Penang Port to hand over ferry ops to govt

New Straits Times, 5 June 2009

GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB) is expected to hand over its loss-making ferry operations to the Federal Government.

Penang Port Commission chairman Tan Cheng Liang said yesterday PPSB had incurred huge losses since it took over the ferry services from the PPC in 1994.

"Plans are afoot to work out an exit for PPSB."

On the ferry's fare adjustment, she did not rule out the possibility of raising the fare for passengers and vehicles to reduce the port's financial difficulty.

Tan said the problem would take time to be ironed out as the commission was under the Transport Ministry, while PPSB was under the jurisdiction of the Finance Ministry.

She said PPSB, a privatised entity, had signed a 30-year concession agreement with PPC in 1994 to operate the ferry and Penang Port, thus, there were legal aspects to be addressed.

On the crack in a passenger ramp at the Raja Tun Uda ferry terminal in Pengkalan Weld on Wednesday, she said it was because of wear and tear.

She said the repairs would be completed by 12.30pm today.