Can the Penang state government direct the Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) to implement the proposed Penang International Convention Centre?
On 30 November 2009, in response to an oral question in the Penang State Assembly by Pantai Jerejak member Sim Tze Tzin (PKR), Chow Kon Yeow, responding on behalf of the Chief Minister, replied that “in line with a state government directive, the MPPP had been directed to implement the construction of a convention centre at a site determined by the state government, that is, at the Penang International Sports Arena (Pisa) in Relau, Penang”.
He added that the proposal was in the planning stage, and the MPPP would decide if a traffic impact assessment was needed once it received a detailed proposal.
Is it within the power of the state government to issue such a directive to the MPPP?
Section 9 of the Local Government Act 1976 states:
ADMINISTRATION OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES
9. Power of State Authority to issue directions.
(1) The State Authority may from time to time give the local authority directions of a general character, and not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, on the policy to be followed in the exercise of the powers conferred and the duties imposed on the local authority by or under this Act in relation to matters which appear to the State Authority to affect the interests of the local authority area, and the local authority shall as soon as possible give effect to all such directions.
The operative words here are “directions of a general character” on policy matters. Now, the question here is, does a directive to implement a specific convention centre on a specific site determined by the state government amount to “directions of a general character” on policy matters?
One blog reader made the following observation:
The issue is not whether Penang needs a convention centre. The issue is:
(1) whether PICC is the business of MPPP to build and maintain. Obviously MPPP had done a bad job for Pisa and now it is being asked to shoulder another monument.
(2) where is the feasibility study and why is MPPP being pressured to build it in a hurry – to be completed by 2010, tender to be called in January?
(3) why no competition for design and why the reliance on the same architect who built Pisa?
(4) why the location? does everyone know that it will be located at the front entrance obstructing Pisa?
(5) will any exhibitors come to a RM 50 million convention centre (with no hotel, auditorium and inadequate parking) in congested Penang when there are much grander and better equipped convention centres in KL, Singapore, Bangkok?
(6) what will happen to Pisa during and after construction?
Let the private sector or state government build and run it. Don’t ask MPPP to spend ratepayers’ money in a hurry for this when all the above questions remain hanging in the air.
Related posts:
I think it is a foregone conclussion that the PICC will be build. Knowing the past actions of LGE, this is a certainity not with Rm50M to splash around (for DAP cronies?) and the amount of goodwill (and more) that he stands to gain from the Big Business and Big Developers.
I remember vividly how Chow, LGE and LKS used to lambast Gerakan and BN for interferring in local council affairs before the GE. Now they are doing it themselves openly and without apology.
This is not the first time LGE had meddled in MPPP’s affairs. I can recall the incidents like the Tiger Park and the aborted Ferry takeover, LGE arm-twisted MPPP to sing his tune.
At the coffee shop level, PR is the cleanest administration so far. No cronies and proxies for sure. That makes PR is so popular throughout the Malaysia. People who use to lobby job are cursing because PR administration could not practice direct negotiation and all contract to be awarded through open tender.
So, Gerakan, keep your mouth shut before you can prove one project in Penang which is direct negotiate.
Daniel..obviously you living in another planet from rest of us. It has been hardly 2 years yet the corrupt practices within all PR states are rampant. Imagine giving PR another 50 years, I can foresee that we will be competing with Zimbabhwe, North Korea and Myanmar for world rankings for every aspect of poor governance and abuse of human rights.
As for croynism, I hardly need to point out these cases as these are well documented. Even in so called non materialistic Kelantan under PAS, such practices is rampant. The revered Tok Guru is no exception to this as we have seen.
In Penang, such cronyism is so obvious. There are numerous cases where contracts were (allegedly) awarded without open tender. The case of PICC and the monorail are just the most recent.
K,
I think, on the contrary, you are living in another planet. You are obviously correct to point out that Malaysia will be competing with Zimbabwe, as a failed state if efforts are not taken to change the corrupt to the core … UMNO together with all its playmates under BN ( Bolts and Nuts). Together in BN they had screwed the Rakyat for 52 years! They do not have much leftovers as the prized states of Selangor and Penang were taken away from them. They robbed the state of Perak from PR and disregarded the wishes of the people.
