NGOs against land swaps, CHANT is for the tunnel proposal with proviso !!

Wednesday November 30, 2011

NGOs against land swaps

By DAVID TAN 
davidtan@thestar.com.my

GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Government should use state land as collateral to obtain loans from banks to start proposed mega road and sea tunnel projects.

This is better than allowing developers to deal in land swaps and be given the right to reclaim prime land near or off Gurney Drive in exchange for RM8 billion worth of such projects, said Sahabat Alam Malaysia and Consumers' Association of Penang president S.M. Mohamed Idris.

Idris said there should also be a public hearing and an inquiry of all reclamation and mega pro- jects before they were awarded to avoid unnecessary compensation later.

Idris said that in Hong Kong and Singapore, the governments reclaimed the land on their own and sold them for higher profits.

Idris was commenting on the state government's proposal to adopt a land swap scheme with developers to build three roads and a tunnel.

The roads are a 4.2km road from Gurney Drive to the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu expressway, bypassing the city centre; a 4.6km road linking Bandar Baru Air Itam to the same expressway and a 12km dual-carriage road from Tanjung Bungah to Teluk Bahang to pair with the existing coastal road.

The 6.5km sea tunnel is to connect Gurney Drive on the island to the north of Butterworth.

On the proposed RM120mil Escape Theme Park project in Teluk Bahang, Idris said there was no need for such a park in the state.

Penang Institute senior research fellow Datuk Dr Goh Ban Lee is also not in favour of the road and tunnel projects, saying they would only bring in more vehicles into the island.

"We should look into adding more buses and bus routes to improve public transport. What would a high-cost tunnel do for Penang other than reduce travelling time?" he said.

Malaysian Nature Society advisor Kanda Kumar said that if the land was to be reclaimed for the project, the government must ensure that they should not be converted into freehold status.

"At least leasehold land will not be given away permanently. If we keep on giving away land and then reclaim some more, the environment will be damaged," he said.

Penang Citizens' Awareness Chant Group advisor Y.C. Lee said there should be public hearings held for any proposed reclamation or mega infrastructure projects.

"Such projects may be sustainable, but there should be a proper study, public comment and feedback on them," he added.

MPPP repairing drains on Burma Rd opp Burmah House 27NOV2011

Fwd: Drain upgrade works along Burma Rd and Arratoon Rd junction Penang 30 NOV 2011

Fwd: Lim Guan Eng Please Don't listen to NGO's!

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: rebecca duckett <rebeccaduckett@mac.com>
Date: Tue, Nov 29, 2011 at 11:31 PM

This was emailed to me today from ANON. See the cutting below it. Rebecca

A NEW ROMANCE

After a long feud Mr Federal and Mr State began to realize that they had much in common. Why were they on bad terms in the first place? Why was Mr State always blaming Mr Federal for bad policies and why was Mr Federal always criticizing Mr State for not being pragmatic? They now realized that it was the NGO family - Mr NGO and their children, Mr Environmentalist and Ms Heritage - who had instigated both sides got them quarreling in the first place. In fact Mr Federal and Mr State are waking up to the fact that they had more to gain by working together. It is the NGO family who are the true 'enemy of the people'. The matchmakers were none other than Mr swift farmer and Mr Developer (smiling in the photo).

ANON

rebeccaduckett@mac.com

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Swift breeding should not be allowed in residential and heritage areas.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClI1BD9W_LM

Penang to table bill on local elections

Posted on 28 November 2011 - 06:42pm
Last updated on 29 November 2011 - 08:51am

Himanshu Bhatt
newsdesk@thesundaily.com

GEORGE TOWN (Nov 28, 2011): Penang government is preparing to table a bill on local government elections at the next assembly sitting.

State Local Government Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said the state was preparing the enactment on the advice of lawyer Tommy Thomas.

"We have invited the Election Commission (EC) and Federal Government to enter a judicial review but there has been no response. The state should have an enactment allowing local government elections. With the enactment, there will be something concrete for the court to decide," Chow said on Sunday after launching Local Democracy Month at the Speakers Square here.

