Voice in the Crowd — October 6, 2011

Penang Hill — Nature's gift to the public

Photograph: Johnathan Tan

By Goh Ban Lee

What's New York without Central Park or Hangzhou without the West Lake? Any city worth its name has a natural feature that is accessible to all inhabitants. Penang has its Hill. But for how much longer?

Internationally, Penang Hill has little to shout about. It is nowhere near the fame of Huangshan in China or Mt Fuji in Japan. But to Penangites and many Malaysians, it is very precious. As such, it is very painful to read the almost daily critical news about the hill. They include the newly built RM73mil funicular train, the RM3.5mil to RM5mil four-storey car park and proposed lower station roof. Then there are the controversies on who should get the credit or blame for rejecting the proposal to develop the hill into another man-made tourist resort.

Unfortunately, in the midst of the blame game, an important question has been neglected: development for whom? This is particularly important as plans are being prepared to regulate the development of the hill for the next decade or so. Officially, the state government has appointed a consultant firm to prepare a Special Area Plan for it. A "Strategic Penang Hill Development Plan" is also being prepared by some prominent architects and planners.

But Penang Hill already has a plan, namely the Penang Hill Local Plan, the only gazetted local plan in the state. It was prepared in 1996 after the controversies surrounding the development plan proposed by Bukit Pinang Leisure Sdn Bhd in 1989.

Although it is not the most exciting plan, it does contain an important caveat in its development. It provides for "the carrying capacity of specific sites… taking into consideration the physical, environmental and infrastructure constraints". Although the plan provides for 10,000 visitors per day, it cautions that this is an arbitrary number and that there is a need to "monitor for evidence of deteriorations to the physical environment".

Photograph: Kwong Wah Yit Poh

Meanwhile, ad hoc decisions have been made that have long-term effects. For example, the funicular train is now a reality. Hate it or love it, most have to use it unless they want and have the stamina to walk up the hill or pay to be driven up using the "jeep track" from the Penang Botanic Gardens.

A new hawker centre is about to be completed. Furthermore, the contract to rehabilitate the Crag Hotel has also been decided. The tea kiosk on Strawberry Hill and five state-owned bungalows have been contracted to a private party some time ago.

Penang Hill has been a very popular place for Penangites. With an elevation of about 833m, it is a cool place of between 20ºC to 27ºC. Then there are the scenic and panoramic views. As the hill is located very close to populated areas, thousands of hikers of all levels of fitness make full use of the various trekking trials and bridle paths every day.

Photograph: Marisa Heah

Besides day visits, until the 1980s, it was possible to rent state-owned bungalows, such as Woodside, Fernhill and Hill Side, for RM20 or RM40 per night. Even Penang Island Municipal Council bungalows, namely South View and Richmond, were usually used by Penangites as guests of councillors and officers. Those who are now in their 50s, 60s, 70s or even 80s should have memories of many unforgettable nights spent in the cool environment listening to ghost stories.

Sadly, the state bungalows are now in various stages of disrepair. Crag Hotel has been contracted to a private company well known for very luxurious holiday resorts. Chances are that once the hotel is in operation again, most Penangites will not be able to afford the facilities.

Unfortunately, progress and development are often equated to building big and expansive projects. In ecologically-sensitive areas such as hills and coastal areas, it is better to leave nature alone. If there is to be human intervention, then it should be for enhancing the natural environment and facilitate access for all. The most attractive sites should not be sold to the highest bidder and become the private domain of very few people.

The new Penang Hill plan should involve minimal destruction of the natural beauty of the hill or what is left of it. Ideally, it should not allow any new development projects except public facilities, such as toilets, public shelters from the rain, sheltered picnic areas and scenic view platforms. On the contrary, the plan should identify buildings that should be acquired to facilitate public access to scenic areas. State properties which have been privatised must be taken back so that they can be rented out at affordable prices.

It is fair to believe that when Penang Hill was first developed in 1800s, it was to be the recreation and convalescent centre for colonial officers and European planters, but gradually also attracted very rich Asian businessmen. As a result, places with scenic and panoramic views are now occupied by either government bungalows or private residences. This is understandable. After all, when Francis Light took over Penang Island on behalf of the East India Company in 1786, he did not promise to do it for the benefit of the people.

Photograph: Johnathan Tan

Today, every politician pledges to serve the people. Every political party champions "people-centric" policies and plans. Yet several scenic sites and coastal areas in Penang are now out of bounds to most people after being declared gated communities or have become too expensive for the average wage earners.

Penang Hill should be planned and developed in such a way that everyone, rich or poor, can have access to scenic areas without it costing a week's income to have a meal or a half-month's pay to stay a night. Penang Hill is nature's gift to Penangites. It should be for all to use.

Goh Ban Lee is a senior research fellow at the Penang Institute.