Water Taxis In Penang

In view of the introduction of water taxis in Penang, the fellow Penangites are able to travel around Penang island and mainland faster if that takes off by the end of next year.

According to Penang Port Commission (PPC) chairman Tan Cheng Liang, who had suggested the idea, the coastal points are Bagan Ajam, Butterworth, Pulau Aman and Nibong Tebal which is on the mainland, Teluk Bahang, Tanjung Bungah, Tanjung Tokong, Weld Quay, Pantai Jerejak and Batu Maung on the island.

She added that the Federal Government, especially the Prime Minister, had approved the project in sync with the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER).

Water taxis has been operated by many major cities around the world, include Amsterdam, Auckland, Bangkok, Brisbane, Capetown, Chicago, Copenhagen, Dubai, Hamburg, Istanbul, Kobe, London, Manila, New York, Osaka, Oslo, Paris, Rotterdam, Seoul, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo, Vancouver and Venice. Penang would be the first in Malaysia to have its very own water taxi.

I actually pledge in full support, as these water taxis is another form of efficient public transport which saves travel time for those people who are travelling from the mainland to the island. These commuters would not have to take the trouble to face traffic jams on the Penang Bridge which sometimes would take 45 minutes to get to the island, especially during peak hours.

Water taxis would be very useful to those who travel from Nibong Tebal or Bagan Ajam to Batu Ferringhi, which the usual journey either drive along the bridge or take a ferry and then a bus takes more than 2 hours.

With the implementation of the water taxi, they serve as an alternative public transport as it will ease the traffic congestion on roads and highways, especially on the Penang bridge. In this way, a proportion of travelling commuters would be diverted to water taxis.

Water taxis would also be useful as it also provides new job opportunities and boost the tourism industry.

Currently, the mainland and the South Seberang Perai district are deliberately being cut off from Penang island as not many tourists who visited Penang had even step on the mainland soil just to catch a glimpse of several tourism areas on the mainland, namely Pulau Aman, Bukit Tambun village, fireflies and food haven in Nibong Tebal.

However, there are several conditions to be considered before implementing the project. Feedback from residents living along the coast on whether the water taxis is a necessity to the residents should be considered, or otherwise, if the idea is mooted but the residents are showing their displeasure, then the water taxis facility would be gone to waste and the company who run the water taxis would end up losing money and gone bankrupt.

Besides that, environmental-friendly water taxis should be considered so as not to have any environmental impact. Jetties or pick-up points should be built in such a way that it would not bring any geographical impact. Furthermore, water taxi pick-up points are to be built at high population density areas and easily accessible to bus stops, convenience stores, tourist attractions, towns or roads. This is to improve the popularity of the routes.

Source: The Star online "Penang To Have Water Taxis" (updated 15 July 2009)

The NS Blues

I had a choice whether I had to go for National Service training (PLKN), Group 1, 6/2009 series or write a deferment letter to the National Service Training Department and continue with my studies in Disted College. Unlike my other peers, I simply love adventures and experiences, also relax and idle. If I begin my studies in January my holidays would be cut short. Eventually, I chose to attend NS to savour the experience.

For those who did not attend NS, it is definitely an insightful experience. My fellow friends who had been there certainly had a never ending stories to tell.

When I arrived at the camp grounds of Kem PLKN White Resort on 28 December 2008, I felt a bit of regret for I had a chance for deferment. However, there are a few advantages about NS.

This camp, awashed by the rolling plains of Balik Pulau, lies in what is famous 'durian haven'. It offers a mesmerizing vista of Bukit Genting which serves as a backdrop of the camp. What it is said that several ancient graves lie atop the hills overlooking the camp.

I was under the squadron team Blackhawk, we rode out the storm to compete with other squadrons. At the end of the day, our squadron got second in place.

For those who do not have a knowledge of NS, the training programme has four modules, mainly Physical Module, Character Building Module, Nation Building Module and Community Service Module. What I like about Physical Module is canoeing, flying fox and kembara halangan. We as fellow trainees felt disappointed as we do not have the opportunity to go for tali rendah due to lack of time. I hated marching.

My favourite activity is known as Wirajaya, which was held a few days before the end of the programme, where each of the squadron teams work hand-in-hand work out on the navigation skills, and also raced against time competing with the other squadrons to get to the checkpoint. We carried our backpacks and water supply, walking over 10km, traversing through primeval jungles, swamps, villages, cemeteries, paddy fields, farms and beaches. We finally reached the finish line, by then we are stretched to the limit. I often complained of parched lips longing for water after finshing the last drop of water, despite having brought 2 bottles of water. We set up the campsite for the night. After dark we had to cook dinner barbeque style over the camp fire. What makes the night more lively was that there was a night treasure hunt from 10pm till 4am!!!

During the Character Building Module class I had even forge friendship with a Malay trainee by the name of Zulfiqar whom I called him as 'buddy'. He was one of my best friends in the camp and I certainly welcome this amiable fellow as my 'buddy'.

We had visited the drug rehabilitation centre, RMAF army base and Fire Department Headquarters as part of the Community Service Module excursion.

One thing for sure is that my campmates and I get to celebrate the New Year countdown in the camp with the jurulatih...and party all night till 1 pm!!!

I even celebrated my birthday with my parents at the camp as my birthday coincidently falls on the NS Family Day.

The wirawatis (female trainees) are as strong as the wiras, especially Rachael Lim. She is actually the Penang Chief Minister YAB Lim Guan Eng's daughter.

In fact I had a chance to get along with her in the camp, and from what I know that everybody had admired her resilience and determination in leading her squadron team.

My campmates and I had the opportunity to snap pictures with the CM during his visit to the camp.

...and do you know that we had six meals a day? Most of the Malays regarded NS as a fun camp, maybe because of the free food and up to their taste. Some of them had gain weight after attending the camp. However, most of us had lost weight after 3 months of training.

It was good to have a knowledge of our own religion when we fellow NS trainees were visiting the Than Tsiang temple every Sunday. Needless to say, I was quite familiar with the Buddhist chants and verses at this juncture.

What had took away our fun at the camp was that there are shortcomings and the disadvantages.

Camp fights are getting more rampant, especially racial fights. Stealing had also been the order of the day, these people often steal mobile phones. So far I had lost my slippers, towels, milo drink cartons, and the most valuable, my iPod. It was not because of carelessness, I locked them up in the luggage, but damn, these culprits use a tool to break open the padlock while I was attending kelas kerohanian.

That's all 'bout my experience. Hope fellow former NS trainees can share any of these experiences through comments.