Chow said an enactment for local elections was allowed under the Ninth schedule of the Federal Constitution.

He said the state was intent on having elections for both its municipal councils, but the EC and Federal Government did not entertain its invitation.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng had on Mar 4 last year sent a letter to the EC's chief Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof asking the election body to hold elections for the the Penang Island and Seberang Perai municipal councils.
Abdul Aziz had stated that it was unable to hold local elections explaining that there was no law for such elections purpose.

Currently, councillors in all local government bodies are appointed, although local elections were observed in Malaysia till the sixties.

The state said that Article 128 of the Federal Constitution provides for Federal Court jurisdiction on such a matter.

Despite this, Penang's legal advisor, Datuk Faiza Zulkifli, had reportedly told the state leadership that local elections were not possible, pointing out among other things that section 15 of the Local Government Act (LGA) 1976 stipulated all provisions relating to local government elections cease to have force or effect.

However the constitutionality of this section is being questioned as it may contravene section 113(4) of the Federal Constitution which states that federal or state law may authorise the EC to conduct elections.

Furthermore, a legal panel engaged by the state has noted that the Local Government Elections Act 1960 has still not been repealed. It was last revised in September 1991, after the LGA 1976.

Fwd: drain upgrade at Pykett

मेरे ipad से भेजा

Begin forwarded message:

From: Yan Lee <leeyan.c@gmail.com>
Date: November 29, 2011 11:25:14 GMT+08:00
To: chowkonyeow@penang.gov.my
Cc: "tehlaiheng@mppp.gov.my" <tehlaiheng@mppp.gov.my>
Subject: drain upgrade at Pykett

Yb

Thank you for upgrading the drains.

Please make a study on the whole road and drains system in the area. Covering Pykett, Westland, Khaw Sim Bee and Padang Victoria.

The drains covers at Perak Road , every time it rains , they "blow up" please look at the reason why, it keeps being patched up only.

Please have this publicise for public to comment.

Be CAT dont be like the BN people.

Thank you YB CHOW.

Thank u for a new Malaysia.

मेरे ipad से भेजा

Remembering the Emergency in Penang

Remembering the Emergency in Penang ALAN TEH LEAM SENG  ALAN TEH LEAM SENG revisits the haunts of British Commonwealth servicemen in Penang in the 1950s and finds that the island has retained its old world charm

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The funicular train crosses the viaduct on its way up Penang Hill. The train service has been halted for upgrading work Piccadilly Hotel in Leith Street was popular with British servicemenServicemen in Kuala Lumpur used to take the train at the central Railway Station to go to Penang

Servicemen in Kuala Lumpur used to take the train at the central Railway Station to go to Penang

IF only the British administrators had known back in the early days of the insurrection that the communists were already staring defeat in the face, then the Emergency, as we all call it, could have been brought to an early end. 

Unfortunately, what followed was a “fatal pause”, a phrase coined by Noel Barber in his book The War Of The Running Dogs, where the British, for reasons known only to them, inadvertently gave Chin Peng sufficient time to regroup and reorganise his army. 

This crucial period was said to have happened exactly a month after Emergency was declared on June 16, 1948. At that time, Chin Peng’s brilliant military commander, Lau Yew, was shot dead by a police squad commanded by Captain William “Two-Gun” Stafford just as he was about to launch an attack on Kajang village.

The information about the communist vulnerability came too little too late and the Emergency dragged on for 12 long, hard fought years that caused much pain and hardship, and countless security force and civilian deaths. It was not until more than a decade later, on July 31, 1960, that the Malayan Emergency was officially declared over. 

July 31 this year has come and gone, but for those who lived through the Emergency, it’s a date that’s hard to forget.

Time For A Break

At the height of the insurrection, between 1948 and 1953, a large number of troops and support personnel poured into Malaya from all over the British Commonwealth to help rein in the communists. 

Many of these servicemen took the opportunity to visit interesting tourist spots in Malaya during their time off, especially after 1955 when it was evident that the communists were on the run and the government had gained the upper hand.

