BUTTERWORTH – The Unesco World Heritage sites in Penang and Melaka are “pointless” international accreditation if the government is not serious in preserving heritage elements in the country, said DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng.
“It is pointless trying to showcase the Unesco heritage sites in Penang and Melaka when there is no attempt made to preserve the iconic Penang (cross-channel) ferries.”
Lim told a press conference here that heritage is something money cannot buy due to historical and intrinsic values, like the iconic ferries.
He said many people in Penang find the reasons cited by Transport Minister Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong to be “lame and offensive”.
“If one cites costs, we can upgrade the ferries. Issues such as being obsolete and in a state of disrepair can be overcome if we take the right initiatives.
“We can upgrade or replace the engines. If Canada and Hong Kong can do it, I do not see why Penang cannot replicate similar efforts.”
Lim, who is Bagan MP, said the newly-acquired catamarans can be used parallel to the iconic ferries instead of shutting down the 61-year-old vessels by 2022.
“This is for the sake of our heritage. The ferries can also be a tourism attraction.”
He had earlier met local heritage activists, who came here to draw sketches of the ferries as mementoes.
Lim said the federal authorities must answer the misgivings expressed by the people here, especially Wee, whom he described as becoming “obsessed” in wanting to remove the iconic ferries.
“Wee is not from Penang so he does not comprehend the effect of removing the ferries.”
Earlier, the Penang Port Commission said the ferry services needed to be revamped and upgraded in stages in view of the safety and security needs after a spate of breakdowns.
The interim plan is to introduce two catamarans that will run every 30 minutes to ferry pedestrians from the Sultan Abdul Halim terminal in Butterworth to the Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal on the island.
One of the ferries will run every hour bringing across motorcyclists and cyclists.
From June 2022, the operations would be taken over by five water- buses and two transporters, while no four-wheeled vehicles will be allowed onboard.
The services only cater to 20% of motorists while the bulk of passengers are pedestrians, motorcyclists and cyclists. – The Vibes, December 27, 2020
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