GEORGE TOWN, Dec 19 — It is still unclear whether the iconic Penang ferry service will continue to operate or be terminated by 2021, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said.
He said the state hoped to seek clarification from the federal government after Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz said yesterday that the Penang ferry service will be retained.
Chow said the Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB) management board would need some time to get a clearer picture on whether to adhere to the statement from the Ministry of Finance (MOF) or the Ministry of Transport (MOT).
“Both the Penang Port Commission (PPC) and PPSB were equally shocked by the recent announcement. If we follow what PPSB had reported to the Penang exco earlier, maintaining the existing ferry services is not part of their development plan,” he said in a press conference here yesterday.
However, Chow said he would not comment further until the federal authorities had cleared the air.
Before this, PPC had announced that the Penang ferry service, which connects the mainland in Seberang Perai to the island, will be replaced by catamarans starting January 1.
But on Thursday, Tengku Zafrul told the Dewan Rakyat that PPSB would be required to continue the Penang ferry service, which has become an icon and is of heritage value to the state.
— Bernama
