WHAT ABOUT IMPROVING THE FERRY SERVICE?

Aliran regrets that Penang Chief Minister Dr Koh Tsu Koon seems to have ignored the proposal to drastically improve the existing ferry service in his eagerness to push for an expensive bridge-cum-tunnel project.

Increasing the size, frequency, speed and number of ferries will immediately relieve congestion on the Penang Bridge.   The state government should also rebuild the damaged ferry terminal on the mainland and re-introduce the double-decker vehicular ferries.

If the state government feels that a third link - from Pulau Tikus on the island to Bagan Ajam on the mainland - is necessary, then it should build additional ferry terminals at these locations.  This would be a far quicker - and more affordable - alternative to the proposed bridge-cum-tunnel.

But then, there may be other reasons for the bridge-cum-tunnel project.  Who are the “lucky” contractors and toll collectors going to be?  They stand to make a windfall in toll-collection.

Already, the “lucky” toll collector at the Penang Bridge has wriggled its way out of its promise to build extra lanes on the bridge, thus saving itself hundreds of millions of ringgit.  We still remember that the promise to widen the bridge was crucial in the decision to transfer the Penang Bridge from the state to a “lucky” company.  Surely, the authorities would have known then that widening the bridge would create congestion.

Penang lacks an integrated public transport master plan.  The island can barely cope with heavier traffic. The state government’s emphasis now should be improving public transport throughout the state - and not on making it easier for people to drive into the island and choke its already congested streets.  We appeal to Koh to be more far-sighted and not just think of profits for the bridge-cum-tunnel operator/developer.  Obviously, we have still not learnt our lesson from the fiasco over mega projects.

Anil Netto
Exco Member
9 May 1998