THE government’s decision to terminate Penang’s 126-year-old ferry service totally ignores the island’s unique heritage and history, said former chief minister and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng.

“This cold and callous approach totally ignores both Penang’s unique heritage and history, an important role as an economic generator for the tourism industry,” said Lim, the MP for Bagan.

He said Penang is being “betrayed” by both the current Perikatan Nasional administration and MCA for not honouring Pakatan Harapan’s previous commitments.

The PH government had transferred the Penang ferry service back to Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB) from Prasarana Bhd, with the understanding that the ferry service must be retained, together with cash payments as an incentive.

The Penang Port Commission (PPC) announced that the service, which has been ferrying both passengers and vehicles between the island and the mainland, will cease operation from January 1 2021, and will be replaced by speed boats carrying only pedestrians, bicycles and motorcycles.

PPC chairman Tan Teik Cheng said PPSB would implement the change because the company would take over the Penang ferry service.

“Not just Penangites but many Malaysians who loved using the service are sad at the PN government’s justification for terminating the ferry service as being driven by statistics and economics, rather than emotions or politics,” he said.

Lim said ending the service will take the romance out of going to Penang in the traditional manner, especially when George Town holds a Unesco World Heritage City title.

“Heritage and history are something that money cannot buy and should be treasured for future generations.”

Lim said, in an effort to save the ferry service, the Penang government had offered to take over the entire Penang water transport services and ferry service in 2015 by bearing its costs.

However, he said in 2016 the Transport Ministry refused to grant full authority to the state government, insisting on exercising regulatory control over water transport and ferry services in the state, even though the ministry was not footing the bill.

“This is not the first time that Penangites have been ‘betrayed’ by the PN government.

“The RM100 million allocated in the 2020 Budget to build the cable car on Penang Hill (Bukit Bendera) was also terminated.

“Similarly, the promised bank loan guarantees by the previous PH government to build the LRT to overcome the chronic traffic congestion in Penang and Seberang Prai was also cancelled.

“DAP urges the Transport Ministry to have a heart, not to abandon Penang and its iconic ferry service. Many foreign countries still retain its original ferry services, even though they may not be economical, due to their intrinsic worth and intangible value to heritage and history,” Lim added. – December 16, 2020.