Special fares for funicular train

BUKIT MERTAJAM: The state government should consider having special fares for the disabled, senior citizens, students, MyKad holders and frequent users who travel on the newly-refurbished Penang Hill funicular train. Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said the state should not overlook these groups of people when planning the fare list. “We leave it to the state to decide, but I would like to suggest that they consider various tiers to ensure that the service is fully utilised,” she told reporters at the ground-breaking ceremony of SJK(C) Beng Teik Pusat in Kota Permai here yesterday.

“We have fixed March 19 for the train service’s official handing-over ceremony to Penang Hill Corporation, following its request to postpone the ceremony from the original date on March 3,” she added. She also told the state tourism committee to counter the issue of the water scooter incident where a Chinese tourist had broken her legs. “I was very sad when I read a report which quoted the particular tourist as saying that she did not want to come back to Malaysia.”
On Feb 5, Zhu Li, 47, from Liao Ning, China, broke her legs when two Myanmar nationals on a water scooter rammed into her while she was taking a stroll on the Batu Ferringhi beach with five family members. Later, Dr Ng, who is also Penang MCA chairman, gave out grants worth RM100,000 to 38 Penang-based non-Muslim religious organisations at the Bukit Mertajam MCA division office in Jalan Asmara.
-thestar online.