GEORGE TOWN, September 2— Environmental groups and a former state transport engineer have criticised a proposal for a 2.5km cable car linking Penang’s Botanic Gardens to Gurney Bay, calling it unnecessary, costly, and damaging to the environment.
Sahabat Alam Malaysia president Meenakshi Raman dismissed it as a “tourist gimmick” with no real transport value, urging authorities to prioritise public transport solutions like water taxis instead of what she described as “wasting money.”
Former Penang chief transport engineer Lim Thean Heng questioned whether the idea originated from the state or the cable car operator, warning of traffic, parking, and ecological concerns. Activist Rebecca Duckett also voiced fears over the project’s impact on Penang Hill’s Unesco biosphere reserve, saying the funicular railway already meets visitor needs.
She argued that neighbourhoods near the gardens should not be “hijacked” for a link to a destination like Gurney Bay, which she claimed mainly showcases luxury developments inaccessible to most locals.
The proposed spur line would connect to the RM367.2 million Penang Hill cable car project, currently under construction and set to open in 2027. Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said a feasibility study was underway, claiming the extension could help disperse visitors and support “sustainable tourism.”
However, critics remain unconvinced, warning it risks environmental harm and fails to address the island’s core transport challenges.
