GEORGE TOWN: The collision between the Teluk Bahang Ferry and cargo vessel MV Mekar Jaya near the Pangkalan Sultan Abdul Halim (PSAH) Ferry Terminal in Butterworth on Tuesday (Sept 1) has not affected tourist arrivals in Penang.
State Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai said it was an isolated incdent and not something that commonly occurred.
“I feel that it doesn’t (affect tourist arrival)… Everyday, many ferries travel back and forth and such incidents are very rare,” he said.
He told reporters this after the Festival Citra Mutiara (FCM) 2026 press conference at the National Department for Culture and Arts (JKKN) of Penang here today.
Wong said the state government was concerned about the incident and wanted a thorough investigation to be conducted to identify the actual cause and any weaknesses that showed up.
He said the investigation was crucial to restore public confidence as ferries as an important mode of transport for tourists and locals to commute between Butterworth and the island.
Wong said the committee would await the full investigation report to determine the actual cause and the measures that need to be taken to avoid a recurrence.
Following the incident, he said ferry operators must continue to comply with standard operating procedures (SOPs) and take precautionary measures to ensure that ferry services remain safe for the public.
Meanwhile, he said other ferry services were still operating as usual and were safe to use, while the Teluk Bahang Ferry had been temporarily suspended to facilitate further investigations.
At about 8.40 pm on Tuesday, the Teluk Bahang Ferry was en route to the Sultan Abdul Halim Ferry Terminal when it collided with MV Mekar Jaya within Penang Port limits.
MV Mekar Jaya was reported to be travelling from the Butterworth Deep Water Wharves to the Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal when the collision occurred, resulting in 21 ferry passengers suffering injuries, while ferry services continued as usual following the incident. – BERNAMA
