues permits to bus operators, fixes service routes and decides the fare ceiling. It has allowed several operators to operate the bus service in Penang.

Even then, said Choong, the state government has a pivotal role to ensure a good bus system.

"It could submit a plan for a comprehensive metropolitan public transport system, of which the bus service would be an integral part, for federal approval. The state government must have the political and public compulsion to do so," he said.

SOS secretary BK Ong, who pointed that most buses were not roadworthy, also said the service is "poor, unreliable and inefficient....it's useless and virtually non-existent".

"I doubt the buses could pass the half-yearly road test. Indeed I doubt whether the buses go through the test at all," he said.

Previously, a bus consortium plied the majority of the routes, while a handful of companies was allowed to ply several shorter routes. This system was replaced when it failed.