From a height of 78m above sea level, it is going to take at least four minutes to ride down the world’s longest water slide at the Escape Theme Park in Teluk Bahang. At 1,140-meter-long, the slide beginning from the hilltop will take thrill seekers through treetops and main roads before landing at the park’s swimming pool. Escape Theme Park chief escape officer Sim Choo Kheng said 705m of the slide has been completed and once the remaining 435m is up, Penang will boast of having the longest water slide the world has ever seen.

An aerial view of Escape's new 1,140-meter-long waterslide, due to open in August.

“As part of our Phase 3 development, a chairlift (cable car) is also being built to transport customers from the foot of the hill to the top. It will also serve as a transport vessel for Hill Rider and Tubby Racer, two new attractions that will open together with the water slide.” Sim said there were many challenges as heavy machinery was not used. “Most of the materials were transported manually to the hilltop as we wanted to preserve the surrounding natural habitat,” he said. Sim said the slide also uses a carbon fibre-reinforced polymer, supported by permanent steel structures. State Tourism, Arts, Culture and Heritage Committee chairman Yeoh Soon Hin, who was also present, said the feat would put Penang on the map and set the theme park apart from the rest. “With this world record attraction, it will attract more tourists and visitors from all over the world to Penang. We need more world-class tourism products to put Penang on the map, especially as we usher in Experience Penang Year 2020,” he said. (2019/7, No. 177GTI)