THE Federal Government should handover Penang ferry services management to the state government rather than micro-managing it from Putrajaya.
“Under federal administration, the ferry services have been neglected for far too long, with many companies taking over its management from time to time.
“I think the people of Penang will be in a better position to manage the ferry services as they know the needs of the locality.
“If not, Putrajaya should allocate more funding to refurbish the ferry services and channel the profits from Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB) to upgrade its services,” Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) central committee member Choo Chon Kai told FocusM.
On Dec 15, Penang Port Commission chairman Datuk Tan Teik Cheng announced that the ferry services will be halted entirely by 2022 and replaced by water buses and vehicle transporters.
Tan also announced that only one ferry will continue to operate until July 2022, to transport bicycles and motorcycles while other passengers will need to take fast ferries from the Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal.
However, Tengku Zafrul intervened on the matter, saying the Federal Government will ensure the ferry services remain operational for the time being.
“The RM30 mil allocated by the previous administration for PPSB to maintain the ferry services will be channelled in two instalments next year.
“The Government will ensure that PPSB will be required to continue its ferry service,” the Finance Minister reportedly told the Dewan Rakyat.
Choo said that public transport system should not be managed by the Federal Government per se as the local authorities would know better on the needs of the locality.
On the Penang ferry services, the PSM acknowledged that the Federal Government may need to provide a substantial subsidy to maintain the iconic services as the cost of maintaining the latter was high.
“The best way would be for the Penang state government to integrate the ferry services with the public transportation system.
“In that way, the ferry services would serve to complement the public transportation system within Penang and travellers who are entering the island state, such as from Kedah and Perak,” said the PSM state chairman.
Choo added the state government could also appoint a company to manage the ferry services in order to manage costs and improve its services.
“In reality, whatever I have said is nothing new. Many have suggested the ideas in the past but the Federal Government did not take it up for reasons best known to them,” he remarked. – Dec 20, 2020.
