Penang Hill visitors let down by lack of car parks

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Parking woes: Some of the cars that are parked illegally along the road leading to the Penang Hill train station.

VISITORS to Penang Hill are in a dilemma as the lack of parking facilities in that area has left them with no choice but to park their vehicles haphazardly.

They risk being slapped with summonses by the Penang Municipal Council (MPPP).

The only other viable option to avoid being fined is to park their vehicles far away from the foothills of the top notch tourist attraction.

However, most visitors interviewed say they are not too keen on walking far.

Among those who complained was Liz Lee who said that she had to park her car a kilometre away from the train station as all the ‘legal’ car parks adjacent to it were full.

“If the multi-storey car park nearby were to open, I am sure it will help alleviate the parking woes that the visitors have to endure,” said the 26-year-old clerk.

Customs officer Hakim Abdullah, 29, said that he had to resort to parking his car in the neighbouring street as the road leading to Penang Hill was full with parked vehicles, some of which had parked illegally.

“More parking spaces should be made available as Penang Hill is always crowded with people,” said Hakim.

A tourist from Seremban, who only wished to be identified as Man, said that if the state government wanted to attract more tourists there, ample parking spaces should be allocated at places of interests in the state.

“Imagine if tourists were issued with compounds by the local authorities during their visit here. This bitter experience can cause them to avoid coming here again,” he said.

A check by The Star at the foot of Penang Hill yesterday revealed that numerous vehicles, mainly cars, were parked haphazardly along the road leading to the train station.

The controversial RM5mil ‘Kancil car park’ at the foot of Penang Hill remains empty as makeshift barricades were placed at the entrance to the complex to prevent vehicles from parking there illegally.

It was reported that the car park is deemed unsuitable because of alleged structural defects.