Penang Water Taxi Proposal On Hold Due To Technical And Safety Issues - Loke

GEORGE TOWN, Jan 12 (Bernama) -- Plans for a water taxi service in Penang are on hold due to technical and safety issues, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke.

He clarified that while there has been prior private-sector interest, any maritime transport service must go through a stringent application and approval process involving the Ministry of Transport (MOT) and the Malaysian Marine Department.

“It also requires technical approval from the Penang Port Commission. A water taxi service also involves landing points under the jurisdiction of the Marine Department,” he said during a media briefing at the Rapid Penang Diesel Bus Operations Review Council today. Also present was Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.

He added that these safety aspects are regulated in cooperation with the state government, as land-related and other logistical issues are involved.

He said the government welcomes any initiative from the private sector to invest in and launch a water taxi service in Penang, provided all licensing and safety requirements are fully met.

The Penang Island City Council previously agreed to cancel the Request for Proposal for the water taxi service, following the appointed company’s failure to comply with the terms of its Letter of Intent, which required securing all necessary approvals from MOT.

In a separate development, Loke has directed the contractor for the Mutiara Line Light Rail Transit (LRT) project to maintain a continuous traffic mitigation plan, to be implemented in close cooperation with local authorities and the state government, to alleviate road congestion as construction activity intensifies this year.

“I therefore ask for the public’s continued patience. A major construction project of this scale will inevitably narrow roads and likely result in more serious congestion than previously experienced,” he said.

The Mutiara Line LRT project involves building a 29.5-kilometre line with 21 stations. It is designed to enhance connectivity between Penang Island and the mainland, to reduce road congestion and improve overall accessibility.

The main alignment will run from Penang South Reclamation-Island A to Penang Sentral and Komtar Station in Georgetown, with train services scheduled to operate on an alternating schedule along the route.

— BERNAMA