The Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) wants the state government to cancel the Penang Hill bus service and focus on improving public transport and amenities on the island.
Mohideen Abdul Kader. CAP Chairman Mohideen Abdul Kader has warned that the bus service will have serious consequences for the environment and public health.
“Providing a cable car will include the construction of hotels, restaurants, parks, buildings and roads to meet the number of tourists and residents. “Such development will have a negative impact on the fragile ecosystem of the mountains and affect the ecological balance,” he said in a statement.
The Penang Government has announced a 2.9km link between the Botanical Gardens and Penang Hill. It is expected to be built at a cost of RM245 million with a 30-year warranty.
The project, which is awaiting legal approval, has not yet started. On top of that, Mohideen said that currently more than 5,000 people are climbing the mountain in Penang and “it has exceeded the mountain’s carrying capacity.”
“The further increase in the number of visitors and residents, as expected by the government, will lead to a significant increase in the consumption of resources such as food, water and energy, as well as the generation of waste,” he said. said. . Last week, two environmental groups, Malaysia Nature Society (MNS) and Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) expressed their support for the proposed bus project.
They said the car had an undeniable risk of environmental damage.
