Chow's suggestion to discontinue funicular train draws ire

Consumers' Association of Penang (CAP) president Mohideen Abdul Kader has reacted with shock and dismay to the suggestion by Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow that the state government is considering shutting down the problematic Penang Hill funicular train service if it continues to break down.

While Chow stressed on the importance of passenger safety, CAP said in a statement today that it was shocked at his announcement last week and it hopes that the shutdown will not be a permanent one.

"The iconic Penang Hill Railway was opened in 1923 with work beginning in 1920. The last modernisation of the train was in 2011 which reduced the time of the whole journey to just 10 minutes.

"Penang lost its iconic ferry in December last year. Are we going to lose another icon that has been operating for nearly 100 years?" asked Mohideen.

He questioned if this announcement was made to favour the cable car project proposed by the state government.

"This announcement of the possible shutting down of the Penang Hill Railway seems to be building up the logic of the need for a cable car, either as a replacement or an alternative to carrying people up the hill.

"CAP is not against shutting down the Penang Hill Railway for repairs or servicing as the safety of the train is most important, but to give the excuse that the train continues to break down and is problematic, and therefore that it may be shut down is like giving up any hope on this iconic service which is both important for tourists and residents on the hill, he said.

CAP reminded Chow of the uproar that followed the decomission of the Penang ferries and said that he could expect a similar reaction.

"The Penang Hill Railway had also created many wonderful memories for both Penangites and tourists.

"There will be a public uproar if the Penang State Government decides to shut down the Penang Hill Railway for good just as there was a public uproar when the Penang Ferry was closed last year.

"The blame was easy then as it was the Federal Government’s decision to close it. But the Penang Hill Railway is under the State Government and this will incur the wrath of Penangites if the State decides to close the Penang Hill Railway," Mohideen added.

He said that the source of the breakdown should be located and rectified and that in this high-tech age, it seemed incredible that breakdowns of the hill railway could not be reduced substantially or prevented.

"Repair and service the Penang Hill railway at all costs for the passengers’ safety but to completely shut it down and abandon it is irresponsible as the train was changed and modernised only in 2011," he said.