From: Delacrix Morgan via e-mail
As a child I spent most Chinese New Year celebrations with my family and relatives in Genting Highlands. It became our rendezvous spot for annual reunions.
I remember queuing up for amazing rides in the theme parks. It was always thrilling and I loved every single moment there. It was one of the few places in Malaysia where I got to wear a jacket because of the cold weather.
The ease of travelling to Genting Highlands using public transport was another reason why we loved visiting the place.
When my mother was young, she would save money from her plantation work and take a bus to Genting Highlands with her mates. Even though the 70s was a tough time for Malaysians, her brief visits to Genting Highlands were happy events that helped reduce her worries and bring some simple joys as she strolled around the lake that used to be a public place but is now within the theme park. By just paying the bus fare, she was able to enjoy the wonders of the Titiwangsa Hills.
As I grew up, I observed how the indoor theme park was transformed from a massive playground to what has become a gigantic casino now. The indoor theme park today is a reduced version of what it had been before.
The Genting Highlands I grew up with was more than just a casino. It was where I had the best time of my life with friends and family, even without those extra theme park rides.
As a Malaysian, I feel a sense of pride whenever I think of Genting Highlands because I believe it is a great example of a Malaysian success story.
While all these success stories are awesome and make me feel proud, we should never forget that the Titiwangsa Hills remain a natural heritage. I can’t think of a better way to describe my love for Genting Highland’s extraordinary beauty than to personally feel cooling breezes on the mountaintop while surrounded by nature’s serenity. Genting Highlands is somewhat unique and there aren’t many places in Malaysia that share its amazing natural, as well as, man-made attractions.
For that reason, I believe that the beauty of Genting Highlands should not be limited to just a privileged few and that every Malaysian has right of access.
Hence, I would like to suggest to the management to create more free-access recreational areas just like the one in front of Theme Park Hotel. The area in front of Genting Highlands Resort would also have been a wonderful place for a park, so it’s quite a pity that it’s been used as a parking area now.
I believe that it is time for Genting Highlands to take a step back from concentrating purely on business matters and start sharing the beauty of nature at the Titiwangsa Hills with all Malaysians.
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