malaysiakini logo
story-image
mk-logo
News
King expresses concern over Penang Hill funicular train disruption
ADS

Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah has expressed his concern over the disruption of the funicular train services in Penang Hill last night, which left over 900 passengers stranded.

In a statement issued by Istana Negara, Al-Sultan Abdullah, however, was thankful that all stranded passengers were brought down to safety.

His Majesty also conveyed his congratulations to Penang Hill Corporation (PHC), general manager Cheok Lay Leng, the engineers and staff of PHC and Penang Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) who were involved in the rescue operation.

Al-Sultan Abdullah, in the statement, also expressed his hope that the funicular train’s hydraulic brake problems will be fixed and steps would be taken to prevent the incident from recurring.

The king was on a three-day working visit to Penang.

A Penang JBPM operations centre spokesperson said the stranded passengers were brought down using four-wheel-drive vehicles and taken to the Botanical Garden.

They were later ferried by bus to the Penang Hill station.

The rescue operation commenced at 8.30pm and ended at about 1.03am.

Yesterday, PHC in a statement, said the funicular train service experienced an unexpected malfunction. 

Later today, PHC announced that the train service resumed completely at 4.45pm.

It said ticket counters were opened to the public at 4.30pm.

Extending its apologies for the inconvenience caused, PHC expressed the hope that visitors would continue to make their way to the tourist attraction.

Bernama

View Comments