A popular rest and relaxation destination is in “up country” — Penang island. While many prefer to drive their own (or rented) Austins and Vauxhalls on the scenic trunk road all the way from Kuala Lumpur, others opted for the convenience of the Malayan Railway sleeping berths to transport them overnight to the ferry terminal at Butterworth. Penang Bridge was only built in 1985 so everyone in the 1950s had to take the ferry to the island.

Back then, except for the Eastern & Oriental Hotel, luxury hotels were few and far between on the island. However, at least two places catered almost exclusively to British Commonwealth servicemen. 

Those who preferred to spend their time in town stayed at Piccadilly Hotel in Leith Street while others who want to enjoy the beach in Tanjung Bungah would book a room at Sandycroft. The latter is an exclusive Naafi (Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes) Leave Centre which catered to the British servicemen.

Green Sanctuaries 

Not surprisingly, the tourist spots then are still popular today. These places provided a much welcomed respite for the servicemen seeking to, at the very least, temporarily shift their focus from the ravages of “war” to some sort of normalcy in life. 

People go to Penang Botanic Gardens to enjoy the lush greenery and tranquil setting. It’s also called Waterfall Gardens, due to the presence of a cascading waterfall. It is still a pleasure today to walk around this place which is said to be the first botanic garden in the country, while seeking out the elusive local wildlife such as squirrels, butterflies and monkeys and the large variety of rare plant species.

Penang Hill is another place to head for to experience the island’s montane flora and fauna while enjoying the cool weather. The easiest way up is to take the funicular railway which connects Air Itam to the top of the hill. The train service is currently discontinued for upgrading work but is expected to be up and running again next year.

Other Popular Spots 

Sprawling Air Itam today is vastly different from the haphazard rows of attap roofed houses so commonly found in Malayan towns in the 1950s. Today, both local and foreign tourists go to Air Itam to visit the famous Kek Lok Si Temple, home to the largest Buddhist temple in Southeast Asia.

While there, many stop to enjoy a bowl or two of the renowned Air Itam asam laksa. Then there are numerous quaint little shops that, over the years, have become a popular haunt for tourists and souvenir hunters. 

Another good place for shopping is downtown Penang Road. More than half a century ago, this place was already the shopping centre for locals and tourists alike. The only thing missing then was the chaos of today’s traffic jams. 

In those days, pedestrians only had to contend with trishaw riders and cyclists as motor vehicles were considered a luxury, owned only by the well heeled and high ranking government officers. As such, it must have been a breeze for shoppers who could virtually waltz from shop to shop, bargaining to their hearts’ content and buying only when the price is right.

The best place to shop in Penang Road must be the century-old Chowrastra Market, located opposite the Central Police Station. In the late 19th Century, this bustling market place consisted of only a single-storey structure housing mainly stalls operated by immigrants from the Indian subcontinent. 

Although Chowrastra Market has seen many facelifts through the years, it still remains popular with tourists today who come to buy nutmeg, preserved fruit, dried fish, snacks and even locally made ointments said to cure a variety of ailments.

One popular eating place in Penang Road that’s still in business today is Kek Seng Coffeeshop. Its signature ais kacang — shaved ice with red beans, creamed corn and homemade jelly — is a must-try. Just like in the past, it remains a popular stop for hungry shoppers to rest their weary feet and tuck into a variety of local hawker fare such as char kway teow, satay and laksa. 

Snakes And Vipers

The unique snake temple in Bayan Lepas was another popular tourist spot frequented by British servicemen who were fascinated by the large number of pit vipers there. It is said that the 150-year-old temple was built by a monk who used to give shelter to snakes in the jungle. According to the locals, snakes emerged from the nearby jungle and occupied the temple as soon as construction was completed in 1850.

Today, devotees come from as far away as Hong Kong, Indonesia, Singapore and Taiwan to offer prayers. 

Walk Back In Time

The Penang we know today has managed to retain much of its old world charm. Take a stroll along the historic enclave of George Town and take a peek into shops that have virtually remained the same for more than half a century, reminding us how life was during the Malayan Emergency which was said to have claimed the lives of nearly 2,000 civilian and 1,800 security personnel. On the other side, statistics revealed that more than 6,000 communists died. 