As far as cronyism, you certainly are a better master to point out the abuses during the reigns of Bolts and Nuts! Such sickening and unashamed cronyism had been practised during the Bolts and Nuts terms…. Now, must go through open tender online la. Not like last time, hush, hush kow tim.
You are very fond of accusing and bad mouthing people, I think there is something seriously wrong with you… Do not blame anyone for your problem, when something rots, we changed or dumped them away because of its sickening stench. Luckily, Penangnites now have fresh air to breathe, whereas other parts of Malaysia are still stinking bad. A fish rots at its head, and the head of Bolts and Nuts had rotted long time ago. Hey what happened to your number two, huh? Apparently, avoiding the number 1 because the stench is too awful to bear?
Just name the cronyism and corrupt practises of the present Government for the benefits of readers nationwide. If you are correct, we, reasonable and fair Malaysians will salute you, but if you try to spin and tell lies, you will not be respected. Simple as that. While we may have our political differences, we should argue our case honestly, without resorting to lies, more lies and statistics! Get it?
Anyone can make general accusations but they are not taken seriously, like what you are saying of Tok Guru and Penang. State your accusations with facts, like what RPK normally does….
If you go to China, you’ll find plenty of new, huge, city and convention halls. Ask any local resident and they will tell you engrossing stories of how every appointed mayor to the city wanting to leave a legacy, in the form of mammoth buildings, behind.
They will also tell you of stories of who’s who in the construction of those buildings and how developers are linked to the mayor’s office and how the mayors are enriched in the process. They are also puzzled why the city needs such fine buildings while public amenities are suffering.
I hope Penang will not fall into such corrupt stupidity. Wise use of money for maintenance of public amenities is more important than having mammoth structures. Voters like me can see the difference if the government cares. A coat of new paint to government buildings, prompt repair of pot holes (or a re-tar), simple and intelligent solutions to unnecessary traffic jams, making legislation to force structures to be handicap friendly, clean public toilets, flood alleviation, greening of Penang (including taking down old trees where they prevent the widening of some crucial roads), simplifying government procedures and many more.
Don’t learn from China but learn from Singapore, of what they did during their growing years, in this.
Building the convention centre is the decision of the state government. A decision that it think would benefit the people and state. MPPP is just to implement it at the directive of the state government. This is not meddling.. Just like the tiger park and ferry take over case, it is also the decsion of LGE and the state government but due to the people opposition, the current state government unlike the previous one understood the people` feelings and so agreed to abort the project.
People in the industry know that (a certain) architect who was given (a certain) job, which made him a millionaire, was not because of track record or exceptional design skills. The young man was, in fact, not even a registered architect at the time! He merely happened to be married to the daughter of a major industrialist who was a major supporter of some political party to which the then MPPP President belonged. He needed to rope in an old registered architect to use his name, just for show. So inexperienced was the architect that the project costs ballooned many times its original budget. Tenders were called and then it was realised he hadn’t allowed for legal access… there was no road in! Then it was discovered there were no seating allowed for in the tender documents. Of course we later learnt it didn’t meet requirements of the relevant international sports bodies… and so on and so forth.
We thought these things happen only in the Bolehness of the previous State Govt.
A direction and instruction is entirely 2 issues. State Government has the right to direct but the process of implementation still need to be initiated by MPPP. MPPP can do a paper to prove it is viable to be implemented.
Surely you are not joking daniel ? The head of MPPP and the councillors are handpicked by the Cheap Minister and you except them to be independent ? That’s why we keep demanding LGE to fulfill his pre-election promise of local council elections. Only then we can have MPPP that is truly independent.
K,
You are very good in generalization to create doubts with your comments.
You are absolutely fantastic in spewing half truths and lies. Please articulate your facts without being general. Local council elections? My Foot! Under the Bolt and Nuts Government? Only DAP fought for local council elections, but because of political strategy, they cannot implement the said matter immediately. You too agree, that Sun Tzu said, “do not go to war, if you are not sure of winning it”. As far as the PR is concerned local council elections can wait, it is a matter of timing. Right now, saving the country from big time corruption and misrule is priority number one. The Rakyat comes first, not interested parties. The real case scenario of Zimbabwe is real, if corruption in the country is not addressed!
