The Edge: 29th. November 2004

Penang Port to invest RM210m on new look

Penang’s seafront near the ferry terminal will take on a new facade by 2007, with historic colonial architecture scenes similar to the Cape Town and Marseilles sea frontage, after the completion of a RM210 million integrated project by Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB).

With a 1.5km promenade, the sight of godowns and warehouses that greet visitors to the island via the port or ferry will be a thing of the past.

PPSB managing director Datuk Ahmad Ibni Hajar said one of the projects included the RM65 million expansion of the Swettenham Pier that would enable large cruise ships to come a calling.

The project is pending approval by the Penang Island Municipal Council and will take 18 months to be completed.

When completed, it is expected to boost tourist arrivals in Penang via cruise liners to at least one million each year compared to 600,000 arrivals now.

Ahmad had initially wanted to create an icon, in the shape of a pearl for the new facade but the state government has opted for a heritage frontage to blend in the surroundings of heritage buildings in the vicinity.

Speaking to reporters at the PPSB Hari Raya open house on Nov 28, Ahmad said Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon had promised to expedite the approval for the project.

“We hope to get this project off the ground by early next year as we have had many queries from cruise ships which want to call on us.

“Currently, large cruise ships anchor along the Penang channel and passengers are ferried via speedboats to the island.

“Sometimes, some of these ships don’t even come ashore but once this expansion project is completed, we will have duty free zones and shopping arcades to lure them to come ashore and this will assure business for traders, especially those who have been left out of the tourism industry scene,” Ahmad told reporters.

Another project that is already underway is an RM45 million marina with 100 bays for boats. The project is expected to complete by June 2005.

Funded by the federal government the project involves the redevelopment of the old Church Street Pier into a marina with restaurants and a clubhouse to boot.

PPSB will also embark on a RM100 million project to redevelop a 3.8ha site which is currently used as an open air car park.

This project will be developed with the private sector and will include a bazaar, multi-level car park, retail kiosks and shopping arcade. The PPSB building will be converted into a boutique hotel cum residential units.

This is one good news indeed

cheer~ penang!

ah~ finalli someones doin somethin to the port~ yeeha~ :okay: any pic of it???

Tuesday April 19, 2005

Penang ferry fares shoot up

KUALA LUMPUR: Fares for the Penang ferry will increase by up to 100% from May 1.

Pedestrians and those with bicycles taking the ferry would be charged RM1.20 (from 60sen) and RM1.40 (from 70sen) respectively.

Motorists and motorcyclists would have to pay RM7.70 (from RM7) and RM2 (RM1.40) respectively, while monthly passes for students would be increased from RM2 to RM3.

Lorries, vans and buses would be charged RM13.20 from RM12.

The last increase was made on Nov 1, 1996.

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Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy, who announced the fare increase at the Parliament lobby, said it had been approved by the Cabinet.

He said the move to increase the fares was made to reduce the losses suffered by ferry operator Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB) and not to profit from the public.

“Until 2003, the operator suffered about RM65.1mil in losses (and) if the fares are not changed, by 2023, the losses can rise up to some RM510mil,” he said.

He said with the fare increase, the losses could be reduced to RM280mil by 2023, the year when the concession ends.

“The state government also agreed to the move. We find that the quantum is reasonable,” he said, adding that a review of the fares would only be allowed after five years.

Chan said the PPSB had taken other measures to upgrade its services and facilities.

He said four new passenger ferries, costing RM16mil, would be purchased next year to add to the existing eight, of which six were about 30 years old.

“Other measures include modifying four passenger ferries to cater solely for vehicles and the building of a new terminal and upgrading facilities at the existing one,” he added.

Chan said fewer pedestrians were using the ferry service now but added the number of motorists had increased since 1993.

“Last year 1.4 million motorists used the service compared to 956,000 in 1993,” he said.

Tuesday April 19, 2005

Defer fare increase and review rates, government urged

PENANG: The Government has been urged to defer the proposed increase in ferry fares and review the rates to make it more affordable.

