GEORGE TOWN, March 29 – Penang Hill Corporation’s (PHC) General Manager, Dato’ Cheok Lay Leng, has responded to Sahabat Alam Malaysia’s (SAM) apprehensions regarding the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the Penang Hill Cable Car, following SAM’s press release on March 17, 2024. Emphasizing PHC’s dedication to transparency and adherence to international safety standards, Dato’ Cheok Lay Leng assured the public of the project’s meticulous planning and execution.
PHC underscored its commitment to stakeholder engagement, highlighting the organization of tailored focus group discussions to involve various parties, including non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Despite PHC’s efforts to foster consensus, SAM did not participate in these discussions. Moreover, PHC emphasized the extensive technical studies conducted by certified engineers and international experts from Doppelmayr Group to ensure compliance with environmental regulations.
The Penang Hill Cable Car project, classified under the First Schedule of the Environmental Quality Order 2015, underwent thorough assessments, including Social Impact, Environmental Impact, Traffic Impact, and Geotechnical assessments. PHC clarified that the cable car serves as a sustainable mode of transportation, recognized globally for its contribution to tourism and the local economy. As PHC remains open to stakeholder engagement, the corporation aims to address concerns and foster understanding to ensure the project’s success while maintaining Penang Hill’s UNESCO biosphere reserve status.
