After years of lacklustre performance, the Penang ferry service will see better days with the introduction of catamarans and ferries dedicated to tourists.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the proposal would probably be implemented in the next two years.
Loke said a meeting was recently held with Prasarana, and a decision was made to maintain the ferry services.
"We decided to maintain but also upgrade the ferry services; perhaps two or three ferries will be used for passengers and cars but the remaining ones will be turned into tourist ferries," Loke told reporters in George Town today.
"Tourists will get to enjoy the ferries, like those along the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, Thailand.
The Penang ferry service was officially acquired by Rapid Ferry Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Prasarana Malaysia Berhad (Infrastructure) Group, on May 1 last year from Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB).
PPSB had been operating the ferry operations and services since January 1, 1994.
NGOs like Penang Forum had proposed doing away with megaprojects like the underwater tunnel linking the island to Butterworth, and upgrading existing facilities like the ferry service instead.
Loke was in Penang today to launch the My100 and My50 unlimited Rapid Penang passes, which follows a successful launch in the Klang Valley.
Valid for 30 days, the passes, dubbed 'Pas Mutiara', can be used by the Rapid Penang bus and ferry passengers.
"Six ferries are currently operating between the two jetties (on the island and mainland), with an annual ridership of 865,559 passengers and 762,498 vehicles.
"Up to July this year, the average daily ridership for the ferry is 3,696 passengers, 1,198 cars, 1,855 motorcycles and 59 other modes of transport," Loke said during his speech.
"Rapid Penang operates 404 buses on 71 routes with an annual ridership of 16 million passengers. Up to July this year, the average daily ridership has exceeded 75,000 passengers," he added.
Accompanying Loke at the launch were Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, and Prasarana president and group CEO Mohamed Hazlan Mohamed Hussain. - Mkini
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