Article: Tender out for ‘green’ theme park in Teluk Bahang

Thursday October 1, 2009

By MANJIT KAUR

GEORGE TOWN: The tender is out for a first-of-its-kind world-class, environment-friendly theme park in Teluk Bahang.

Penang Water Supply Corporation Sdn Bhd, which owns the 12.14ha land located downstream from the Teluk Bahang Dam, advertised the tender for the multi-million-ringgit project in several newspapers recently.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng was reported as saying that a Penang-based company involved in the design and construction of the landmark Universal Studios Theme Park in Singapore had submitted a proposal to the state government for an eco-friendly Ecofun Theme Park Resort here.

Lim said like any other project, an open tender would be called before the state could decide which company was most suitable to construct the theme park.

Penang Water Supply Corporation corporate services manager K. Jeyabalan said the tender was called on Sept 28 and the closing date for submission was Oct 19.

"Some parties have started to take the documents and normally, they would only hand in their proposals on the closing date,'' he said yesterday.

Sim Leisure's managing director Sim Choo Kheng, the individual who first proposed the theme park, also confirmed that several parties had shown interest in building the park.

He said at a briefing by the corporation on Sept 25, he met several competitors, adding that he would be submitting his proposal soon.

"Although I am passionate about the project, I do not have any hidden agenda. It is not a problem if my company does not get the tender.

"I will be happy if any of the other parties get the offer. I am also happy for Penang as this project can bring another range of value-added products to promote the state," he said.

This article was taken from: The Star Online: Nation 1 October 2009