Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has tabled a bill to set up Penang Hill Corporation in the state’s bid to promote the hill as an international tourism destination.
Lim (Air Putih-DAP) said the corporation would be given the clout, among others, to enter into contracts and acquire property of every description as well as assign, transfer and dispose of any movable or immovable property.
He said once the corporation is approved by the House, the Penang Hill Ordinance 1950 for the Penang Hill Railway Services would no longer be in place.
The corporation will comprise a state-appointed chairman, four ex-officio members (the state secretary, state financial officer, state public works director and state forestry director), three federal officers, six members appointed by the state authority and a general manager.
Current employees of the Penang Hill railway unit will be absorbed into the corporation. Lim said the corporation would set up a fund and would eventually be self financing.
Lim said the development of the hill would have to be done carefully to preserve the ecosystem and the forest reserve including the hill’s water catchment areas.
A two-pronged approach would be employed to ensure the flora and fauna, landscape and structure of the hill are retained, he said.
Lim said setting up of the corporation was timely as it would boost the federal government’s RM60 million project to upgrade the railway services.
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