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PETALING JAYA: Lim Hui Ying, sister of former Penang Chief Minister Guan Eng, has denied Transport Minister Wee Ka Siong’s claim that he had agreed to a proposal to replace Penang’s ferries with catamaran-type boats .
Hui Ying, a senator, said she had told Dewan Negara that she would like to see at least two of the three iconic ferries currently in use retained.
“Nobody says that we are against catamarans. However, and I made it very clear in my speech, the federal government should continue with the iconic ferry service, albeit slightly less frequently, to complement the new catamaran service, ”he said in a statement.
Hui Ying said he had asked Putrajaya to continue ferry services after December 31, in contrast to the government’s plan to halt all ferry operations until the catamaran arrived.
She urged Wee to “hear the call of the Penangites” by allowing the 126-year-old Penang ferry service to continue, in accordance with the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government plan.
According to her, it was not the first time that Wee and his party, MCA, tried to divide the DAP leaders with false statements.
“Wee and MCA should stop being on the defensive, desperately searching for ways, including twisting our words, to justify their callous plan to end the iconic Penang ferry service,” he said.
Guan Eng and Wee had been issuing statements about the ferry service, and the DAP secretary general was upset that “iconic ferries” were being phased out to be replaced by more efficient ferries.
Wee previously announced that the old ferries would give way to “safer, faster and cheaper to maintain” water buses (for passengers) and transporters (for motorcycles), which were expected to arrive in mid-2022.
Guan Eng said that plans to cancel the Penang ferry service at the end of the year showed that the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government was in “open confrontation” with the people of Penang, adding that the effort was led by Wee.
Responding to their criticism, Wee questioned Guan Eng’s right to raise the issue as he was no longer the prime minister.
He said the decision to replace ferry services with catamarans was agreed upon by the PH government, and Hui Ying also agreed with the move.
“It seems that the Lim family should call a family meeting to standardize their views,” Wee said.
