Penang Ferry Service To Be Separate Entity From Oct 1

PENANG, Sept 24 (Bernama) -- The Penang ferry service will be separated as a subsidiary of Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB) from Oct 1 as part of a restructuring plan to list PPSB on Bursa Malaysia.

PPSB Managing Director Datuk Ahmad Ibni Hajar said the plan had received the blessing of the Economic Planning Unit in the Prime Minister's Department, Finance and Transport Ministries.

" The move to separate the ferry service from PPSB was instructed by the EPU. The EPU wanted two separate entities -- PPSB and ferry service. Both are different operations," he told reporters.

Ahmad however said PPSB will work with Rapid Penang Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of RAPID KL, to use the ferry services to transport Rapid Penang buses with passengers to the mainland.

He said PPSB will hold talks with Rapid Penang for its buses to use the ferry service to destinations on the mainland and vice-versa. "

Currently, there is only 25 per cent passenger load on our ferries. We're looking into ways to cut wastage.

" We've been making losses since 2002 in operating the ferry service," he added.

Last year, the ferry service incurred its worst ever losses following fuel price hike, chalking up RM24.6 million in losses, almost double of the RM14.4 million losses suffered in 2007.

PPSB has eight ferries plying the Penang Channel between the Raja Tun Uda Ferry Terminal in Butterworth and Sultan Abdul Halim Ferry Terminal on the island.

-- BERNAMA

PPC Also Interested In Ferry Services

June 17, 2009

PENANG, June 17 (Bernama) -- The Penang Port Commission (PPC) is interested in taking over the mainland-island ferry service operations from Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB).

PPC chairman Tan Cheng Liang said the commission was preparing a working paper to be handed over to the Transport Ministry in 2-3 weeks.

"Anyone can take over the operations if they are capable and we are also interested as we are familiar with ferry activities.

"We have told the Transport Ministry and they have asked for a working paper for further action," he said at a news conference here Wednesday.

Tan said as the licensor for port activities in Penang, the PPC knew the ins and outs of ferry service operations.

PPSB had indicated handing over operations to the federal government as it could not bear the losses that have continued to rise over the last 10 years.

The Penang state government had also expressed interest but according to Tan till now a working paper had not been forwarded.

MPPP asked to take over Penang ferry

STAR, 8 June 2009

GEORGE TOWN: The state government has asked Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) to take over ferry operations, which had incurred RM21mil in losses, from the Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB).

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the state government was ready to take risks, challenges and losses as the ferry services had an historic and heritage background.

The ferry services, he said, were also important and meaningful to Penangites.

Lim said he was confident that MPPP could turna round and improve the running of the ferry services.

"We have not made a formal application to the Transport Ministry, but we have asked the newly elected MPPP president Tan Cheng Chui to have a meeting with the Penang Port Commission (PPC) chairman Tan Cheng Liang soon," he said.

Penang ferry must buck up

New Straits Times, 2008/12/22

GEORGE TOWN: Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB), which operates the ferry service, has been instructed to adhere to the standing operating procedure and keep six ferries running daily from 7am to 11pm and beyond if necessary.

Penang Port Commission (PPC) board chairman Tan Cheng Liang said she had informed the ferry service's operations manager of the board's decision.

"We have eight ferries, one will be in the dock for servicing and the other on standby.

"The PPC board has instructed PPSB to operate all the six ferries and if after 11pm there is still a long queue they should continue operating until the congestion is cleared.

"We have received countless complaints about the PPSB ferry service, especially during school holidays, weekends and public holidays," she said during a RM50,000 cheque presentation by the state MCA to the Methodist Boys' School at the school's premises here.
The funds are for the school to construct a three-storey building for Form Six students.

Tan said it was PPSB's social obligation to provide the service, even though the company was operating at a loss of about RM13 million annually.

She also urged PPSB staff to help control traffic at Pengkalan Weld, where motorists often jumped queue.

"The holding area at the Raja Tun Uda ferry terminal on the island has been reduced to half due to the Rapid Penang buses being parked there.

"The understanding for loaning the holding area to RapidPenang was that it was to be temporary but the buses have been there for two years now.

"Unless the holding problem is solved, we will continue to face traffic congestion at the ferry terminal area," said Tan, who is also a member of the MCA central working committee.

Tan said commuters who were facing problems or wanted to lodge complaints should call the PPSB hotlines at 04-2102363 (Penang Island) or 04-3102377 (Butterworth) or email the board at penangport.gov.my.