Who’s angry? I am celebrating!

 Environment, Public transport  26 Responses »
Jun 262008
 

Last night, I received a couple of text messages informing me of this. The report below says the scrapping of the Penang Outer Ring Road (Porr) and monorail projects is “likely to anger Penang”. But to me, this must be the best news all month. Thank you, Mr PM, thank you! All those who cherish sustainable and cost-efficient public transport for Penang will be celebrating – even though the federal government may have had other reasons for shelving these mega crony-linked projects. Who cares what their reasons are… The important thing is that these projects have been shelved. Malaysiakini Penang’s Porr and monorail projects shelved Jun 25, 08 8:36pm In a stunning move which is likely to anger Penang, the government has put off two major projects in the state – the RM2 billion monorail and RM1.5 billion Penang Outer Ring Road (Porr). MCPX According to evening edition of Chinese [Read more]

Abdullah plugs leaking dyke – but how long can it hold?

 Democracy, Energy resources, M'sian politics, Poverty  14 Responses »
Jun 252008
 

Phew, it’s been an eventful week – but as they say, you ain’t seen nothing yet! The way I see it, Abdullah is fighting a rear-guard battle to save himself – and the ruling coalition. Let’s see what his administration has been doing to try and keep the rakyat happy: dishing out rebates to ease pain of subsidy removal (the pain is still there-lah) approval for Parti Sosialis Malaysia’s application for registration (finally!) allowing Harakah to increase its frequency to twice a week (Take that, Mahathir! The former PM had cut it down to twice a month after doing badly in the 1999 general election.) planning to launch a crackdown on migrants in Sabah (uh-oh, more human rights abuses?) lifting restrictions on journalists in the parliamentary lobby (talk about the BN shooting itself in the foot, in the first place, by restricting its own media!) shutting down Kamunting Detention Camp [Read more]

What is USM trying to do?

 Accountability, Development issues, Environment  38 Responses »
Jun 242008
 
What is USM trying to do?

Who needs gold medals when you can be a serious global contender for a grand prize in gobbledygook…. Apparently, the Science University of Malaysia is planning to spend RM450 million to build a “science and arts innovation space”. USM had reportedly bought the 12.4ha plot of land in Bukit Jambul for RM59 million from IJM in March. (So much spare cash, huh? Or is it borrowed money? Or ultimately the rakyat’s money?) Looks as if USM is venturing into Big Business. Today, in theSun, there was a four-page cover wrap-around ad (how much did that cost?) which featured this sains@usm thingy. It was full of gobbledygook and jargon. Take this example from the V-C’s foreword: The world of sains@usm will represent an innovative space that promotes highly integrated search and research with dedicated incubators and collaboratories as platforms to nurture transdisciplinarity as the way forward. Huh? Could someone translate that [Read more]

A tale of two turf clubs

 Accountability, Malaysian finance/business, People's Park/PGCC  16 Responses »
Jun 232008
 
A tale of two turf clubs

By now, most of you would probably have received an email (perhaps more than once) pointing out the uncanny parallels between the assassinations of US presidents Lincoln and Kennedy. I thought I would do a similar exercise for the Selangor Turf Club and the Penang Turf Club, which I think is quite revealing in showing their common modus operandi. So here goes: The Penang Turf Club land in Batu Gantung measures around 250 acres. The Selangor Turf Club land at Sungai Besi measures around 250 acres.

Kedah govt’s disregard of environment alarms groups

 Civil society, Development issues, Energy resources, Environment, Workers' rights  3 Responses »
Jun 222008
 
Kedah govt's disregard of environment alarms groups

Environmental activist Nizam stressing a point during a press conference Grassroots groups in Kedah have expressed alarm at several projects that they say are threatening the environment in the state. They have released a Kedah People’s Declaration listing several projects they say are degrading the environment. In recent days, even the Penang government has expressed concern that water catchment areas in Kedah could be affected. While the Kedah state government may need to raise funds to compensate for a slowing down of federal funding for the opposition-ruled state, it should not resort to undertaking projects that could compromise the environment. Several groups have criticised a string of projects and proposals including the Kedah Hydrocarbon Hub, a granite quarry in the Gunung Jerai water catchment area and permanent forest reserve, and logging near water catchment forests.

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