GEORGE TOWN, November 26 – Penang’s ferry service is incurring an annual loss of RM14 million, largely due to high operational costs and the absence of government subsidies for distillate marine diesel, the state assembly was told today. State transport, infrastructure, and digital committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari revealed that ticket collections cover only 35% of the operational costs, with fares set at RM2 for adults, RM1 for children, RM2 for bicycles, and RM2.50 for motorcycles.
Zairil attributed the losses to high diesel costs, annual maintenance, scheduled inspections, and service insurance costs exceeding RM2 million per ferry. Despite these challenges, the ferry service transported 1.76 million passengers and 615,000 two-wheelers between January and October 2024. He assured that efforts would be made to align ferry operations with Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad’s (KTMB) ETS train schedules, particularly for predawn and late-night services, to enhance convenience for commuters.
The ferry service, operated by Penang Port Sdn Bhd, replaced the iconic ferries with four modern fast ferries last year to connect Penang Island and Butterworth. While the modernisation improves efficiency, the financial strain underscores the need for additional support to sustain this vital mode of public transport.
