GEORGE TOWN: The scrapping of the last two Penang ferries to give way to a new fleet in two years’ time is a “cold and callous” approach by the federal government which ignores the sentiments of the locals, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng claims.
He said such a move ignores Penang’s heritage and history, including its role in economic generation and tourism, and took the “romance” out of cross-channel travel.
In a statement, the former Penang chief minister said his administration had offered to take over the ferry services in 2015 but was flatly refused by the transport ministry then.
Lim said the recent news of the old ferries being scrapped was a form of betrayal by the Perikatan Nasional and MCA president Wee Ka Siong, the transport minister.
He said this was not the first time Penangites were being sidelined, saying a RM100 million allocation for the Penang Hill cable car project was halted by the present government. Lim said even a federal-backed guarantee for a light rail transit project was stopped.
“DAP urges the transport ministry to have a heart, and not abandon Penang and its iconic ferry service. Many countries still retain their original ferry services even though it may not be economical due to their intrinsic worth and intangible value to heritage and history.”
Yesterday, port operators said they would spend RM64 million to buy five new vessels, two of which will transport motorcycles and bicycles.
According to the Penang Port Commission (PPC), the amount would cover the cost of upgrading the terminals on the island and mainland.
One of the two ferries will be retained to transport only motorcycles for the time being until the new vessels are commissioned by July 2022. The other vessel will be retired for good.