Penang Forum against cable car link

GEORGE TOWN: Penang Forum is concerned that the proposed cable car linking Penang Hill, Penang Botanic Gardens and Teluk Bahang will threaten the last and largest water catchment area on the island.

It said the Teluk Bahang and Bukit Kerajaan Permanent Forest Reserves will be affected, adding that the Teluk Bahang and Batu Ferringhi hills contain the last expanse of undisturbed forests in Penang.

The coalition also said the proposals would involve constructing massive concrete towers in the forests.

“The construction process includes getting to and from the towers. It will involve cutting and destroying large parts of the forests.

“The proposals will involve huge pylons hanging over a great distance over hills and valleys.

“The possibility of landslides and soil erosion will arise due to the cutting of steep slopes,” said Penang Forum, a coalition of 11 civil society groups started in 2013.

Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz was earlier quoted as saying his ministry would keep pushing to get the RM325mil needed to build the cable car link.

He said the cable car was not only a tourist attraction but also a mode of transportation.

Penang Forum said there was no mention of cable car when the Penang Botanic Gardens Special Area Plan underwent due process and presented to the public for feedback.

“A special review panel was appointed by the state government to study the Special Area Plan.

“The cable car proposal was put in at the last stage and not presented to the public.

“The state review panel itself strongly objected to the cable car for various reasons of environment, usage and traffic,” said the statement yesterday.

Penang Forum also said traffic congestion was already intolerable at the Penang Botanic Gardens, Jalan Utama, Gottlieb Road, Tanjung Bungah and Teluk Bahang.

“The cable car plan will jeopardise the state-backed proposal for a Unesco Biosphere Reserve on Penang Hill, which will be fragmented by development of this scale.

“The public just wants its hills preserved, guarded and cared for; we look to our state government to ensure that self-serving, profit-driven entrepreneurs take their ill-conceived plans elsewhere,” it said.