Former ferry crew member with 25 years of experience working on the ferries

In the 1970s, when I joined the Penang Port Commission, there were seven vehicle-cum-passenger ferries (of which about six were in service) that docked at the old terminal. These were Pulau Pinang, P. Langkawi, P. Aman, P. Tioman, P. Lumut, P. Redang, and P. Pangkor.

Just before I joined in 1975, a new terminal was built (on both the mainland and the island). At first, there were three double-decker vehicular ferries - Pulau Talang-Talang, P. Rawa, and P. Undan (built in Hong Kong) - using this new terminal. Three more of these ferries were acquired later: P. Rimau, Pulau Kapas, and P. Angsa (built in Pasir Gudang).

The ferries used to come at a frequency of 5-10 minutes. It was operating dengan lancar (very smoothly).

So at the time of the collapse of the old terminal, there were six vehicle-cum-passenger ferries (out of seven available) and five double-decker vehicular ferries (out of six available) in service.

When the old terminal collapsed in the late 1980s, the seven old vehicle-cum-passenger ferries were disposed of. The six newer double-decker vehicular ferries were converted to vehicle-cum-passenger ferries.

The number of ferries in service dropped from about 11 to 5 after the collapse of the old terminal.

Currently, out of the five ferries operating daily, only two operate after 10 p.m. and just one from 1 a.m. until the early morning. On weekends and public holidays, there is usually an extra ferry in service from 10 pm until midnight.

The long queues of vehicles at the ferries terminals are sometimes due to ferries being out of order. So you have these five ferries in service, and if one or two of them are out of order, the waiting time becomes longer. These ferries have been operating for more than 20 years, so I guess their engines are not at their best.

Some people still prefer using the ferries � much depends on where they are coming from and their ultimate destination.

There might be a need for a third link perhaps after five years or ten years. But I don�t think there is a need for a new link now. For now, you need to increase the number of ferries and rebuild the old terminal. I hear there are plans to bring on two new double-decker ferries later this year.

Improve the ferry service first and then assess the traffic situation to see if there is still a need for another link.

Jeweller, Butterworth

The third link is a waste of money. We need to improve the ferry services. A lot of people are put off by the ferries now as they have to wait such a long time. They should bring back the (double-decker) vehicular ferries. If we were a rich country, building a Third Link wouldn�t matter � but we are not. The problem is the government is not listening to the people.

Guard, Butterworth

My friend, a retired teacher, thinks the third link will be good as a back-up just in case the Penang Bridge collapses. But to me, the Penang Bridge and the ferries are enough. Just improve the ferry service. A RM2 billion bridge-tunnel project is not necessary. We all know why they like these big contracts (rubs the tips of his thumb and index finger together).

Homemaker, Butterworth

I think Penang people will suffer if they have the Third Link. If the Third Link comes, then Penang will be flooded with cars-lah. At the moment, you just see those roads in Penang, peak hours, crawling here and there�They say Penang Bridge congested, congested,. But when they go over to Penang, that side so congested also. I think the ferries, they should expand-lah. They should do something to the ferries. But a lot of people are against the second bridge. Even the (traffic) police chief was saying that day, it�s no point building the Third Link when the roads there are not completed. The main thing is to complete every road facility, then only you think of the Third Link.

But I think the Third Link shouldn�t come up. Congestion. At the moment the Tanjong Tokong roads are so crowded already. Kedah people want to go there all, will flood that place. And the condominiums all coming up in Tanjong Bungah. They should stop building condominiums in Penang - too many already. Let the people come over the mainland and stay. They have the Penang Bridge and the ferries, they can just cross over.

Make better roads, tar the housing estate roads, I see the roads in Penang already worse, congested you know. Cannot-lah� So what do you think? The Third Link is not worth it ah? It�s not worth it. People will get more stressful on the other side.

Repair Shop-owner, Butterworth:

Third Link? This one ah? (laughs) Ten years-lah (to complete). Not so fast-lah. It will take 10 years before you can see anything. Now you cannot (see anything). They haven�t started. It will take a few years�drag here, drag there�afterwards half way, they say the economy no good, then they stop again. I think 10 years above-lah.

I think they need it (a Third Link). The Bridge there quite jammed already. The government will do it. They have loan from Japan now�.they can collect back (from tolls), some more they got lubang (an opportunity).

These politicians have lubang, some more the land they buy at a cheap price, after they sell at an expensive price, got lubang one-lah all these politicians; we all got no lubang only; we pay the toll only. Before we can start paying, they have already earned back the money.

I think next time they will change the ferries, they will change to small ferries like the ferries to Pulau Langkawi, can take just 100 passengers, small ones, so very fast - take 5 minutes to reach Penang. The old ferries remain as double decker but only all for vehicles, better-lah - efficiency.

You want to go to Penang, you just park your bike there and take the small ferry, faster-lah, 5 minutes you can reach Penang. The big ferries they should keep that just for cars.

Some more they can earn money. After give licence to this and that one�semua kawan dapat duit lah. Kita ta� da lubang, we pay the toll only.

Now tell us what you think. E-mail us.