Article: ‘Ecofun’ park mooted

Saturday August 22, 2009

By MANJIT KAUR

IF all goes well, Penang is set to have the first-of-its-kind eco-friendly world class theme park in Teluk Bahang.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said a Penang-based company that was involved in the design and construction of the Universal Studios Theme Park in Singapore had submitted a proposal to the state government to set up an environmentally-friendly 'Ecofun Theme Park Resort'.

He, however, said that just like other projects, an open tender would be called before the state would decide on which company should be given the contract.

Lim said the state hoped to call for an open tender beginning Oct 1 and the deadline would be Dec 1.

He said a 12.14ha land belonging to the Penang Water Corporation located downstream near the Teluk Bahang dam would be leased out if the proposal were to be approved.

"If the green light is given, then the project will take about four years to be fully completed. The estimated cost for the theme park is RM100mil. This will boost tourism, as the park will only be 3km away from the Batu Ferringhi tourism belt.

"And if the proposed Penang Hill cable car project were to take off, it would be a value added service, as one of the stops could be at the theme park,'' he said.

Sim Leisure's managing director Sim Choo Kheng said the company had been involved in similar projects especially in the Middle East countries.

He said the company had designed, managed and set up theme parks like the Wahoo Waterpark in Bahrain, Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, Desa Idaman and Hotspring Resort in Malaysia.

Sim said the company proposed to have treetop cabins, campsite and caravan-style accommodation, restaurants and a bar.

"We also hope to create a water park inside the forest with wave pools, slides, river and play area."

He said the company also planned to have a farm in the park with domesticated animals such as chickens, cats and ducks to enable children to learn about farming.

"There will also be animal shows like cats, chicken and so on instead of using tigers, lions and snakes which are common,'' he said.

Sim said they would also have nature adventures such as rock climbing, roller skating, bird watching, canopy walk and family cycling.

He said with the setting of the park, it would give tourists an alternative destination to popular sites such as Genting Highlands, Sunway Lagoon in Kuala Lumpur and the Lost City of Tambun in Ipoh.

"The first component will take about 18 months to be completed while the total completion of the park can take up to four years,'' he said.

This article was taken from: The Star Online: Metro: North 22 August 2009