Ferry service back to Penang Port

Prasarana to hand ferry assets and operations to Penang port authority

GEORGE TOWN: Prasarana Malaysia Bhd is set to cede the ferry services’ assets and operations to Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB), some 17 months after the takeover in May last year.

A source said a purported handover by its subsidiary, Rapid Ferry Sdn Bhd, would take place in two weeks’ time, pending Cabinet approval.

It also said PPSB, in turn, was said to have imposed several conditions before agreeing to the takeover.

Among the conditions are that at least three catamarans will have to be brought in while maintaining at least two of the iconic ferries, an increase in ferry rates or two-way fares being imposed, and an agreement for subsidised fuel.

It is learnt that the federal government has agreed in principle to the conditions.

Prasarana strategic marketing and communications deputy chief Rafizan Amran said it was mere speculation.

PPSB chief executive officer Sasedharan Vasudevan said Prasarana was still using the port workers in running the ferry services as usual.

“We were running the service from 2014 until the handover last year.

“We had proposed to bring in the catamarans several times, but never got the approval,” he said when contacted.

Sasedharan said they could run an integrated and vibrant waterfront with catamarans if the takeover was indeed true.

He said each catamaran would roughly cost Rm25mil, and could take in 200 passengers each.

“Having three of them would be adequate to replace the ageing ferries.

“If we are to take over the ferry service, the idea is to maintain two ferries as they are part of Penang’s legacy,” he said.

Sources said Prasarana has been put in an untenable position to run the loss-making entity, as it did not receive the Rm90mil funding which was promised by the previous Barisan Nasional-led administration.

Of this amount, Rm21mil would be for the purchase of new passenger ferries. A total of Rm13.7mil from the allocation was to be spent on repairing the six existing ferries over a three-year period.

However, Prasarana has not done any upgrade since the funds were not available.

It was reported that it costs Rm31mil annually to provide and maintain the ferry service, but with only Rm7mil collected in fees, Prasarana has forked out Rm24mil a year since it took over the service from PPSB in May last year.

In August, Transport Minister Anthony Loke was quoted as saying that Rapid Ferry had to source for internal funding to carry out the purchase of new ferries and repair the existing ones.

He said the Rm90mil could not be allocated to Prasarana as there were still some legal issues with the previous operator.

Sasedharan said the port land on the island and mainland is worth Rm300mil.

He added that the land which houses the Rapid Penang Bus depot in Weld Quay could be converted into a viable commercial area with retail outlets serving passengers of the catamarans plying to and fro.

“PPSB has a business plan and a team of people who are doing a lot of internal work to ensure the ferry service is run well,” he said.

Penang Port Commission chairman Jeffrey Chew said they had been receptive to the idea of bringing in the catamarans to boost passenger traffic.

“It’ll be exciting if the ferry services are returned to PPSB.

“It would fit in perfectly, serving the seafronts comprising the yet-to-be completed Gurney Wharf, Esplanade, Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal, Tanjung Marina City and the clan jetties which are accessible to the public.

“These waterfronts can serve the proposed water taxis well, and ultimately, an efficient service is what the people of Penang want.”