Penang infrastructure committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari said in addition to high unsubsidised diesel prices, each ferry needs over RM2 million a year to maintain and insure.

Responding to a question by Teh Lai Heng (PH-Komtar), he said despite the ferries carrying nearly 1.76 million passengers and over 615,000 two-wheelers from January to October this year, fare collection only covered slightly more than a quarter of the running costs.

Teh had asked for ferry use statistics and whether operators were making losses.

Each trip costs RM2 for adult pedestrians and RM1 for children. Commuters on bicycles pay RM2 while those on motorcycles pay RM2.50.

“These fares are only enough to recoup 35% of ferry operating costs,” Zairil said.

Separately, Zairil said the state would try to fix the mismatch between ferry services and KTMB’s ETS predawn and late-night train services.

He said the state would consider adjusting the ferries’ 5.15am, 6.30am, and 12.20am times.