Comments on: Penang gov’t right in revamping ferry service

By: Penang Ferry Takeover « TRANSIT (KLANG VALLEY)

Penang Ferry Takeover « TRANSIT (KLANG VALLEY) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 05:27:39 +0000

[...] Commentary: Penang gov’t right in revamping ferry service [...]

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By: Updates « TRANSIT (KLANG VALLEY)

Updates « TRANSIT (KLANG VALLEY) — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 06:05:37 +0000

[...] Commentary: Penang gov’t right in revamping ferry service Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)Public consultation finally arrangedLetter: Less [...]

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By: james lee

james lee — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 12:28:32 +0000

Penang should have only the ferry service. The Penang bridge and bridges spoilt Penang Island. Otherwise, with only the ferry service of the sixties and seventies, Penang Island would be a paradise Island, exotic, natural and idyllic. Development should be only in the mainland. Gone forever, Penang, an island in the sun! How sad!

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By: se

se — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 02:57:06 +0000

Anil and everyone here, do you have facebook?

Check out Farish A Noor’s Photos – Penang Postcards: For the Penang Heritage City Project.

It’s his collection of postcards of photopaintings of Penang, possibly 19th century.

Take the journey down the past and marvel at the change; compare the images of the past with the rape of the island today.

When I first read Cecil Rajendra’s “Pearl of the Orient” in the NST (those good old days when NST was doing its job as a paper of public interest), I had not explored Penang. Only 10 years later, during my time at USM, did I get the chance to fell in love with the island, which by then had actually degraded even more.

Cecil Rajendra wrote that haunting poem also in memory of the beauty contestant who committed suicide after being raped by the organisers.

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By: Bigjoe

Bigjoe — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 01:21:25 +0000

Don’t try and do tough business modeling when you have not done one. It really make you look bad.

The Star Ferry Service in Hong Kong is purely passenger – it does not carry vehicle. As a vehicle transport, the Penang service is likely not economical no matter what the efficiency is. Switching to entirely passenger service is also probably not necessary although it makes more economic sense.

Also having services to other parts of Penang Island is probably also limited – maybe to Gurney Drive only. Other places probably don’t have the economics for it. An alternative to develop cruises for tourist including things like off-shore dining experience.

One advantage of the Penang Ferry Service which the Hong Kong one does not have is the large land the terminals stands on which is way under exploited especially if they reduce/eliminate the vehicle service. If developed, its likely to be hugely profitable and can subsidised whatever it is they want to maintain uneconomic about the Ferry Service.

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By: Penangite

Penangite — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 12:20:13 +0000

Once a while when returning to Kuala Lumpur, I will take the ferry because of the fond nostalgia.

I am a Penangite, residing in KL. By taking the ferry to the mainland it gives me the pleasure to enjoy the smell of the sea breeze and the joy of climbing up and down the upper deck (which we used to do in our younger days)just to take a leak.

I am in my late fifties now and I have a lot of fond memories to tell my children about this ferry service which meant so much to all Penangites.

I am for it! Please keep the ferry service and improve on it so that commuters have the choice over the mode of transport, apart from nostalgia.

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By: flyer168

flyer168 — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 04:04:24 +0000

With the constant “Grid-Lock” of the Traffic jams at the Penang Bridge, this is definitely the better alternative with the Historic Ferry Infrastructure already in place.

If the Hong Kong & many other Ferry service models can succeed profitably, why not LEARN from the proven success models.

It is also a Heritage & Tourist attraction – a nostalgic experience for the visitor to the “Pearl of the Orient”.

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By: chrisyong

chrisyong — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 02:42:11 +0000

LGE just take it over. It is such a simple operation, learn from HK. Maintain ferry well, improve efficiency, whip those who are sitting on their butt and shaking legs by having many meetings and nothing done and no decision made. Politicians who only care about their own pocket and have no VISION SHOULD BE SACKED. Turn this project into heritage and tourist attraction, clean up the ferries etc etc…………sigh. Serve the people and community…..and ppl in Pg.

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By: tuah

tuah — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 01:56:22 +0000

Ref: tuah on June 10th, 2009 at 11.48pm

I did not realised PPC chairperson is a lady and from MCA. No wonder ( I mean the MCA part and not the gender). I hope there is no PKFZ type scandal with Penang Port. And of course with a politico at the top, the ferry service is guaranteed to loose money. I also wonder why that position was given to MCA and not Gerakan.

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By: SamG

SamG — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 01:21:13 +0000

All the fares are collected on the Butterworth side. Many of the cars are coming in by bridge and leaving by ferry. So that is a loss for the ferry. I propose the following:
a) Subsidy from Penang bridge based a balanced traffic flow – say 1000 cars from Penang to Butterworh and only 500 cars from Butterworth to Penang.
b) Cuopons issued from Butterworth must be shown at the Penang side to board ferry. Vehicles without the coupons to pay for Penang – Butterworth trip
c) collect fares from both sides.
d) Make Penang Bridge run the Ferry Services too, so in both ways there are no losses, just left pocket and right pocket issues

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