Time to get closer to Penang
Of links to the mainland, old and new
MUSTAFFA Kamal Basha Ahmad Shah was a dejected man last Saturday. The Penangite, 53, had been in Kuala Lumpur for five days when he decided to deal with his craving for nasi kandar.
He braved the clogged streets to reach Kudu on Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, a place he regards as the nearest one could plausibly get to the Penang delight. Only to find the place closed for the day.
Mustaffa's mannerisms, his analysis of politics, his intention to celebrate every single meal, his travels, and his devotion to Hindi movies have all been shaped in and by his beloved Penang.
He is like P. Ramlee -- talented and an original thinker.
Penang is a dream. Imagine relocating to Penang and not having to work! Enjoying a soothing walk at the Botanical Gardens, the food, a bit of casual writing, charming wooded lanes, also the "anak Mami", multicultures, depths of commerce.
When the visionary Wan Muhammad Saman Wan Ismail, prime minister of Kedah for some years right up to 1898, conceived a canal from Alor Star to the foot of Gunung Jerai, he journeyed to the island to discuss financing, according to historical documents.
Penang has supplied generations of doctors, writers and lawyers, including those who advised the old aristocracy of Perak and Kedah.
The first tallest building, a three-storey Rumah Tinggi, was built by one Syed Shariff Tunku Syed Hussain Al-Aidid, who had arrived from Aceh in 1792.
Consider the many top personalities from Penang, founders of political parties from Malayan Democratic Union (Lim Kean Chye, son of Lim Cheng Ean), Radical Party, United Democratic Party and Gerakan (where Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu had been involved).
P. Ramlee, whose images adorned the walls at Kudu, must have been suitably inspired by the sights and conversations of Penang in his formative years.
Romantically attached to Penang have been Kedahans -- orang seberang along with those from Province Wellesley. The ferry rides, shoes, branded items and ships that took their parents to Mecca and India had strengthened the connection.
Last week, a vital Kedah-Penang link spanning 64 years, the UTC bus company, called it a day after ferrying generations of passengers on its many routes.
The star service had to be the famed 516 bus from Alor Star to Butterworth with stops in Guar Chempedak, Gurun, Bedong, Sungai Petani.
The New Straits Times reporter in Prai, Adie Suri Zulkefli, said one police inspector took his wife and young children to the UTC workshop to photograph the bus fleet. He told his children how he was attached to UTC buses that used to take him to school.
Connectivity to Penang is hardly an issue these days. One could own properties in Sungai Petani or Kulim, and still dash to Penang to join the meandering queues at Nasi Beratur (starts at 10pm).
The construction of the Second Bridge -- and the RM8 billion projects of sea tunnel plus roads announced by Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng -- should further integrate the mainland with Penang and vice-versa.
More Malaysians could enjoy Penang more and develop a sense of belonging for the place.
The number of Penang admirers should also grow tremendously.
Penang would have the additional burden of explaining its thinking, development strategies and policies.
The chief minister has been big on the communication front. Mustaffa gets a letter once a while informing him of the "deliverables" of the Penang government.
Clearly, the chief minister has the additional burden of having his thought processes dissected by all Malaysians.
He would do well to avoid the kind of explanation he attempted when faced with objections to the RM8 billion projects from the likes of Consumers Association of Penang.
Asked if the roads and tunnel are going to be tolled, he said: "Frankly, we do not want to charge toll, but don't you think the Federal Government will jump? We want to show that we are not out to kill the Federal Government or the two Penang bridges."
Northerners would properly label that as a form of merapu (glib, and maybe nonsensical).
Read more: Time to get closer to Penang - Columnist - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/opinion/columnist/time-to-get-closer-to-penang-1.9214#ixzz1eP3554Um
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