Guan Eng defends Teluk Bahang theme park

The Chief Minister says it is no threat to the environment, the project founder insists it is a tourist attraction, not real estate development.

However, veteren activist, Consumer's Association of Penang president SM Idris (right) had condemned the proposed Teluk Bahang theme park as a potential destroyer of the island's natural environment.

In a fiercely written letter to the editor, Idris has demanded that Penang CAT government come clean about the project, which will be on a 12.14ha parcel of land belonging to the Penang Water Corporation which had been leased to Sim Leisure Consultants.

Dubbed the "Escape Theme Park Resort", the latest development project would be near the Teluk Bahang Forest Reserve, Teluk Bahang Dam and Penang National Park.

Lim's government has come under heavy attack for the fast phase development taking place in the Island, even as it was recently awarded the Unesco World Heritage site listing.

Idris even went as far as describing it as "environmental rape" as Penang faces widespread damage because of uncontrolled development resulting in barren hill slopes and erosion at hillsides being developed.

But his fears were eased yesterday, when Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng called on him to explain the viability of the RM180 million project.

"We had a good discussion with SM Idris, and he understood. We usually have regular closed door meetings with NGOs. Our battle is not with the NGOs but with Barisan Nasional," Lim told reporters.

Penang is a green state

Lim said Penang was a green state, and his administration was the first in the country to implement the 'no plastic day', therefore, it would not approve any project with the potential to destroy the island's natural surroundings.

The DAP national secretary general clarified that the project would not be constructed near the dam, and neither would it be anywhere near the neighboring forest reserve land or water catchment areas.

Since the three-phased project would not affect these areas, the Department of Environment does not require an EIA report, he added.

"This project is going to be build on degraded land, unuseable land, downstream, not upstream, therefore there would not be any negative impact on the environment," he told reporters here yesterday.

In his letter, Idris has also questioned the rationale for the project.

"Why do we need this man-made park when the natural environment is out there for nature lovers and adventure seekers? Why do we need to turn the forest into a ‘carnival-like attraction'?" he queried.

Tourist attraction, not real estate

When asked to comment, Escape founder Sim Choo Kheng, who was present at the press conference, said Penang was in dire need of places for the "new generation".

Sim, who is the project's chief officer, said that tourists, mostly baby boomers of the 1960s, were often looking for sites to take their kids to.

He added that he was involved in meetings with the federal government, and such places of leisure were identified as lacking in Penang.

There are many sites which cater for senior citizens, he stressed, but hardly any for the younger generation.

"Kids do not have the privilege for nature that we had last time. They have become disconnected from nature and reality. So this is what 'Escape' is all about...outdoor activities, where they can learn something and become eco-literate.

"This is not a development or housing project but it is a tourist attrraction. People mistake it for another housing or real estate devlopment in pretense but this is truly a place for recreational activities," he added.

Sim has been involved in various mega-projects around the world, including in Middle Eastern countries, Singapore and Malaysia.

The Escape project commenced started work on Oct 18, and will take at least six years for the completion of its three-phases.