Penang water taxi plan can’t be realised yet due to technical and safety aspects – Anthony Loke

Penang’s water taxi plan can’t be realised yet due to technical and safety aspects that need to be overcome, says transport minister Anthony Loke.

He said that although the private sector has shown interest in the water taxi plan, any form of sea transport has to go through a stringent application and approval process that involves the transport ministry (MoT) and the Malaysia Marine Department (MMD or Jabatan Laut Malaysia).

“Whatever transport mode, especially those involving the sea, must take into account the safety aspect. One, specific departments like the MMD, second, technical approval from Penang Port Commission (Suruhanjaya Pelabuhan Pulau Pinang) if entering its waters.

“A water taxi service doesn’t just involves boats but also jetties, so there must be a landing location under MMD’s jurisdiction, where it regulates the safety aspect with the cooperation of the state government as it involves land and other things,” Loke explained, reported by Bernama.

However, the Seremban MP said that the government welcomes any initiative from the private sector to invest and establish water taxi services in Penang as long as it fulfils all licensing and safety aspects. Prior to this, Majlis Bandaraya Pulau Pinang agreed to cancel a request for proposal (RFP) for water taxis after the company failed to fulfil its letter of intent in getting all necessary approvals from the MoT.

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