Federation of Malaysian Consumers Association (Fomca) vice-president K. Koris said the increase of up to 100% was too drastic and ridiculous.

“We are appalled the Government has allowed such hefty fares. A gradual increase over a couple of years is acceptable,” he said.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy said at the Parliament lobby yesterday that ferry fares in Penang would be increased between 10% and 100% effective May 1.

Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) president S.M. Mohd Idris said any increase should be justified with improved services.

“More ferries should be added and trips should be more frequent,” he said.

Pengkalan Kota assemblyman Lee Hack Teik said the increase might cause motorists to use the highly congested Penang Bridge.

“A 20 sen increase in all categories is acceptable,” he said.

Sungai Puyu assemblyman Phee Boon Poh said the Government should subsidise diesel used by the ferries to reduce operational cost.

State Local Government and Traffic Management Committee chairman Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan said it was too early to anticipate a surge in traffic flow on the Penang Bridge due to the ferry fare increase.

“We will monitor the situation and of course, the ferry operators must provide better services to justify the fare increase,” he said.

Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB) had on Nov 1, 1996 increased the fares for cars, from between RM4 and RM6 to a flat rate of RM7, for motorcycles from RM1.20 to RM1.40.

It also increased the fares for foot passengers, from 20 sen to 30 sen for children, and for adults, from 40 sen to 60 sen.

State Tourism Development and Environment Committee chairman Teng Chang Yeow said the 100% fare increase for pedestrians was high.

However, he said, the state had to accept the increase if it had been approved by Parliament.

Wednesday, April 20, 2005

Improve ferry services, urges Koh

PENANG Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB) has been told to improve ferry services in line with the increase in ferry fares which will take effect next month.

Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon said the fares should have been raised gradually instead of the sudden increase, which was announced on Monday.

He said the ferry services were started in 1959 but the fares were only increased in 1996.

“It took them 37 years for the first review. They should have done it gradually, for example, every 10 years, instead of doing it drastically,” he told reporters when asked for comment during a break at the state assembly.

He said the state government was aware of the plans two years ago when proposals for an increase were made.

“They requested that foot passenger fare be increased up to RM2 but we opposed and agreed that it could only be increased up to RM1.20,” he said.

Dr Koh said the state government was aware that PPSB was running at a loss and that if it continued the ferry services at the old fares it might have to stop operations.

“We do not want to inconvenience the people with such a situation. And that is why we agreed to the increase,” he said.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy had announced that the fares would be increased by up to 100% from May 1, saying that foot passengers would pay RM1.20 (from 60 sen), cyclists RM1.40 (from 70 sen), car owners RM7.70 (from RM7) and motorcyclists RM2 (from RM1.40).

Lorries, van and buses will be charged RM13.20 (from RM12).

Dr Koh also told PPSB to buy fast boats for foot passengers immediately as promised and new ferries for other users, adding that the new boats would reduce travelling time from 20 minutes to six minutes.

Tuesday, April 26, 2005

Plans to rebuild terminal hit a snag

Plans to redevelop the Sultan Abdul Halim ferry terminal in Butterworth into a multi-storey commercial centre and bus terminal have hit a snag.

The Penang Port Commission (PPC) has to acquire a 0.1ha piece of land from the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) before the plans can proceed.

PPC chairman Datuk Dr Loh Hock Hun said LLM had acquired the land for the RM400mil Butterworth Outer Ring Road Project (BORR) but did not use it.

Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB) then requested PPC to get back the land so that they could develop the land together with another 2.85ha which had been earmarked for redevelopment.

Dr Loh was speaking to newsmen after opening SMK Air Itam's 10th annual sports day on Monday.

He said LLM had paid RM1.06mil for the 0.1ha of land.

Present at the function were school principal Tan Guan Keat, its former principal Wan Soo Har and the school's Parent-Teacher Association chairman Tommy Ang.

PPSB managing director Datuk Ahmad Ibnihajar was reported to have said their plan to build a “mini Puduraya” at the ferry terminal in Butterworth was hampered by red tape.

The terminal building complex was gutted in 2001.

