Group nays Penang Hill cable car idea

Group shoots down alternative plan by state govt for Penang Hill

GEORGE TOWN: An environmental group in Penang has shot down a proposal by the state government to introduce a cable car system for Penang Hill. Member of Friends of Penang Botanic Gardens, Dr Liew Kon Wui, expressed fear that yet another infrastructure project could cause severe environmental damage to the hill. He said adding a cable car system would be at the expense of environmental conservation and preservation. Instead, Liew said people should be encouraged to trek up the hill. “We could make Penang Hill a more attractive draw for visitors by offering more trekking and climbing trails,” he told theSun yesterday. “Along the way, they could also learn more about the ecology and history of the hill.” Liew was commenting on a report that a cable car system would be built to supplement the funicular railway that is the only transport system for visitors and residents up to the island’s second highest peak. However, the funicular railway has broken down several times recently. Irate commuters and interest groups have criticised the state government for what they claim was poor maintenance of the system. Over the weekend, more than 900 people were left stranded for several hours when the rail system broke down due to a “system error”. Penang Gerakan chairman Oh Tong Keong attributed the frequent breakdowns to “complacency in the state administration”. He said the state’s proposed transport master plan would remain on paper at best while existing infrastructure remained inefficient.