PENANG Hill Corporation (PHC) is planning to provide better facilities to meet the needs of Penang Hill visitors.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said that there was a plan to build two hotels on Penang Hill to cater to the visitors’ accommodation demands.
“Penang Hill has attracted much attention over the years. We have taken note of the lack of accommodation up on the hill,” he said, replying to a question during the Malaysian International Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MICCI) Luncheon Dialogue at E&O Hotel Penang today.
A participant, who is a prominent figure in the building industry, asked Chow on the plans to restore state-owned bungalows on Penang Hill; as well as the plans to address the lack of accommodation on the hill.
“There is hardly any accommodation there (on the hill) except for the dilapidated hotel. The state has a few bungalows, but they looked more like ghost houses,” he said.
Chow said that one of the two hotels proposed would be located behind the Convalescent Bungalow.
“The construction of the hotel will be done in accordance with the requirements of the Penang Hill Special Area Plan.
“The second hotel is supposed to be situated along the coolie lines of Penang Hill, below the café on the hill.
“The second hotel project is still in its planning stage. We must take serious note on the safety issues.
“The hotel project can be a public-private partnership project. The state has yet to work out the financial model,” he said.
Chow said that the construction of the first hotel was scheduled to begin next year.
“The architect is now drawing the plans for the hotel. Tentatively, the first hotel is to have 200 rooms and is five-storey high,” he added.
Chow was one of the panellists at the luncheon dialogue entitled ‘Journey to Penang 2030: Partnership with Commerce and Industry’.
During his speech, Chow said that the Penang 2030 vision was conceived after a holistic review of the various ongoing projects and initiatives; as well as those that have been undertaken by and within the purview of the Penang government.
“The state government is in the process of finalising a number of development blueprints and strategies such as the Penang Green Agenda, Penang Youth Blueprint, Penang Agriculture Masterplan, Penang Tourism Masterplan and Penang Digital Transformation Plan.
“Individually, each plan addresses its key area; and collectively, they complement one another under the umbrella of Penang 2030,” he said.
MICCI Penang branch chairman Michel Van Crombrugge said the main aim of the event was to foster closer relationship between its members and the state government to work together towards a common goal.
He also congratulated the Penang government for transforming the state into one of Malaysia’s vital economic powerhouses.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Noor Siti Nabilah Noorazis
Video by Chan Kok Kuan