Hilltop food pavilion set to be ready in January 2012

Oct 19, 2011

Hilltop food pavilion set to be ready in January

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New attraction: A view of the new food pavilion on Penang Hill.

The food pavilion on Penang Hill is scheduled to be completed by January after it experienced a series of delays due to contracting work and the unwillingness of hawkers to shift to a temporary site.

State Local Government and Traffic Management Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said the pavilion, previously known as a hawker complex, is a three-storey structure which could accommodate 400 people.

He said 33 stalls would be built in the 12,000sq ft food pavilion, including stalls for food, beverages, souvenirs as well as a thematic art and craft gallery.

Chow said the pavilion is part of the development projects atop Penang Hill now and this includes the restoration of Craig Hotel and the building of a new canopy walkway.

He said that the upgrading works would create a new image for the island's highest peak to become an international tourism destination.

It was earlier reported that the site was to have been handed over to the contractor by Nov 8 last year but commencement of work was delayed to January due to problems of relocating the current hawkers.

"After a negotiation between the Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) and the 25 hawkers, 23 of them agreed to move to the new pavilion once it is completed," said Chow after visiting the site on Monday.

Present were MPPP building director Yew Tung Seang and MPPP public health standing committee alternate chairman Ong Ah Teong.

In July last year, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng announced that the entire area around the hilltop station on the hill would undergo a major facelift as part of the state government's efforts to spruce up the place.

Design plans by renowned architect Prof Dr Jimmy Lim included the food pavilion, a recreational walk path, a visitors centre, terrace dining areas, restoration of old government quarters and a business centre.

The cost of the project will be jointly borne by the state and MPPP, which is appointed as the project's implementor and coordinator.