Monday, April 28, 2008

Stop causing anxiety Dr Loh - The Star

April 28, 2008

THE Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB) has been told to stop “making the people worried” about its plan to scrap the vehicular ferry service when the expansion of Penang Bridge is completed.

Penang Port Commission (PPC) chairman Datuk Dr Loh Hock Hun said PPSB should be careful with its words because it was not up to the company to decide whether to continue with the ferry service or not.

“We have not received anything in black and white from PPSB about bringing the ferry service to a halt or increasing the ferry fare,” said Dr Loh, adding that any changes of policy regarding the ferry service must be approved by PPC and later the Transport Ministry.

PPC, which is governed by the ministry, is the regulatory body of PPSB.

Dr Loh was speaking to reporters after announcing the preparations for the Penang Wesak Celebration on May 19.

An estimated 8,000 people will be joining the Wesak Day procession, together with 42 contingents and 20 floats, from Pangkor Road to Anson Road from 5pm on May 19.

Devotees who wish to donate flowers to decorate the Buddha float can bring the flowers from 10am on May 17 to midnight the following day.

“Devotees are advised not to bring flowers that are too small and they must understand we cannot place the flowers according to where they wish the flowers to be placed,” said Loh.

This year, the Buddha float has been renovated with a new background design and the transfer of the Buddha statue to the main float will be done on May 17 at 10am.

Dr Loh said the Penang Wesak Celebrations Committee did not conduct house-to-house visits to raise funds.

“Donors can come to the Malaysian Buddhist Association to donate and receipts will be issued to them,” added Loh, while alerting the public to possibilities of swindlers attempting to abuse the name of the committee for Wesak Day donations.

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