Our first Prime Minister, the late Tunku Abdul Rahman, signed the proclamation that repealed the Emergency Regulations Ordinance which became effective on July 31, 1960. 

A victory parade, celebrated by multicultural Malayans from all walks of life, was held in front of Sultan Abdul Samad Building in Kuala Lumpur.

Please read the article by the title of "Remembering the Emergency in Penang",
at http://travel.nst.com.my/Current_News/TravelTimes/article/TravellerTales/20100804175359/Article/

Illegal parking getting worse in pulau tikus

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24 November 2011 | last updated at 10:22pm

Illegal parking getting worse

By LOOI SUE-CHERN
penang@nstp.com.my | 0 comments

INADEQUATE SPACE: Haphazard parking adds to congestion in Pulau Tikus

Illegal parking is common in the area where many residential houses have been converted into offices and even food outlets. - Pics by Looi Sue-Chern

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GEORGE TOWN: Breaking the law and taking risks are daily affairs in Pulau Tikus. For those who work there or have business to attend to, parking illegally seems to be the only option.

 Pulau Tikus, as many locals know, is one of the most jammed up areas in the city, both on work days due to office workers, and during the weekends, due to shoppers.

  Apart from the existing roads being not wide enough to accommodate today's traffic volume, the other major contributing factor is the lack of parking space, which has led motorists to leave their vehicles indiscriminately.

  Recently at a forum on land reclamation and its impact, Penang Traffic Council member Loh Swee Heong said illegal parking was a big problem in Penang, which needed to be looked into by the local authorities and the police.

  Penangites, he said, would rather park illegally than to park properly in a council parking lot with meters.

  "If the time runs out and people fail to put more coins into the meter in time, they are likely to get a fine.

  "But if they park illegally, they are less likely to get a fine.  That is why many people  rather take the risk," he said.

  For many office workers in Pulau Tikus, parking illegally is not a matter of choice. There is simply no other option.

  Annie Yeap, 39, whose office is at Jalan Jones off Jalan Burmah, said times have changed since many residential units in the area had been converted into offices.

  Some 10 years ago, parking in Jalan Jones was not a problem at all as most of the double-storey terrace units were still private homes, she said.

  All that has changed with almost every unit there operating as offices with staff members and clients who travel in their own cars, she said.  

"When we have a multi-storey car park  big enough to cater to motorists, then we might  be able to solve the parking problem which also worsens the traffic congestion.

  "Until then, I do not think we can just tell people to stop parking illegally in Pulau Tikus... in many cases, they are forced to," she said.

  At Jalan Jones, workers and clients sometimes have to double-park and block each others' cars outside the offices.

  Yeap said office workers there had so far been fortunate that double yellow lines were not drawn in Jalan Jones and the council's enforcement officers had not  clamped the vehicles.

  She said if clamping was implemented in Jalan Jones, motorists would not know where to park their cars.

  "Some of the people here are  forced to park their cars at the nearby Burmese temple's car park, which is actually meant for visitors and devotees," she said, adding that food outlets that operate near junctions in Pulau Tikus  also contributed to the illegal parking mayhem.

  An office worker in Pulau Tikus, who wished to be known only as Lum, 29, said solving the parking and traffic woes in Penang was a very difficult task.

  He said many roads in George Town could no longer be widened to improve traffic flow and the  public still viewed the services of public buses with some  scepticism.

 "Penangites are too used to driving  everywhere. Commuting to office by bus to many people is not very convenient," he said.

  When contacted, Penang Island Municipal councillor Teh Lai Heng said even in Pulau Tikus, there were several multi-storey private car parks available. Motorists can park a little further away from their destination.

  Another way, he said, would be to car pool.

  "It would be quite a challenge to build new multistorey car parks due to land constraints," he said.

  Teh added that the council was considering a long-term solution like special bus lanes.

  By  improving the efficiency of   buses, office workers may prefer to commute by public transport.

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