The Penang Port Commission (PPC) will be issuing a Request for Proposal ((RFP) to lease the iconic Penang ferry as a floating museum or tourist restaurant for 10 years with the option to extend for another five years.

Its chairman, Datuk Tan Teik Cheng said the offer was to carry out a decision of Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Wee Ka Siong, who is aware of the cultural and heritage sentiments of Penang residents on the ferry as an iconic symbol to the state.

"The RFP advertisement will be displayed on PPC website at www.penangport.gov.my as well as mainstream newspapers and PPC social media sites. The RFP documents would go on sale on Jan 29 and the closing date for companies interested in buying the documents is Feb 15,” he said in a statement.

He said, however, that the documents can only be accessed online after the Movement Control Order (MCO) has been enforced, and that the deadline for companies to present proposals is 19 March.

"Eligible companies and members of the public are invited to put up their proposals for the offer,” he said.

Meanwhile Tan said that PPC had held a discussion with Zairil Khir Johari, chairman of the Penang Infrastructure and Transportation Committee, and represented on the iconic ferry the state government on 11 January.

"In the discussion, I have requested the state government to submit plans for the iconic ferry of Penang. On Jan 18, Zairil said that the state government hoped one ferry would be handed over to the state government.

“Taking into consideration the cordial relations and cooperation with the state government and that both parties shared the same objective in the interest of Penang residents, PPC agrees to give away one ferry to the Penang state government,” he said.