GEORGE TOWN – Traders at Raja Tun Uda Ferry Terminal here who, like others, were badly hit by the pandemic and movement control order, now have to contend with the relocation of the ferry service to the Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal (SPCT) starting tomorrow.
They fear they will lose customers as no more pedestrians will be using the walkway at the terminal after the ferry operation moves.
Grocery store trader Mohamad Salihu Abdul Rahuman, 60, said he had written a letter to Penang Port Sdn Bhd on the fate of their businesses and applied for a place at SPCT, but had received no response to date.
He said the place would be dead as no more customers would come their way.
“We sent a letter to PPSB on December 23 and are still waiting for a decision from them. We hope PPSB will be able to accommodate us at SPCT,” he told reporters when met today.
Starting January 1, the passenger speedboat service will be used to carry pedestrians to replace the iconic ferry that has been operating for about 126 years in the state.
The existing iconic ferry will only be used for cyclists and motorcyclists until July 2022 while the ferry service for cars will be terminated starting tomorrow.
Biscuit trader Chew Soo Peng, 45, said his family has been in business at the terminal for over 40 years and was saddened to learn that the ferry would not be carrying pedestrians anymore.
He said that due to the affordable rent and the steady flow of ferry users, he had been able to sustain his business until today.
“We had just recently resumed our business operations after being affected by the conditional movement control order, and now this happens,” he said. – Bernama, December 31, 2020
