GEORGE TOWN: The federal government has been urged to reconsider a proposal to replace the existing Penang ferry service with pedestrian-only catamarans.
Persatuan Kemajuan NUSA Pulau Pinang chairman Hazizi Padzil said the government should instead improve on the existing ferry's quality and services.
"It will be sad if the iconic Penang ferry, which connects Penang island and the mainland, is stopped and replaced with pedestrian-only catamarans, among others.
"We should not reject modernisation but we should also not ignore what we have now. Instead, we should work on improving it," he said.
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong told the Dewan Rakyat recently that only 200,000 vehicles used the ferry services, while 1.2 million were pedestrians.
As such, he said, a pedestrian-only catamaran would be enough to meet demands, while the two bridges were enough for vehicular traffic.
At present, there are only two ferries to carry cars, motorcycles and pedestrians.
Hazizi said in recent years, there were numerous reports that the ferry services would be stopped.
"If we look at things externally, the catamarans look to be modern boats and surely the pedestrians are excited to use it.
"However, the problem is that the catamarans are only for pedestrians and light vehicles.
"Also, the use of catamarans has not been detailed out to the public. Indeed, there are catamarans which are big enough to accommodate vehicles but they are expensive. But what is being proposed now is pedestrian-only catamarans.
"This is causing uneasiness among the vehicle passengers, especially motorcyclists, particularly during peak hours and the rainy season," he added.
Checks by the New Straits Times at the Penang ferry showed a high number of passengers using the service today.
One of them, known as Mak Cik Ani, in her 50s, from Butterworth, said she took opportunity of the weekend to use the ferry service today.
"I have read the news that the vehicle ferries may be phased out. So, my family and I are taking the opportunity of the weekend and the interstate travel permission to
use the ferry today.
"This will serve as a fond memory for us in the future," she said when met.
Checks also showed an increase in the number of vehicles and pedestrian passengers using the ferry service since the news went viral.
When contacted, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow told the NST that the Penang Port Commission (PPC) and the Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB) would have a press conference on the matter next week.