Safety first: Penang Hill maintenance workers removing a fallen tree after a heavy downpour on the hill recently. — Penang Hill Corporation
GEORGE TOWN: A total of 58 trees were uprooted at Penang Hill since the rainy season began in the middle of last month but it’s still all systems go for the cable car project at the hill resort.
The trees, which included one known as the African Tulip, were about 30 to 50 years, said Penang Hill Corporation general manager Datuk Cheok Lay Leng.
“Some fell over because other trees toppled on them.”
As for the cable car project, he said the mega project was ahead of schedule with the construction of a temporary food court progressing well.
He said the main work would begin on Oct 15.
“Works are now being carried out to build a temporary food court located next to the Penang Botanic Gardens office.
“The existing food court there will be demolished to make way for the construction of a multi-storey car park.
“We are ahead of schedule and the stall operators will move into the temporary site soon,” he said when contacted.
On the challenging weather, Cheok said no major landslides were reported in Penang Hill, only some minor soil erosion.
“Some of our maintenance team members, who live on the hill, worked swiftly alongside local residents to clear all the fallen trees that obstructed traffic or blocked jeep tracks and summit areas.
“We want to ensure the main roads and paths on the hill that are used by the residents and hikers are free from obstruction.
“We also have a monitoring system to check the high wind speed situation on the hill. We drive around to check and so do the residents.
“So far, there have been no injuries or property damaged,” he added.
Cheok said no works would be carried out during bad weather so that the safety of the workers and residents would be protected.
“We will comply with safety protocols without any compromise,” he said.
It was earlier reported that the RM245mil cable car line with three stations – Garden Station, Turn Station and Hill Station – is slated for completion by June 30, 2026.
The 2.73km cable car ride, which ascends from the Penang Botanic Gardens to the peak of Penang Hill – about 700m above sea level – will be under 10 minutes.
Hartasuma Group, a pioneer in the Malaysian rail industry, was awarded a 30-year concession for the Penang Hill Cable Car to design, finance, build and operate it.
The company appointed Austria-based ropeway market leader Doppelmayr Seilbahnen GmbH to supply the cable car system.
Doppelmayr has built over 15,400 ropeway installations worldwide, including 86 cable car installations located in Unesco heritage, geopark and biosphere sites as well as various national parks around the world.
