The Penang Hill Corporation (abbrev. PHC) is a statutory body in the Malaysian state of Penang. Established in 2009, it serves as the administrative authority for Penang Hill, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 2021, and operates the Penang Hill Railway. The corporation is chaired by the Chief Minister of Penang, who acts as its chairman.
Background
During Chief Minister Lim Chong Eu's tenure, an advisory board was formed under the Penang State Executive Council to manage the Penang Hill Railway.[1] Nonetheless, no government agency was designated for the management of the hill itself. In 1987, the Penang Island Municipal Council (now Penang Island City Council) proposed the conservation of Penang Hill "as a hill resort by improving and increasing the various lookout points and by the establishment and improvement of paths and walkways, gardens, natural areas and other facilities".[2]
However, there were concurrent efforts since the 1980s to privatise the management of Penang Hill.