‘Penang must ensure water taxi scheme eases worsening congestion’

GEORGE TOWN – A civil society member has called on Penang to ensure its proposed water taxi scheme has good connectivity and will not defeat its purpose of easing worsening congestion.

Lim Mah Hui told The Vibes that the request for the proposal to offer water taxi services in the state – a historic first – was ideal, but stressed it must be connected to public stage buses and ride-sharing services, including taxis.

It must also be a mass mover of people, cost effective, run parallel to the existing public transport system, and not just be intended for sightseeing, said Lim.

He said that the water taxi concept strongly indicated that there was no need to pursue grand designs under the Penang Transport Master Plan, such as new highways and a light rail transit system.

In turn, the state need not pursue reclaiming up to 1,821ha off Batu Maung here.

Earlier, Penang Infrastructure and Transport executive councillor Zairil Khir Johari told a press conference that a request for proposal (RFP) will be released in various newspapers soon to ready, plan, operate, and maintain a comprehensive water taxi service for the island.

The state and Penang Island City Council (MBPP) will regulate the service along with input from federal agencies, he added.

He also said the water taxi service is an alternative mode of transport that is quite easily achievable and, if executed, Penang would be the first state in the country to offer a formalised structure for such a service.

“The RFP is to assist the state in ensuring this service can be a reality.”

The service is seen as an additional form of public transport aimed at ferrying office workers, civil servants, and personal riders to the island, said Zairil.

In addition, it can also become a tourist attraction.

To implement the project, MBPP invites operators who are keen to participate in the process by entering the open-tender exercise for the RFP, said Zairil.

He added that they must be registered with the Companies Commission, and have paid-up capital of at least RM500,000 to enter the RFP.

The state will also advertise to indicate the opening date for the RFP, which is on December 19, and the closing on February 27, next year.

The evaluation would be done based on the proposed operators’ ability and capability to manage such a project, said Zairil. – The Vibes, December 10, 2022