Penang commuters can ride the iconic ferry for free on 16 September, as the Penang Port Commission (SPPP) and Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB) waive fares for Malaysia Day and the Keretapi Sarong Festival.
SPPP chairman Datuk Yeoh Soon Hin said the offer covers trips from both ferry terminals: Pangkalan Sultan Abdul Halim (PSAH) in Seberang Perai and Pangkalan Raja Tun Uda (PRTU) in George Town, operating on the existing service schedule, Malay Mail reported.
“With this free ferry service offer, I hope to alleviate the financial burden on Malaysians while providing an opportunity to celebrate Malaysia Day and participate in the Keretapi Sarong Festival in a meaningful way,” Yeoh said in a statement.
Commuters will save RM2 per one-way trip for pedestrians and RM2.50 for two-wheeled vehicle users, according to the statement. Last year’s Malaysia Day celebration drew 10,094 pedestrians and 1,909 two-wheeled vehicles for round trips on the ferry, Yeoh noted.
The figures sit within a broader annual trend. Penang Port recorded 3,131,131 pedestrian crossings and 784,065 two-wheeled vehicle crossings across the full year of 2025, reflecting the ferry service’s continued role as a primary transport link between the island and the mainland.
The initiative follows an established pattern. In July 2025, the Penang Port Commission announced free ferry rides on National Day and Malaysia Day dates, describing the programme as part of its commitment to encouraging Malaysians to use public transport when commemorating national events.
Yeoh said the latest free-service initiative aims to help reduce traffic congestion in Penang, alongside promoting the use of greener public transportation. Penang’s two bridges, the Penang Bridge and the Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge, regularly face bottlenecks during public holidays, making the cross-strait ferry an attractive alternative for commuters travelling between George Town and Butterworth.
The Keretapi Sarong Festival, an annual flash-mob event where participants don traditional attire and gather via public transport, adds a cultural dimension to the Malaysia Day celebrations this year. The festival, which began in 2017, has grown into a nationwide movement promoting both national identity and public transport ridership, with events held across multiple cities including Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh, and Kota Bharu.
