Penang Hill landslips nature's work, not due to development: Guan Eng

GEORGE TOWN: The 194 landslips which occured at Penang Hill during the height and the aftermath of the unprecedented rainstorm have nothing to do with development.
Rather, the mishaps were purely from a natural disaster standpoint – the rainstorm caused the hill, which sits at 833m above sea level, to bear the brunt of the storm which dropped 372mm of rain; the highest record so far, said Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.
It was equalivent to one and a half months of rainfall and it drenched Penang for 16 consecutive hours between Nov 4 and 5.
Therefore, Lim has rubbished the notion that development on the hill had triggered the widespread landslips, saying it was nature's work.
"The landslides occured at unused areas of the hill. In fact when there is development, the authorities often install slope mitigation measures. None of it were present at the hill as we have not allowed any fresh development."
There was no development now around the hill and the state intends to protect, conserve and perserve the hill for generations to come, he insisted.
Lim said this after formally reopening the hill which was closed for 31 days due to the rainstorm which had wreaked havoc on Penang last month.
Apart from a few areas which still require rehabilitation, Lim declared that the hill was relatively safe for visitors to return.
But he called for caution near areas which have been declared impassable until the debris was fully cleared and the soil strengthens.
Lim heaped praise on the Penang Hill Corporation Sdn Bhd, which had defied the odds to reopen one of the top tourism landmarks in Malaysia within one month when initially, remedial works was expected to last up to 18 months.
Among its attractions besides the scenic view and cool climate, Penang Hill has the oldest British hill station in the region after it first opened in the 1700s.
The funicular trail service began in Oct, 1923, and it is into its fourth generation of train coaches while there are around 50 private and state bungalows around the peak for those keen to rent places.
Lim expects the hill to register 1.7 million visitors next year.