Penang welcomes Federal govt's decision to continue iconic ferry service

GEORGE TOWN: Penang welcomes the Federal government's decision that the state's iconic ferries would remain in service.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the decision was in line with the stand of the state government and the people of Penang who wanted the 126-year-old transport service to continue operating.

"I found out about this today morning and welcome it so that this ferry service will continue to be enjoyed not only by Penangites but also by fellow Malaysians and tourists alike," he told reporters here.

Chow said he understood the risk of continuing the existing service if ferry safety standards failed to be complied with and the cost of repairs was three times more expensive.

He said the matter could be resolved if the Federal government provided adequate allocation to the Penang Port Commission (PPC) and Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB) to maintain the ferry service.

Before this, PPC had announced that the Penang ferry service, which connects the mainland in Seberang Perai to the island state, will be replaced by speedboats starting Jan 1.

But this morning, Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz in the Dewan Rakyat sitting said the PPSB would be required to continue the Penang ferry service, which has become an icon and was of heritage value in the state for now.

-- BERNAMA