Bring back the old Penang ferries

 

It’s a pity that government leaders do not seem to place value on the old Penang ferry service as an icon of national heritage.

The fleet of double-decker vehicular and passenger ferries was officially terminated on Jan 1 last year by the Penang Port Commission (PPC), a regulatory body under the transport ministry. The minister at the time was Wee Ka Siong.

Wee did not approve a budget for new ferries proposed by the state-supported operator. Instead, he immediately accepted PPC’s proposal for passenger-only boats and his ministry allocated a new budget for this service.

The decision has not only disenfranchised an existing operator but also caused massive disbenefits to users and the public at large.

The main function of the old ferries was to move people and vehicles between Butterworth and George Town. They could accommodate cars and motorcycles and carry them across a shorter distance and travel time than the two bridges. The convenience made them a popular choice.

Foot passengers also benefited greatly from this old ferry service as the fare charged was merely 70 sen for a return journey.

The terminals and the link spans used for vehicle access in both Butterworth and George Town, with a pair located at each location, were specifically designed for the double-decker Penang ferries.

Imagine the wasted funds and overnight redundancy of the four terminals and auxiliaries that were closed down too as a result of the controversial decision.

Since the new fast boats are to be operated by the private sector, many users feel that the 70 sen return fare would no longer be maintained.

Cars and motorcycles cannot now cross directly between George Town and Butterworth and its catchment areas like North Seberang Perai. The former daily ferry users must make a long detour to use the congested first Penang bridge instead. They have to incur higher travelling costs and longer journey times.

It seems that the abolition of the old ferries was done hurriedly at the expense of users’ needs.

Had proper assessments been made, incorporating all the economic and financial implications to all the stakeholders, the old ferries would have remained.

There are still many strong indicators, such as cost, time and convenience, that favour the old connectivity.

A fleet renewal study should have been undertaken to enhance the requirements to meet users’ demand and to preserve the heritage value of this iconic infrastructure.

Penang’s value as a major tourist destination and as a location to attract foreign direct investments is dependent upon the ability of its administrators to modernise as well as preserve its valuable heritage.

The old Penang ferry is one such heritage of a cross-channel service that has been in operation since 1894 and cannot be replicated easily.

Efficient and high-frequency services, if so desired and demanded, could still be obtained from the old ferries by increasing and modernising the entire fleet.

It only requires a proper fleet renewal and the same budget allocation, without cutting any corners, would have been sufficient.

Public services such as the old Penang ferry could be enhanced and optimised only if politicians know how to split business decisions from corruption. - FMT

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.