Dr Loh, who is also Paya Terubong assemblyman, said the commission had in a recent board meeting wrote a letter to LLM on the matter.

how many years liao, still like that:rant::rant::rant::rant::rant:

and, what's with this "mini puduraya" stuff?? Penang very fond of mini stuff huh??:bash:

funny thing is.. quite a number of projects was hampered. hmm i really wonder y.. can somebody care to explain.. like pi mai pi mai, tang tu la jugak.

Penang very fond of mini stuff huh

wat do u expect?? penang onli a tiny little island.. :lol: anyway penang seriousli need a new ferry terminal.. that old ones.. real NIGHTMARE!!! looks like a ww2 weapon factory...

wat do u expect?? penang onli a tiny little island.. :lol: anyway penang seriousli need a new ferry terminal.. that old ones.. real NIGHTMARE!!! looks like a ww2 weapon factory...

i'm talking about that "mini puduraya" stuff. And, Province Wellesley is quite big and undeveloped, so who cares?? ha ha...:D

Corporate: Penang Port banking on new business
By Othman Abu Bakar

Penang Port Sdn Bhd, the last major federal-owned seaport yet to get listed on Bursa Malaysia, is not rushing to do so. Its sole shareholder, Minister of Finance Inc (MOF), is believed to have moved the listing, scheduled for the middle of this year, by one year.
The decision to defer the listing of the profitable Penang Port is due to two main reasons. Firstly, it is to take stock of its current port operations as a result of the changing environment in its two main markets, namely southern Thailand and parts of Sumatra. Secondly, it is to enable Penang Port to concentrate on its new business — marina and cruise operations.
Penang Port's managing director Datuk Ahmad Ibnihajar sees a slowdown of its business coming from southern Thailand due to the current tense situation there.
"We are taking stock of the situation. As a result of what is happening there, we have revised down our forecast for the year to 800,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) from an earlier forecast of 865,000 TEUs. It'll still be a 5% growth from 2004 when we handled 772,000 TEUs," he tells The Edge in an interview.
While waiting for the situation in southern Thailand to improve, Penang Port is not staying idle. It has formed two new divisions to scout for new markets in China, India, Bangladesh and the Middle East.
From the Chinese market, it is luring more transshipment boxes by providing value-added services to Chinese cargoes for re-export to other parts of the world. "We hope to increase our transshipment volume from the current 5% to 15 %," says Ahmad.
Efforts are also made to entice shippers from India, Bangladesh and the Middle East to use Penang Port. Major shipping lines are also being courted by Penang Port, which is spending some RM300 million to upgrade its equipment and services.
"We are spending RM150 million on new equipment, while another RM150 million is being used to reclaim land to house a 25-hectare container yard. When these upgrading works are completed by next year, we will be able to achieve the magical number of one million TEUs by 2007. We are on course."

New business
Ahmad, however, believes the marina and cruise business, once fully operational by the end of next year, will turn the tide for Penang Port as well as give it an edge over other ports in the country. The RM44 million marina, located at the Church Street Pier next to the Tun Uda ferry terminal, is nearing completion.
Equipped with 102 berthing bays, the marina will be ready for the 2005 Penang Regatta, scheduled to be held by the end of the year. The marina is expected to be popular with Singaporeans and Europeans who now use the marinas in Pulau Langkawi and Desaru in Johor.
Meanwhile, the adjacent Port Swettenham cruise terminal will be constructed at a cost of RM65 million and completed some time next year. It will not only be a cruise terminal, but also a shopping paradise for Malaysians as well as foreigners.
"We are developing the marina and cruise terminal based on the famous Capetown waterfront in South Africa. I'm confident it will a big attraction once both are fully operational by the end of next year," says Ahmad.
He did not disclose the potential revenue to be derived from the marina and cruise terminal operations. But it will be substantial enough to offset the losses from its ferry operations of between RM8 million and RM12 million a year.
Last year, Penang Port made a net profit of RM14 million. This is after setting aside RM12 million as subsidy for its ferry operations. In 2003, the net profit amounted to RM13 million after absorbing ferry losses of RM12 million. For 2002 and 2001, it had net profits of RM12 million and RM20.16 million, respectively.
For the listing exercise, Penang Port has met the five-year track record as it has been recording net profits since 1999. For 2005, Ahmad says the net profit should be above the 2004 figure of RM14 million.
The port's profitable operations have attracted a few suitors. Last year, KUB Malaysia Bhd submitted a preliminary proposal to the government to take over Penang Port. Another government-owned company, Khazanah Nasional, was also reported to be in the picture as well.
Ahmad says he expects MOF to retain a majority share of least 51% after the listing exercise. The Penang government and Penang Port employees are also expected to get a big chunk of the shares.
It is believed Penang Port plans to make a cash call of over RM100 million from the listing exercise. The Economic Planning Unit is currently going over the financials of Penang Port, one of the oldest in the country.

