GEORGE TOWN: Thousands of motorists and foot passengers grabbed the opportunity to go for a last ride on Penang's iconic car-carrying ferries today, which will cease operations after midnight.
Among them were insurance agent Soon Yong Khoon, 40, who purposely took the day off to bring his wife, son and mother on the ferry.
He said he did not mind waiting more than 30 minutes just to get on board.
"I told myself that I had to grab the opportunity to go on the ferry ride no matter what.
"This will indeed be a memorable ride for us and many others," he said when met on board the iconic car-carrying Pulau Angsa ferry this morning.
Soon said the last time he took a ride on the ferry was two years ago.
He expressed hope that the federal government would bring back the iconic car-carrying ferries in future.
Sharing his sentiments was Perak teacher Mohammad Kamarul Arif, 33, who took the opportunity afforded by the year-end school holidays to visit Penang with his wife Norazita Jasdi, 32, and daughter Eryna Safiya, 8.
Kamarul said he had wanted to board the ferry from the Pangkalan Sultan Abdul Halim ferry terminal in Butterworth to get to the island when he arrived from Perak.
However, when he reached the ferry terminal, the queue was so long that he decided to turn back to take the first Penang bridge to the island, and board the ferry from the Pangkalan Raja Tun Uda ferry terminal here, instead.
"After this, I will take the bridge again back to the island to begin my holidays.
"I wouldn't miss this final ride for anything. I purposely brought my daughter on this iconic ferry, otherwise her generation will never get to experience it," he added.
A visibly excited Eryna said "syiok" (enjoyable) and "gembira" (happy) when asked if she enjoyed the ferry ride.
As for Grab driver Menjit Singh, 59, he said he would miss the iconic car-carrying ferries from tomorrow.
He recalled his first ferry ride back in 1983 when the bridge was not even built yet.
"I have been a supporter of the ferry service for the past two decades or so.
"Living in Butterworth, I find it very convenient to travel across the strait using the ferry, especially when I am in this part of town (George Town). I don't have to drive all the way to get to the bridge," he said.
Menjit said he hopes the government would bring back the iconic car-carrying ferries again in future.
Meanwhile, Frenchman Nathan Simon, 24, said he was glad to be a part of the memorable ride.
He had no idea that the iconic car-carrying ferries would cease operations for both four-wheel vehicles and foot passengers from tomorrow until he was told about it.
"This is my third time riding on the ferry and I enjoyed all three experiences very much.
"Back home, we also have similar services between one city and another, which takes a couple of hours.
"Well, it is good that the ferry service is moving with times to be more innovative, with the introduction of fast boats," said Simon, who has been working in Kuala Lumpur for the past year.
After nearly a century of service, Penang's iconic car-carrying ferries will cease operations tomorrow.
Beginning tomorrow, Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB), which will take over the ferry service from Prasarana Malaysia Bhd, which will operate only fast passenger boats between the mainland and the island, while Pulau Angsa will be used to transport only motorcycles and bicycles.
This is only in the interim before PPSB introduces passenger-only water buses and vehicle transporters by July 2022.
Earlier, former finance minister Lim Guan Eng, who went on his final ferry ride, said the people of Penang would not forget and forgive those responsible in retiring the car-carrying ferries.
"This has been a part of a Penangite's life all this while. This is a part of our heritage culture and a symbol of Penang, enjoyed by all.
"Today is a sad day for all of us. So, let us not forget today and let us not forgive those responsible in stopping the ferry service," he said, adding that i
f Pakatan Harapan were still in power, the iconic ferry service would still be in operation.
"Which is why, when I was the minister, I had approved a RM30 million allocation on condition that the iconic ferries continue to operate," he added.
Lim also said that if ever there was a change of the federal government, the iconic ferry service would be brought back to life.
Asked if DAP or the state government has plans to restore the iconic ferry service in the interim period, Lim said the matter is under the purview of the federal government.