BUTTERWORTH: The waiting area at Penang Sentral is not meant to serve as accommodation or an overnight stay facility, says state infrastructure, transport and digital committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari.
He said the integrated transport hub provides a 24-hour waiting area on Level 1 of its stage bus platform, with basic facilities for passengers waiting for buses or connecting transport services.
Zairil also said Penang Sentral is operated by Malaysian Resources Corporation Bhd (MRCB), not the state government.
"MRCB also explained that public access to the terminal is restricted to Level 1 after 1am, with visitors not allowed to wait or remain in other areas, including the commercial sections and the Urban Transformation Centre (UTC), which are closed for security and operational reasons," Bernama quoted him as saying on Sunday (Nov 8).
He was responding to a social media post claiming that a passenger had been asked to leave the terminal by security guards after arriving at about 1am.
The passenger claimed he was waiting for a ferry to George Town, as his hotel check-in was scheduled for 3pm the following day.
Penang Sentral serves as an integrated transport hub connecting ferry services, KTM trains, express buses and Rapid Penang buses.
The planned Mutiara Line LRT will also serve the area.
Meanwhile, UTC Seberang Perai, located on the third and fourth floors of the terminal, occupies about 5,575sq m (60,000sq ft) and houses nine government departments, including the Immigration Department and National Registration Department.