http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/3195/swettenhampier12jj.jpg
^^ Seven Seas Voyager at Swettenham Pier

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^^ backside for you

Friday March 10, 2006

Rousing reception for 1,550 tourists

By ONG YEE TING

THE Pacific Sky cruise ship from Australia made its maiden voyage to Penang on Wednesday, bringing with it 1,550 tourists.

Welcoming the tourists as they disembarked at Swettenham Pier were the beat of kompang, a lion dance performance and beautiful local wo- men in colourful traditional costumes who handed out souvenirs, inclu- ding maps of Penang and tambun biscuits.

The visitors were delighted with the special welcome arranged by the Pe-nang Tourism Action Council.

Philip Brown, 41, who was on a fa-mily trip with his wife, Judy Hunting-ton-Brown, 52, and son Joel, seven, said the big welcome was a pleasant surprise.

“This is my first time to Penang and I am really excited about touring the island,” he said.

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WELCOME TO PENANG:Tourists arriving at Swettenham Pier.

The visitors were given a choice of either taking a guided tour or explo-ring Penang on their own.

Instead of following the majority who opted for the arranged tour, Bru-no Scherian and Ines Scherian, both 52, were spotted busy browsing thro-ugh the Penang map.

“We want to pick places that we are interested in and have a taxi take us there,” Bruno said.

He said this was their first visit to Malaysia and everything seemed so new and exciting.

“Malaysia is a nice place and we are really looking forward to visit the different temples in Pe-nang,” he added.

Although it arrived in Penang on Wednesday after an earlier stop at Port Klang, the cruise ship will only stop in Penang every other Thursday on future trips. It left for Langkawi at midnight the same day.

State Tourism Hospitality subcommittee chairman Cheang Chee Gooi, who was at Swettenham Pier to welcome the tourists, said frontliners such as taxi drivers should do their best to impress the tourists.

“Though they might only be here for a day, we must leave a good impression so that they will come back for a longer visit,” he said.

He hoped the Federal Government would build a cruise terminal in Penang so that the bigger vessels could berth without passengers having to come ashore by tender boats.

“With such a terminal, we can expect more cruise liners to stop at Penang. This will boost our tourism sector,” he added.

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^^two ships in the horizon

Saturday March 25, 2006



Idyllic isle beckons

By CHOONG KWEE KIM and CHRISTINA CHIN



LUXURY cruise liner Queen Elizabeth 2 called at Swetten- ham Pier, Penang, on Wednes-day, bringing with it some 1,600 passengers.

A lion dance troupe greeted the tourists after they disembarked from smaller boats that ferried them from the liner anchored a distance away in deeper waters.

A reception team presented the tourists with gift packs comprising dried nutmeg fruits and tau sar peah biscuits, both synonymous with Pe-nang.

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HELLO PENANG: Passengers of Queen Elizabeth 2 arriving at Swettenham Pier, Penang on a smaller boat. In the background is the QE 2.

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GREETINGS: As they disembarked at the pier, the passengers were given a lion's welcome.

Friends Sylvia Richardson, 65, and Maureen Barnes, 63, from England were excited about exploring Penang for the first time.

“I've only heard of Penang as the Pearl of the Orient and that it’s very picturesque with nice beaches,” said Richardson.

