‘SCRAP PENANG HILL HOTEL PROJECT’

Online petition has garnered nearly 500 signatures within hours and growing fast

AN environmental group known as “Save Penang Hill” has started an online petition to urge the Penang government to scrap the proposed construction of two hotels on Penang Hill.

The petition, started yesterday and addressed to Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, has garnered nearly 500 signatures within hours and is fast growing.

Save Penang Hill cited seven reasons to cancel what they called “mega development project on the hill”.

“We strongly object the two hotels proposed near the Convalescent Bungalow (about 200 rooms) and Coolie Lines (about 100 rooms) on Penang Hill, which were announced by Chief Minister.

“We appeal to him (Chow) and the Penang government to be fully transparent about the project’s details in accordance with Penang’s CAT (competency, accountability and transparency) principles.

“We also appeal to him and the Penang government to cancel the project for the sake of Penang.

“Don’t sacrifice Penang Hill, our crowning jewel, at the altar of unscrupulous, unsustainable development,” said Save Penang Hill in their petition.

Chow had recently announced plans for the construction of two hotels on Penang Hill.

He said one of the hotels would be located behind the Convalescent Bungalow, while the other would be built along the slopes near the cafe in Coolie Lines.

Chow also said the proposed hotel behind the Convalescent Bungalow, a five-storey building with 200 rooms, was being designed and construction would be carried out according to guidelines set out in the Penang Hill Special Area Plan.

Save Penang Hill said the proposed construction would spoil the charm and ambience of Penang Hill.

“To many both far and near, the hill is a recreational place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city, where they can enjoy the greenery of the forest, fresh air and see the beauty of the colonial bungalows.

“Building this hotel will add additional structures to the hill and involve clearing of trees that disrupt vistas of heritage bungalows,” they said, adding that the proposed project would also tremendously strain Penang Hill’s limited resources.

They said both hotels would have about 300 rooms in total, which would mean an addition of about 500 to 600 people on Penang Hill when both hotels were running on full occupancy.

This, they claimed, would strain the hill’s limited resources, especially its water, electrical supplies and stretch associated services (food and sewage).

“The project will be beyond the hill’s carrying capacity.”

It also raised concerns on soil erosion and the possibility of landslides.

“It worries us that the Penang Hill hotel project announcement comes less than a month after the deadly Bukit Kukus landslide.

“Between October last year and last month, 20 deaths reported as a result of preventable landslides.

“We are worried that similar circumstances could happen on Penang Hill, which is an environmentally sensitive area,” they said.