Penang ferry free for Malaysians on Nov 8 for Deepavali

The Penang ferry will be free for Malaysian citizens on Nov 8 in conjunction with Deepavali. — Bernama file pic

First Published: Thursday, 05 Nov 2026 9:49 AM MYT

GEORGE TOWN, Nov 5 — The Penang Port Commission (PPC) and Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB) will offer free ferry rides to Malaysian citizens on Nov 8 in conjunction with the Deepavali celebration.

PPC chairman Datuk Yeoh Soon Hin said the free ferry rides would be available to passengers departing from both Pangkalan Sultan Abdul Halim (PSAH) in Butterworth and Pangkalan Raja Tun Uda (PRTU) in George Town.

“The free ferry service will operate according to the latest timetable. The public is advised to plan their journeys in advance and refer to the official websites and social media channels of PPC and PPSB for the latest ferry timetable,” he said in a statement.

Yeoh said the initiative reflected the continued commitment of PPC and PPSB to facilitating public travel, particularly during festive seasons, while helping to ease traffic congestion in Penang.

Citing figures from last year’s Deepavali celebration, Yeoh said 7,780 foot passengers and 1,518 two-wheeled vehicles used the ferry service in both directions.

He said the Penang ferry service also recorded a 5.61 per cent increase in passenger numbers from January to September this year compared with the corresponding period last year. — Bernama