State owned, Penang Hill Corporation in partnership with Hartasuma Sdn Bhd, have begun development work for the Penang Hill Cable System with the completion date set to be by 2026.
The projct is estimated to be around RM250 million where Hartasuma will hold the tourism concession of the place for 30 years. The project also received protest fron the Consumer Association of Penang over the potential damage it could cause to the biodiversity of the hill.
Notably, Penang Hill is a major tourist attraction renowned for its diverse ecology, rich history, famed hiking trails and panoramic views at its peak. In 2023, the Hill received 1.67 million visitors, edging towards its pre-pandemic peak of 1.9 million visitors in 2019. Perhaps this is why Prime Minister Datul Seri Anwar Ibrahim reminded the state to ensure the environment aspect of the hill is not compromised with this project.
According to the state, the cable car will serve as a gateway to the Penang Hill Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, which will catalyse the transformation of Penang Hill and its surrounding areas.
“Penang Hill is not only a natural treasure, but also a vital green lung for our state. This cable car project, in collaboration with Hartasuma, is a transformative project that exemplifies our commitment to responsible tourism that balances infrastructure modernisation with respect for the environment – an essential stance to preserve the economic value of Penang Hill. This will also provide a much-needed boost for the Penang Botanic Gardens as a destination”, added Chow.
To ensure impact is minimal, the project managers will only use five pylon towers in the forest, while the remaining ten towers will be erected as close to the upper and lower stations and the Jeep track as possible, with no new road access being constructed.
The cable car alignment will start from the garden station located at the existing Economic Garden (Taman Ekonomi) in Penang Botanic Gardens and end at the summit of Penang Hill, behind the Penang Hill Police Station. The cable car line is 2.73 kilometres long and will feature 50 eight-seater gondolas, with a ride time of less than 10 minutes. All key infrastructure within the development is committed to Green Building Index (GBI) Gold certification.
It is also resolve wider traffic challenges currently afflicting the area around the Penang Botanic Gardens, where vehicles have been encroaching onto the main road, resulting in serious accessibility issues.
