IN a momentous ceremony attended by esteemed guests, the reopening of Penang Hill Station marked a significant achievement for Penang.
The upgraded station seamlessly blends a century-old structure with modern additions, transforming it into an architectural marvel that serves multiple functions.
The three-year-long Phase Four redevelopment, aligned with the Penang2030 vision of ‘A Family-Focused Green and Smart State that Inspires the Nation’, focuses on comfort, accessibility, education, and green practices.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said with an increased capacity accommodating over 700 visitors at a time, the station stands as a beacon for both local and international tourists.
“The inclusion of escalators and a passenger lift in the building enhances accessibility for all visitors, ensuring everyone can easily enjoy the beauty of Penang Hill.
“The project also integrates educational aspects, sharing the rich history of Penang Hill and its significance as a Unesco Biosphere Reserve,” Chow said in his speech during the completion ceremony of the Penang Hill Upper Station Upgrading Project (Phase Four) this morning.
The ceremony also revealed additional features such as a pedestrian pathway to David Brown’s Restaurant & Tea Terrace, enhancing Penang Hill’s appeal as a family-oriented tourist destination.
Chow said it is crucial for the state government to foster the adoption of green and smart technologies across various platforms, encompassing the operations and businesses throughout the entire state.
“Guided by this principle, I take pride in witnessing the Penang Hill Corporation (PHC) embrace sustainable practices, including the utilisation of renewable energy sources, rainwater harvesting, energy-efficient equipment, and automatic lighting control.
With these effective measures in place, I am confident that PBBPP is well-positioned to achieve recognition in the gold category of the Green Building Index (GBI), a pursuit currently underway.
Renaming the upper station as ‘Penang Hill Station (Stesen Bukit Bendera) and the lower station as ‘Penang Hill Lower Station’ (Stesen Bawah Bukit Bendera) adds clarity.
The Chief Minister concluded the speech by praising the collaborative efforts of the project’s key contributors (Arkitek LLA, Perunding P.L.A., Perunding YAA, Unitech QS Consultancy, and Persada Satria) and hinted at upcoming initiatives, including the ongoing Penang Hill cable car project and the Penang Hill Astaka Upgrading Project (Phase Five).
PHC general manager Datuk Cheok Lay Leng said the groundbreaking of the RM10.9 million Penang Hill Upper Station Upgrading Project (Phase Four) was held on March 20, 2021.
“The project was supposed to take 18 months to complete. However, it took slightly longer following the impact caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“This Penang Hill Station aims to enhance the station’s waiting room, enabling it to accommodate up to 700 people at a time.
“Escalators and an elevator have been added to enhance accessibility for visitors with disabilities and the elderly.
“The implementation of the Electronic Queue Management System (EQMS) 2.0, known as JustQ, facilitates a streamlined waiting experience, with additional amenities like toilets, a merchandise store (Penang Hill Merchandise Store), and 5G access for visitors’ convenience,” Cheok said.
Cheok also appreciated the support of Datuk P’ng Soo Hong from First Solar Malaysia Sdn Bhd, who sponsored 600 solar panels at Penang Hill.
He further acknowledged the effort and hard work of his team at PHC in making the Penang Hill Upper Station Upgrading Project (Phase Four) a success.
During a media conference, Cheok expressed the aspiration to hold the groundbreaking ceremony for the Penang Hill cable car project in either April or May of this year.
“We have obtained the key approvals for the Penang Hill cable car project, such as the Planning Permission and the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
“When there are approvals, there are additional conditions, and we meet with all the conditions. We also consider the inputs.
“Right now we are going through the entire process.
“The project is expected to take 18 months, but realistically we have to give ourselves a little bit of buffer considering the weather conditions and others,” he said.
Also present were the state executive council members Wong Hon Wai, Datuk Seri Sundarajoo Somu, Daniel Gooi Zi Sen, and Jason H’ng Mooi Lye.
Joining them were Air Itam assemblyman Joseph Ng, Kebun Bunga assemblyman Lee Boon Heng, Bukit Bendera MP Syerleena Abdul Rashid and Penang Island City Council mayor Datuk A. Rajendran.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Ahmad Adil Muhamad and courtesy of PHC
Video by Law Suun Ting