Iconic Penang ferry just a memory now

BUTTERWORTH - The people of Penang's wish to see the Iconic Penang ferry make a return may not come true.

This was because the structure of both ferry terminals on the island and mainland have been destroyed by the ferry management after it stopped its operation three years ago.

Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng said Pakatan Harapan's (PH) wish to bring back the iconic ferry to the state's water may not be achieved since the ferry terminals were destroyed.

"Originally, we had thought about bringing back the historic ferry by allocating repair costs of not less than RM30 million.

"But the problem now is that even if we repair it, it would be useless because the previous administration had destroyed the terminals after terminating the ferry service. I don't even know what was their intention in destroying the terminals," he said on Saturday.

He said this after launching the RapidPenang Bagan Dalam LOOP bus service which was held in front of the former Bagan Dalam assemblyman's office here.

Lim said the hopes of bringing back the iconic ferry was conveyed to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

The ferry, he said did not only possess high historical value, but it was also one of the important means of transportation connecting the mainland and the island.

He said the Prime Minister had also reminisced about the time he took a ride on the Penang ferry which not only carried passengers but also transport vehicles across the sea.

"When the terminals were destroyed, where would these ferries dock?

"Why did they destroy these terminals, I don't know. You have to ask them," he said.

The ferry terminals were said to be destroyed after the ferry service had stopped operating since three years ago.

In March, it was reported that the federal government was considering to bring back the iconic ferry's operation to Penang which had stopped since Dec 31, 2020.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke, however, said that efforts to realise it could not be carried out immediately because there were many challenges, including the issue of renovating the ferry terminal.

"The operation of the iconic ferry could not be restored immediately and it will take time since there are many challenges from an operational point of view to immediately restore this service because the old terminal has been modified for a new ferry that can only carry passengers and motorcycles.

"We also need to refine the ferry terminal renovation project on both the island and mainland at the moment which can no longer accommodate the iconic ferry operation involving transport of four-wheeled vehicles," he said.

After 126 years of being the oldest form of transportation in Penang, the iconic ferry service as an alternative route from Seberang Perai to the island and vice versa had been replaced by speedboats starting Jan 1, 2021.

Previously, the Penang Port Commission (SPPP) announced that the ferry service in Penang for vehicles with four wheels will be stopped from Jan 1, 2021, where Ro-Ro ferries were only to carry motorcycles and bicycles.

This meant that all four-wheeled vehicles can no longer use the sea route as an alternative to the island and back.

Starting from the date, the Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB) took over the ferry services for passengers, motorcycles and bicycles from Prasarana Malaysia Berhad.

PPSB will also provide catamaran services for passengers, motorcycles and bicycles to replace the previous ferries.

However, in order to maintain the historical value and iconic elements of Penang, SPPP will house two iconic ferries at Tanjung City Marina.

The two ferries will be transformed into floating restaurants and museums, both of which will not move, only parked at Tanjung City Marina.