Say ‘no’ to plastic bags

 Environment, Malaysian finance/business  13 Responses »
Dec 312008
 

While the rest of the world is moving towards bans on the free distribution of plastic bags, supermarkets in Malaysia are still happily dishing out such bags, which are an environmental nightmare. Why are we so gung-ho about plastic bags and what is preventing the authorities from asking supermarkets to stop freely giving out plastic bags and instead encouraging customers to use reuseable cloth or jute bags? Is it a case of apathy or is the ‘plastics lobby’ in Malaysia so strong? Our landfills, rivers, streams and drains are clogged with plastic bags of all sorts. Then, there are all those “mineral” water bottles. Even at the local corner shop or hawker stalls, we can say no to plastic bags and bring our own reuseable bags or containers instead. But be careful of certain reuseable bags that are not exactly environmentally friendly. This article from National Geographic News: Plastic-Bag Bans [Read more]

Are the Penang govt’s fears of being sued justified?

 Accountability, Development issues, Environment, M'sian politics, Malaysian finance/business  38 Responses »
Dec 312008
 

We have heard it said quite a few times now: that if the Penang government or Municipal Council were to cancel of even review projects already approved by the previous administration, it could be sued by developers. This has led to official inaction in a number of important cases ranging from the land rezoning of the Turf Club land, approved hill-slope projects and approved high-rise buildings in the heritage area. What if urgent state action is required in the public interest? Can official inaction be justified by the fear of being sued or of being held liable to pay compensation? Blog reader ashtanga, a lawyer, thinks not: LGE keeps worrying about lawsuits, for this matter (hill-slope projects) as well as PGCC and the Turf Club land. Part of his problem might be the quality of the legal advice the bureaucrats in admin feed him. Remember he seeks legal counsel from [Read more]

Two reasons why we are lagging behind…

 Arts, culture and sports, Development issues  13 Responses »
Dec 312008
 
Two reasons why we are lagging behind...

We are well behind many other countries in the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMMS) benchmarks. It’s a sad reflection of the state of our education system. We are just, well, average in the global class. Percentage of eighth-grade students who reached the TIMSS advanced international benchmark in mathematics, by country: 2007 Percentage of  eighth-grade students who reached the TIMSS advanced international benchmark in science, by country: 2007 What does our Education Minister have to say about this?

Guan Eng under pressure to stop hill-slope projects

 Accountability, Development issues, Environment  28 Responses »
Dec 292008
 
Guan Eng under pressure to stop hill-slope projects

Pearlhill Townhouses perched precariously on a steep hill-slope: Plans were approved for development on the slopes directly below Penang residents, especially those along the northern coastline, continue to worry about projects on steep hill-slopes. I received the following from a blog reader, who also included a well-reasoned and articulate letter to the Penang Chief Minister from the Management Committee of Mt Evergreen Phase 1 (reproduced further below). We are owners and residents of a string of four blocks of 87 apartment units perched on the side of Pearl Hill, Penang. About a year ago the previous State government approved the building of apartment blocks right below our properties. This part of Pearl Hill has slopes categorised as class 3, that is, more than 25 degrees with some localised sections in excess of 35 degrees. The proposed development will cut away two-thirds of the trees. Blasting is bound to be undertaken, [Read more]

The storm reaches our shores…

 Economy, Malaysian finance/business, Workers' rights  14 Responses »
Dec 282008
 

The storm has reached our shores. In Kedah, 1,429 workers from 17 factories have been “temporarily” laid off. In Kuching, 1,500 workers have been retrenched as Western Digital shuts its plant in March. About 60 per cent of these workers are reportedly married with children. The job losses account for 15 per cent of the 10,000 workers in the electronics sector in Sarawak. Another 3,250 workers around the country, mainly from the electronics sector, are expected to be retrenched by over 130 employers in the next three months. And that’s just the official estimate. Earlier in June, 1,600 workers in Nikko Electronics on mainland Penang lost their jobs when the company said it was unable to continue operations. They received a pittance in compensation. Can you imagine what it will be like when we feel the full impact of the storm next year? Are we really prepared? Will we also [Read more]

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