PRASARANA Malaysia Bhd, which operates the iconic Penang ferries, will be spending RM90 million to upgrade and improve the public transport service.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke told the Dewan Rakyat that Prasarana, in its development plan for the ferry service in Penang, planned to upgrade the terminal facilities and buy new passenger ferries.

“Prasarana estimates a RM90 million allocation to upgrade the facilities and to buy the new ferries.

“RM21 million will be used to buy the passenger-only ferries in 2018 and 2019. This will increase the number of vehicular ferries to six,” he said in his winding-up speech during the motion to debate the Royal Address in the House.

The existing ferries carry both vehicles and passengers.

Loke also said Prasarana would repair and restore the existing six ferries starting from this year, adding that it would cost an estimated RM13.7 million.

Loke was replying to the ferry issue brought up last week by Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who had proposed the use of water taxis or catamarans as water transport alternatives.

The government-linked public transport provider took over the operation of the ferries which have since been rebranded as Rapid Ferry in late April this year.

The loss-making service was previously helmed by Penang Port Sdn Bhd following the port’s privatisation in 1994. Service quality had been poor for years, with passengers – namely car drivers – having to wait in very long queues during peak hours.

On the Penang Transport Master Plan’s (PTMP) light rail transit (LRT) component to link George Town and Bayan Lepas, Loke said the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) had received the LRT scheme proposal from Penang in 2016.

He confirmed that studies and reports had been submitted and received, and meetings conducted between SPAD and the Penang government in 2016.

Chow had also raised the PTMP issue in his speech in the House last week, asking the federal government to give its approval to the multibillion ringgit master plan.

Loke said SPAD had informed the Penang government to get the Detailed Environment Impact Assessment approved in order for the LRT project to be considered.

“SPAD also needs the National Physical Development Council to approve the Penang South Reclamation (PSR), as a depot is to be located on Island A in the plan,” he said.

Penang is funding the PTMP with PSR with three man-made islands to be reclaimed off the southern coast of Penang island. Land on the reclaimed islands will then be auctioned off to pay for the projects in the master plan.

“SPAD hopes Penang can get the two approvals from the authorities so the LRT application to SPAD can be processed as soon as possible,” Loke said. – August 1, 2018.