The two of them were looking forward to exploring some of the attractions by taxi.

Their world tour started from Southampton in England on Jan 3 and will end on April 23.

Host Stanley Bell, 65, from Ireland who is the dance and tour escort for the passengers, said it was the second time that he came to Penang on the same cruise liner.

“Tourists like to come to Penang to learn about the history and culture,” he said.

Some 800 passengers went on guided tours with a selection of sight-seeing by trishaws, tour of historic George Town, grand tour and round the island tour to choose from.

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PENANG'S CHARM: The passengers on a sightseeing tour of Penang.

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SOMETHING EXOTIC: A performer entertaining diners with a special kavadi dance from Tamil Naidu at the Palace d'India Restaurant in Tanjung Tokong.

State Tourism Hospitality Commit-tee chairman Cheang Chee Gooi who headed the reception team said Queen Elizabeth 2 was the fourth large cruise liner to call on the island this month.

“We hold such a special reception for passengers of large cruise liners to make them feel welcome and to leave with a good lasting impression.

“We hope that the port authority’s plan to extend the wharf can be implemented as soon as possible so that big cruise liners can berth easily for the passengers to disembark,” he added.

A special kavadi and keragam dance performance welcomed 300 of the passengers when they arrived for a special dinner at the Palace d’ India Restaurant in Tanjung Tokong.

Balancing a little umbrella and kavadi decorated with peacock feathers on his head, the dancer pranced around to tabla beats while doing the famous Tamil Naidu dances.

Inside the restaurant, Malaysia’s very own Bollywood Queen, Rohana Kassim, entertained the guests with a string of famous Hindi tunes.

The versatile performer even sang her version of Love is in the Air as guests lining up at the buffet table began dancing.

Pacific World Destinations East operations and cruises country manager P. Lawrence said although the passengers liked Singapore for its cosmopolitan feel and cleanliness, they truly enjoyed Penang because of the rich cultural diversity and muhibbah spirit.

“We took passengers who signed up for our full day tour to this particular Indian restaurant because the food here is authentic with its rich spices.

“In Singapore, we took them for a Chinese dinner so now it was time for a whole different experience. We wanted to share with them the different kinds of popular local cuisine available in Asia,” he said.

They were served a variety of Northern and Southern Indian cuisine including the Tiger Prawn Masala, Tandoori Chicken, Palak Paneer, Briyani Rice and Dhall Tadka.

New Yorker Hubert Carter said the food was excellent but it was the interesting scenery of the island that won his heart.

Those who joined the “Pe-nang Grand Tour” were taken to the Kek Lok Si Temple, But-terfly Farm, Botanical Gardens, Reclining Buddha Temple and Batu Ferringhi night market.

They departed from Swet-tenham Pier on Wednesday night for Phuket.

“Next year, we will be in-cluding more heritage tours in our itinerary when Queen Mary docks in Penang in March.

“Queen Mary is larger and can carry up to 3,000 passengers,” Lawrence said.

The company was the shore excursion agent for the Queen Elizabeth 2.

wow, more cruises are stopping over Penang.

05-04-2007: Penang Port preparing tender for phase 3 of terminal expansion
By Mohd Tajudin
Email us your feedback at fd@bizedge.com


Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB) is preparing the tender for phase three of the RM500 million expansion of the North Butterworth Container Terminal (NBCT), its chief operating officer Mohd Naina Merican said.

He said on April 5 that the expansion of NBCT was expected to be completed by 2010 to enable it to provide more facilities and handle more containers.

Naina said PPSB targeted to handle one million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in 2008, up from 940,000 TEUs for this year.

“The tender is for the extension of the 300m wharf terminal by another 900m and deepening the depth to 14m from 11m now to handle post-panamax vessels,” he said.

The expansion would involve building a 600m container export deck on 25ha of reclaimed land, a second access bridge, 15 rubber-tyred gantry cranes and six super post-panamax gantry cranes.

He said part of the land reclamation started last year and the RM500 million expansion would be from its own funds and borrowings.

NBCT

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swettenham pier

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Swettenham Pier

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