SAM & CAP objects the proposed Penang hill cable car project

By TIN Media | Penang News Published 4 years ago on 11 January 2020
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PENANG:

The Malaysian Friends of Malaysia (SAM) has urged the Penang government not to continue the proposal for the Penang Hill cable car project to protect the ecosystem in the area and the surrounding area.

Its president, Meenakshi Raman, said the recent incident of funicular railway damage could not be a reason for the state government to continue the project without first investigating the cause of the damage.

According to him, maintenance work on the transport needs to be done more often than it is now, once a year.

"SAM is consistent with our stance that it does not support the proposed cable car project for Penang Hill as it will affect sensitive ecosystems in the hills and Botanical Gardens. There are many steps to take besides implementing the cable car there.

"These include increasing the frequency of funicular train maintenance to avoid damage. Improving the frequency of train maintenance should be the first step to speeding up. Botanical Gardens and Flag Hill itself, "he said in a statement.

Meenakshi said, more frustrating, the state government claimed that eight to 10 pillar pilots were needed to support a cable car network connecting stations near the Penang Shooting Club in Botanical Gardens to the top of the hill.

"If the plan is true, the surrounding area will be crowded with vehicles and will transform the nature of the Botanical Garden into a very noisy and crowded area. Moreover, how will the pillar poles be brought in and installed, which will require road construction, excavation and construction work.

"Once construction work is completed, maintenance lines under the cable car route will be required and all this will cause disruption to the Flag and Botanical Gardens, which are vulnerable and sensitive environmental areas. that cable, "he said.

Meanwhile, Penang Consumer Association (CAP) president Mohideen Abdul Kader said the council had called for a thorough and thorough review of the social and environmental impact of the cable car project in Penang Hill and the Botanical Gardens station before the decision was made.

"The pre-feasibility studies and the full technical studies to be carried out must ensure that the social and environmental impacts of Bukit Bendera and Botanical Gardens are not taken lightly. This is because of the unique features and natural conditions of this special ecosystem.

"In this regard, we urge the Penang government to be transparent and to disclose to the public a number of matters including research terms in addition to explaining the full social and environmental impact on Penang Hill and Botanical Gardens," he said.

Meanwhile, in his press conference, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow requested that the matter be referred to the Penang Hill Corporation (PHC) general manager Datuk Cheok Lay Leng as he had no information on the proposed project.

He said a study would be conducted and a decision would be made on whether it was acceptable or not.


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