GEORGE TOWN, March 1 — New ferries to transport passengers and motorcycles between Penang Island and Butterworth will start operations on August 1, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook.

He said the terminals are also being upgraded to cater to the new ferries.

However, Loke said the ferries will not be able to transport vehicles other than motorcycles and bicycles.

"There were some demands for ferry transport for cars but we are facing operational challenges to bring back ferry services for cars,” he said in a press conference at the Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow’s office today.

He said the terminals were already fitted to the new ferries for passengers and bikes, and were no longer suitable for cars.

"We will need to look at how to overcome these operational challenges, whether to renovate the terminal again or to build a new one for cars,” he said.

He said the four new ferries were ordered before the current administration came into power and are now almost ready, meaning he could not cancel the order.

When asked whether the government is considering bringing back Penang’s iconic ferries that have been retired, he said they will need to discuss this further.

"We need to discuss on how to bring back the iconic ferries, whether as a RoRo for vehicles, as a floating museum or other uses,” he said.

He said it can also be considered to be used as RoRo to ferry cars but they will have to look at how to overcome operational challenges if these were brought back.

On the matter of public transport, Loke said he was informed that about 13,000 people were using the state’s Pas Mutiara.

He said the state had requested for more new buses in Penang including mini buses to cater to residential areas.

"We will look into increasing the number of buses in Penang, including the request for mini buses and we will discuss with the state on the routes to introduce,” he said.