Penang welcomes Putrajaya s decision to continue iconic ferry service freemalaysiatoday.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from freemalaysiatoday.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
PETALING JAYA: The new water buses and vehicle transporters that will soon be used in Penang’s iconic ferry service will be much safer and more comfortable for passengers, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.
Addressing claims the ferry service is being terminated, the Transport Minister said it will be upgraded and improved through the new water vehicles.
“The government and the Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB) will spend RM36.5mil as a whole to buy three new water buses and two roll-on/roll-off ferries (Ro-Ro) that would also ferry two-wheeled vehicles.
“It is far safer, more comfortable and faster. This will increase the attractiveness of Penang as a tourist destination, ” he said in a Facebook statement on Thursday (Dec 17).
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“The government will impose a condition on Penang Port to carry on the iconic and heritage ferry service, he said when wrapping up replies on debates on the Temporary Measures for Government Financing (Corona Disease (Covid-19) (Amendment) Bill 2020 in Dewan Rakyat on Thursday (Dec 17).
Tengku Zafrul said this condition would be imposed in relation to RM15mil out of the RM30mil approved for Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB) to take over the ferry service. I can confirm that the allocation will be made in two payments. The first payment of RM15mil will be made in 2021 and has been included in the Supply Bill 2021, he said.
Thursday, 17 Dec 2020 03:36 PM MYT
BY OPALYN MOK
Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow speaks to reporters during a press conference at Komtar, George Town December 17, 2020. Picture by Sayuti Zainudin
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GEORGE TOWN, Dec 17 Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow has suggested that the federal government consider purchasing new ferries similar to its current fleet of iconic vessels instead of replacing them with water buses and vehicle transporters.
The Penang lawmaker said if the federal government can invest RM30 million on catamarans, it should consider buying new ferries.
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GEORGE TOWN: Penang has welcomed the government s plan to ensure the island s ferries remain in service. I hope it becomes a reality and the iconic ferry will continue to serve the people of Penang and visitors as well, said Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.
He added that the state had not been officially informed of the new development. The main issue was about allocations – Penang Port said that if the Federal Government could bear costs, the ferry would continue to operate, he told a press conference in Komtar on Thursday (Dec 17).
Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz told the Dewan Rakyat earlier Thursday that the government would ensure that Penang s iconic ferries would remain in service.