GEORGE TOWN: Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) said it was extremely alarmed that the proposed Penang Hill cable car project has been given the greenlight, adding that it would greatly impair the environmentally sensitive area.
Its president, Meenakshi Raman, said SAM, along with other non-governmental organisations (NGOs), including the Consumers' Association of Penang, had last year raised concerns about the proposal for the cable car project, in what was then the draft Special Area Plan (SAP) for the hill.
"We had opposed the need for the cable car, given the limited carrying capacity of the hill and had also seriously challenged the projections in the draft SAP on the number of people that should be allowed on the hill at any one time.
"The pre-feasibility study for the cable car pushed a number of 6,463 persons at any one time to justify the cable car project based on a flawed methodology, while the 2016 SAP for the hill provided a carrying capacity figure of only 4,800 persons at any one time. Our challenge in relation to this was not responded to at all."
She said if the 2016's carrying capacity figure was taken into consideration, there would be no need for a cable car, as the funicular railway would have been sufficient.
The NGOs' opposition, she said, stemmed from the need to ensure the environmental and biodiversity sustainability, management and conservation of Penang Hill, especially given its recognition as a UNESCO-Biosphere Reserve.
Elaborating, Meenakshi said the overarching objective should be to limit the number of tourists up the hill, given the environmental imperatives and not require more tourism products and people up the hill.
"Our fear is that the continued economic viability of the cable car will necessitate more tourists and more tourism products on the hill, beyond its maximum carrying capacity of 4,800 persons at any one time, as per the 2016 SAP.
"In addition, the state, in deciding that the cable car will begin at the Botanic Gardens, is also jeopardising the gardens environmental integrity.
"We are very concerned about the environmental and social impacts, including on traffic congestion of the cable car construction and its maintenance, which involves the bottom station right up to the top station," she added.
Penang Hill and the Botanical Gardens, according to Meenakshi, are very sensitive environmental ecosystems.
She said SAM was very worried that the cable car project would gravely impair these sensitive areas.
She added that a detailed environmental and social impact assessment was much needed as required by the laws, which must involve the public consultation and transparency.
"Apart from the environmental and social impacts, the state, in giving the company a 30-year concession, must make transparent the details of the financing involved.
"What will be the ticket charges that will be imposed on the public in relation to this?
"The Penang government needs to be transparent in relation to these concerns," she stressed.
In a press conference earlier, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who is also Penang Hill Corporation chairman, had announced that Hartasuma Sdn Bhd, a homegrown pioneer in the local rail industry, had successfully won the bid for the project.
Hartasuma was chosen from among six companies that submitted the Request for Proposal (RFP) for the Penang Hill cable car project.
The estimated investment by Hartasuma is expected to be approximately RM245 million and the project is based on a 30-year concession period.
The project is expected to take three years to be fully completed and operational.
The alignment and the suitability of the location of the cable car project was taken into consideration by the Evaluation Committee, with most feasible route alignment site near the Penang Botanic Gardens.