Penang’s water taxi plan cannot yet be implemented due to technical and safety aspects that need to be overcome, says Transport Minister Anthony Loke.
He said while the private sector has shown interest in the water taxi scheme, any form of maritime transport must go through a rigorous application and approval process involving the Ministry of Transport (MoT) and the Malaysia Marine Department (MMD or Jabatan Laut Malaysia).
“Any mode of transportation, especially those involving the sea, must take into account the safety aspect. Firstly, specific departments such as the MMD, secondly, technical approval from the Penang Port Commission (Suruhanjaya Pelabuhan Pulau Pinang) when it enters the waters.
“A water taxi service involves not only boats but also jetties, so there must be a landing site under the jurisdiction of MMD where it handles the safety aspect with the cooperation of the state government as it involves land and other matters,” Loke explained, reported by Named.
The Seremban MP, however, said the government welcomes any private sector initiative to invest and establish water taxi services in Penang as long as it meets all licensing and safety aspects. Previously, Majlis Bandaraya Pulau Pinang agreed to cancel a request for submission (RFP) for water taxis after the company failed to comply with its letter of intent to obtain all necessary approvals from the MoT.
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