PEDESTRIAN ferry users are expressing concern about the way the government is disclosing information on a piece-meal basis concerning the transition of Penang's ferry services from January 1.
As an example, pedestrian commuters are worried that, after buying their speedboat ticket at the Sultan Abdul Halim Ferry Terminal booth in Butterworth, they have to ascend/descend a steep flight of stairs (now under construction) to reach the speedboat berthing area on the ground floor.
The ferry terminal is connected to Penang Sentral’s third floor and the pedestrian commuters’ concern is justifiable. Although it has been said that senior citizens, the disabled and pregnant women would be provided free shuttle service at the Sultan Abdul Halim Ferry Terminal, there is a likelihood that the shuttle van will not be sufficient during peak hours, or else, social distancing cannot be exercised.
The Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) calls on the Penang Port Commission (PPC) to allay the fears of pedestrian commuters of having to take a long route to catch the speedboat if there is indeed a plan to retain the ticketing booth at the current location.
It was reported that both fibreglass speedboats – Kenangan 3 and 6 – are 21 and 19 years old, respectively. We would like to know who made the decision to purchase these aging vessels, at what cost, and how the decisions were made. This is because the engines of such old vessels require more expensive maintenance and repairs.
There is concern among commuters about the stability of the speedboat crossing in the wake of a ship approaching it. Stability must be ensured before introducing the speedboats.
We reiterate our call for the Transport Ministry and the PPC to be transparent and forthcoming in providing information and updates on the matter. It was a comedy of sorts when the media earlier reported conflicting announcements that caused confusion about the cessation of the ferry service by the finance minister and Transport Ministry. – The Vibes, December 28, 2020
Mohideen Abdul Kader is Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) president
