Ong showing eager visitors a sub-tropical bambuseae species.
WHAT if your passion for nature allowed you to spend every day surrounded by it? A group of mostly retirees on Penang island has found a way to do just that.
These volunteers, who know the Penang Hill range like the backs of their hands, have carved out a unique role that benefits both visitors and themselves.
By adopting a volunteerism model, over 15 members now devote their time to sharing their expertise, all while enjoying the beauty of the hills nearly every day.
A night tour on Penang Hill offering a whole new perspective on nature.
For these passionate individuals, the hill isn’t just a place to visit – it’s a way of life they eagerly share with everyone who ascends its misty heights.
As you step out of the upper hill train station on Penang Hill, you’ll find an information kiosk to your left. On days when the hilltop is shrouded in mist, the scene feels almost otherworldly. This kiosk, run by volunteers, offers a gateway to the hill’s natural and cultural wonders.
These dedicated guides – retired lawyers, doctors, engineers and policemen – offer free nature walks at 9.30am and heritage walks at 11.30am daily.
Children on the trail taking a closer look at a jackfruit tree.
Having spent decades hiking, cycling and exploring the hill range, they possess unparalleled knowledge of the flora, fauna and historic landmarks.
“Our group is made up of retirees who spent much of our lives on these hills,” says KP Ong, the founding member of the Penang Hill volunteer guides.
“Now, we get to come here almost every day and share our passion with visitors.”
Despite their enthusiasm, financial considerations remain a limiting factor.
“We’ve relied purely on volunteerism and never sought government funding. Many of us contributed our personal savings in the beginning,” Ong explains.
While the guides receive meal allowances when on duty, they can also earn fees for exclusive tours such as night walks.
Remarkably, many reinvest these earnings into the group, motivated more by their love of the hills than financial gain.
Foreign visitors often express their appreciation in unexpected ways.
“We’ve received honorariums as high as US$500 or S$300 from overseas visitors who recognise our efforts,” Ong says.
The increasing popularity of their tours has necessitated formalising their operations.
“We had to register an enterprise and open a bank account because corporations wanted to pay for exclusive guided trips through commercial channels,” he adds.
The initiative recently received state recognition when the Penang Hill Corporation (PHC) organised workshops to train the guides, including in first aid and CPR certification.
PHC general manager Datuk LL Cheok affirmed the state’s commitment to supporting the programme and endorsing more eco-heritage guides.
Now officially recognised as eco-heritage guides, the volunteers play a vital role in enhancing Penang Hill’s status as a Unesco biosphere heritage site while ensuring visitor safety.
The group also includes younger volunteers like 24-year-old Elena Ong, who balances her role as a guide with her biology studies at Universiti Sains Malaysia.
“Being an eco-heritage guide has taught me so much about plant biology,” says Elena, whose first degree was in business administration.
