Penang ferry service to continue on! Ministry of Finance to the rescue

A few days ago, the Penang Port Commission announced that they will be ending the iconic Penang ferry service entirely by 2022 much to the dismay of many. But the Ministry of Finance announced today that they will lend a helping hand to rescue the service.

Finance Minister, Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, declared earlier today at the Dewan Rakyat that: “The government will impose a condition on Penang Port to carry on the iconic and heritage ferry service.”

This condition imposed would be in relation to RM 15 mil 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.

Previously, it was reported in 14th December that the ferry service will be phased out in favour of speedboats. The new service will be capable of carrying 200 passengers with a travel speed of 10-15 minutes and a frequency of 40 times a day.

PPSB will take over from Prasarana Malaysia come January 1st 2021 with a promise that the service will be more reliable than the current ferry service that has been operating for 126 years.

Being one of the most iconic services in Malaysia, many quarters have voiced their concerns to have the ferry service continue. Hence the Ministry of Finance’s decision to issue a conditional budget to PPSB to continue with the service.

Here’s a little bit of history, the first cross-strait ferry service started in 1894, way before the country’s independence. Meanwhile, the current fleet of ferries was delivered in May 1957. Since then, it is reported that repairs are getting increasingly difficult due to the lack of spare parts.

Are you glad that Malaysia’s oldest ferry service will continue?