BUTTERWORTH — Penang Sentral, an integrated transport hub and major commercial development, provides a 24-hour waiting area on Level 1 at its stage bus platform, equipped with basic facilities for passengers.
Penang Infrastructure, Transport and Digital Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari said the facility was intended for passengers waiting for buses or their next connecting transport service.
He said Penang Sentral was operated by Malaysian Resources Corporation Bhd (MRCB) and not the state government, adding that the waiting area was not meant to serve as accommodation or an overnight stay facility.
“MRCB also explained that public access to the terminal is restricted to Level 1 after 1 am, with visitors not allowed to wait or remain in other areas, including the commercial sections and the Urban Transformation Centre (UTC), which are closed for security and operational reasons,” he said when contacted by Bernama today.
He was commenting on a social media post alleging that a passenger had been asked to leave the terminal by security guards after arriving at about 1am.
The passenger claimed he had been waiting for a ferry to George Town, with his hotel check-in scheduled only for 3pm the following day.
Feedback from members of the public has also highlighted the need for a dedicated waiting space, particularly for passengers arriving on late-night or early-morning express buses.
University student Hana Nurdira Muhammad Haikal, 20, who studies in Kelantan and frequently returns to Penang during semester breaks, said she often arrived at Penang Sentral early in the morning with her friends, adding that the differing needs of passengers should be taken into consideration.
“I believe MRCB could consider providing a dedicated waiting area for passengers arriving late at night or with early-morning travel schedules. It does not necessarily have to offer accommodation, but should at least have sufficient seating and accessible toilets,” she said.
Kuala Lumpur-based bank officer Shahril Reza Ibrahim, 35, who regularly travels by express bus, said such facilities were important for long-distance passengers, especially those continuing their journeys by ferry.
“MRCB may have its reasons in terms of security and operational control, but from the perspective of user experience, there are still some shortcomings that need to be addressed. As a frequent express bus passenger, I often use Terminal Bersepadu Selatan, which is equipped with a waiting area,” he said.
Penang Sentral serves as an integrated transport hub connecting ferry services, KTM train services, express buses and Rapid Penang buses, with the Mutiara Line LRT also planned to serve the area.
Meanwhile, UTC Seberang Perai, which occupies the third and fourth floors of the terminal and spans more than 60,000 square feet, houses nine government departments, including the Immigration Department and the National Registration Department. — BERNAMA