Penang hill to reopen

GEORGE TOWN: Penang Hill will reopen for business as usual this Saturday after a 31day lapse following the devastating floods that triggered 194 landslips on the hilly terrain.

Coupled with stronger than usual winds and 16 hours of torrential rain, the hill was one of the main casualties of last month’s floods.

But due to the hard work of the Penang Hill Corporation, one of the top tourism landmarks in the country is now ready to greet tourists again, said Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

Lim told a press conference that the majority of affected areas, which were damaged from a combination of landslides, rainfall and storms during the period of Nov 4 and 5, have been rehabilitated.

At 800m above sea level, the hill bore the brunt of the severe weather that had caused unprecedented levels of damage in Penang.

A few parts remain classified as red zones and have been sealed away from visitors, said the corperation’s general manager Cheok Lay Leng.

In an earlier statement, Lim said that the jeep track from Botanic Gardens to the hill top has been cleared but long-term rehabilitation works still needed to be carried out to prevent more landslides.

The summit road and the upper tunnel road has been cleared of debris.

The lower tunnel road and the Viaduct Road are 80% cleared of debris except for part of the west side, which remains blocked.

Lim also explained that the delay was also due to spare parts for the damaged funicular rail tracks arriving late from Germany after there was an air freight services strike at the Frankfurt International Airport.

He also said that the main utilities, electrical, water and partial telecommunications services, have been restored at the hill.

Accommodations and other tourist features including the canopy walk are expected to be operational by Saturday.