THE Penang Hill Corporation is all girded for the coronavirus (Covid-19) challenge, says its general manager Datuk Cheok Lay Leng.
“We are taking up preventive measures in accordance to the guidelines given by the Ministry of Health.
“Among the steps that we are taking are body temperature screening at the lower hill station whereby the passengers are screened before boarding the train and the use of hand sanitisers.
“Every two hours, we will be sanitising the coaches thoroughly inside as well as outside to maintain a good hygiene for the passengers.
“Apart from that, our staff are advised to wash their hands regularly and to practise good hygiene,” Cheok said when he was approached by the Buletin Mutiara team today.
When asked on the possibility of suspending the funicular train services, Cheok said that PHC would not do so as of now.
“The train service is not only for the tourists or the visitors, but it is also for the residents who live in Penang Hill.
“It has been operating since some 100 years ago for the residents, so we will not close down the service due to the outbreak.
“Unless the situation gets really critical then we will follow the advice from the concerned authorities,” Cheok said.
Cheok also shared that there is a sharp decline in the number of visitors to Penang Hill due to the outbreak.
“Normally during school holidays, the number of visitors will exceed 8,000 but now we are encountering a drastic drop of holidaymakers.
“Currently, the visitors to Penang Hill are mostly local tourists due to the travel ban,” he said.
A local tourist, G. Kavitha, commended the precautionary steps taken by the PHC.
“I see that the authorities are conducting body temperature screenings here which are indeed beneficial for fellow visitors.
“Most importantly, they (PHC) are disinfecting the funicular train on regular basis. This can help to maintain a clean atmosphere inside the train,” Kavitha said.
Story & Pix by Tanushalini Moroter