50 years on, why are we still talking about poor ferry service, laments DAP rep

 

State Transport Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari said Penang had wanted to take over the ferry service in 2016 but was deterred by the high cost involved.

GEORGE TOWN: A Penang assemblyman today vented his frustration over the poor ferry service between the island and his constituency in Butterworth, saying it has seen no solution for the past 50 years.

Bagan Dalam assemblyman Satees Muniandy.

Satees Muniandy (DAP-Bagan Dalam) said old parliamentary records show Penang ferry issues had been raised countless times since 1971, saying the late Dato’ Kramat MP V David had been among the first to raise the issue back then.

“And fast forward to today and we are still talking about ferry problems. When will this end?” he asked in a supplementary question to Zairil Khir Johari (DAP-Tanjung Bungah) at the state assembly today.

Earlier, Zairil, who is the state transport committee chairman, was answering a question on the deteriorating ferry service posed by Lee Khai Loon (PKR-Machang Bubok).

Zairil Khir Johari.

He said the ferry service had stopped for a full day on Aug 24 due to an engine and filtration system fault on the last two operating ferries — the Pulau Undan and Pulau Angsa — which he said was eventually fixed.

Zairil said an additional vessel, the Pulau Talang Talang, would be recommissioned this month. He also said that the Penang government had wanted to take over the ferry service in 2016 through talks with the transport ministry.

“But the operational cost alone made us decide against it. Operating and maintaining a single ferry costs RM700,000 to RM800,000 a month,” he said. The figure did not include other licensing and docking fees, which came to RM2 million a year, which was to be paid separately, he said.

Machang Bubok assemblyman Lee Khai Loon.

Zairil said Putrajaya had wanted to suspend the ferry service for three months from Sept 1 but the state managed to convince them not to. He said the ferries were under the purview of the transport ministry and the state had no control over them.

Lee, in another question, asked if the undersea tunnel project could be cancelled to buy better ferries. Zairil said the tunnel project was a long-term connectivity plan between George Town and Butterworth. - FMT