BALIK PULAU: It is the only place in the world where you can zip downhill through a canopy of trees for over a kilometre in an exhilarating six-minute ride.

       Escape theme park’s latest zip coaster is now recognised as the longest in the world, at 1,111m, by Guinness World Records (GWR).

       The zip coaster is a new type of ride which fuses the free-flying sensation of a zip line with the solidity of a steel track up in the trees.

       It meanders through tree tops, giving riders the thrill of flying through tree canopies for more than six minutes. And it is safe.

       “It wasn’t easy making a RM700,000 zip coaster that is more than a kilometre long because every effort was made to preserve the natural environment of trees and foliage,” said Sim Leisure Group founder and chief executive officer Sim Choo Kheng during the launch of the zip coaster by Yang diPertua Negri Tun Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak on Thursday.

       “It was extremely challenging to instal the equipment for the zip coaster in the jungle but today, we have accomplished a second world record with the zip coaster. We also hold the record for world’s longest slide,” he added.

       Escape was presented with the Guinness certificate by GWR adjudicator Pravin Patel, who said, after a thorough measurement, it was found that the total length of the zip coaster was actually 1,135m.

       “We set the world standard as 900m and Escape achieved 1,135m, including a strict condition that it must be part of the theme park and a permanent structure and must fulfil the health and safety requirements of the country,” said Patel.

       Sim said work on Escape Ipoh and Escape Cameron Highlands would begin soon.

       “Escape Cameron Highlands will have the world’s largest dry ski slope when completed, which will be another record,” he revealed.

       Sim added that work on the Treetop Hotel on 6ha in Escape Penang would begin next year.

       It will have about 200 units of nature-based accommodations.

       Ahmad Fuzi said he hoped Penang-based companies and organisations would step forward and produce more world-class attractions.

       “This is especially important as we rebound into a post-pandemic era,” he said.