Penang ferry will continue to operate

KUALA LUMPUR: The iconic Penang ferry will continue to operate, says Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz.

“The government will impose a condition on Penang Port to carry on the iconic and heritage ferry service, ” he said when wrapping up replies on debates on the Temporary Measures for Government Financing (Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19)) (Amendment) Bill in Dewan Rakyat yesterday.

Zafrul said this condition would be imposed in relation to the RM30mil approved for Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB) to take over the ferry service.

“I can confirm the allocation will be made in two payments. The first payment of RM15mil will be made in 2021 and has been included in the Supply Bill 2021, ” he said.

On Tuesday, Penang Port Commission chairman Datuk Tan Teik Cheng said the old ferries will stop operating by 2022 and replaced with water buses and vehicle transporters.

PPSB will take over the ferry service from Prasarana Malaysia Bhd on Jan 1 and will operate only fast passenger ferries between the Pangkalan Sultan Abdul Halim ferry terminal in Butterworth and the Pangkalan Raja Tun Uda.

One of the existing ferries will be used to transport bicycles and motorcycles.

There had been calls from several quarters to allow the iconic ferry to continue its service.

Early this year, serious concerns were raised as the present fleet of ferries repeatedly ran into technical problems, resulted in disruption to its service.

The first cross-strait ferry service started in 1894, making it the oldest ferry service in the country.

The existing fleet of ferries, named Penang, was delivered in May 1957 and repairs were made difficult owing to lack of spare parts.

About 1.3mil passengers and 240,000 four-wheeled vehicles used the ferry annually.

Government worker Noorzaimi Harun, 35, from Ipoh, said the ferries were one of the state’s icons and tourist attractions.

He was on a short trip here with his wife, Ruziadah Saidin, 35, and their children.

“To those from other states, the ferry service here looks special and it is one of Penang’s attractions.

“I know the ferry service has been ongoing since I was young, and it felt special because of its sentimental value, ” he said when met on Wednesday.

Another passenger, retiree Osman Ibrahim, 66, said old folks like him had been using the ferry since the 1960s.

“The ferries are old but nice service. It is the trademark of Penang. Nowhere else can you get this.

“The ferries are spacious and convenient. if I were to drive, I would take the ferry to the mainland.

“If I bring my car onto the ferry, I can take a rest and continue driving from the mainland to anywhere south, ” he said.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow welcomes the announcement by Zafrul in ensuring Penang’s ferries remain in service.

“I hope the iconic ferry will continue to serve Penangites and visitors as well, ” he said at a press conference held at Komtar yesterday.

Meanwhile, on a separate issue, Zafrul said there will be no middleman involved in buying the Covid-19 vaccines for the country.

“We will negotiate directly with the vaccine suppliers, ” he said.

He said RM3bil has been allocated to buy the vaccines while additional RM2bil will be used for health items used by frontliners in their fight against the pandemic.

Earlier, Zafrul informed the House that RM38bil out of RM45bil Covid Fund has bee used for 31 initiatives to date.

The RM45bil fund was approved by Parliament in August this year.

The Bill was passed yesterday with an additional RM20bil for the Covid Fund.