As it is, in PR, there are discussions, and all decisions are made after a general consensus is met.
We are not like Bolts and Nuts. Bolts and Nuts, had been abusing the local councils and had been treating it like their grandfather’s property, mind you. Do not talk about local council elections as you all had none so, now you are talking about it? Shame on you! In Bolts and Nuts, you got no say at all, only those … makes decision, and the lower grade … happily takes the decision, without a word! We are just so tired with (them) and even more tired with the grades of (political) eunuchs!
O
Let’s not descent to personal attacks. Just try to debate and not debase.
Are you implying that DAP/PR cheated and mislead the voters by promising local council elections without ever wanting to implement them ?
As for saving the nation from corruption and misrule, I agree with you. And that’s why we are demanding for local council elections as one of the steps to achieve it.
I don’t give a damn about the need for consensus within Pakatan or how they are discussing,their problemsetc. We have absolutely no interest in Pakatan’s problems but only on the problems facing us and the nation. We were promised local council elections and just give us that.
On the contrary, Pakatan doesnt look like saving the country from corruption and misrule but busy perpetuating it.
As for BN, I am not their supporter or a member so you can bring this debate to any of the BN’s forums to get your questions answered.
As for equating Malaysia with Zimbabhwe, all I can say is that only a fool or blind PR supporter would make
such comparison. If this is true, PR would not be ruling 4 states and having 1/3 control of the national parliament but languishing in some penal camps.
I say, why not just scrap all these local council elections talks, for the ease of governance for LGE administration?
With Penang having LGE, who need local council election?
I won’t be surprised that the 50M gonna be wasted.
I have been to many convention centers around the world, and there is one crucial factor — size.
If the convention center is not big enough, no one would want to come to the exhibition.
You do need a convention center that is big enough to host international level conventions, and the place at PISA, please don’t make me laugh.
There are places in Penang where you can build sizable convention center — no, we do not have to build the largest in the world, but we need to build one that is large enough:
On the Island side, the existing lumba kuda place at Batu Gantung and in the Balik Pulau area.
On the mainland side, Batu Kawan, Kepala Batas, or places near BM.
Please do not let LGE waste the 50 Mn.
Please !!
Anil,
I agree with you in principle on no fund would be wasted on white elephant buildings or projects.
So you agree LGE’s decision on KBP’s issue is the right one.
How sure are you people that the RM50 million if not to be spend on PICC will be spend wisely by the people in MPPP?
As Wira said that “A coat of new paint to government buildings, prompt repair of pot holes (or a re-tar), simple and intelligent solutions to unnecessary traffic jams, making legislation to force structures to be handicap friendly, clean public toilets, flood alleviation, greening of Penang (including taking down old trees where they prevent the widening of some crucial roads), simplifying government procedures and many more.”
Some of these he mentioned, I believed are already budgeted but don’t blamed the politicians all the time as some high-level officers in MPPP are to be blamed as well.
Allow me to give an example, there is this some so call VIP from PDC and MPPP living in one of the Lorong Mahsuri double storey house where the whole stretch of the road is resurface every year and mine is on the next road to it but it was only surfaced once in six years.
When you have such abused of allocations, how do you expect to have all pot-holes taken care in Bayan Baru? Some pot-holes are created by the contractors that do work for Telkoms, TNB, PBA etc and do not cover back accordingly what they have dug out.
Due to MPPP lack of enforcement to check and ensure the contractors meet the repair requirement in the work specs, we will always face the short delivery by these unscrupulous contractors. So when such thing happens, why don’t you people make an official complaint to MPPP and ensure actions are taken by MPPP?
Do you want the MPPP to spend money to beautify and re-beautify roundabouts and pedestrian walkways as undertaken by the previous government that was given to their class E and F contractor cronies? These programme do not have ROI but also should not be totally ignored. These types of projects should be carefully planned and implemented when there are surplus budget.
Traffic jams were created by the greedy top level officials in MPPP and politicians in the past because they allowed high density buildings like high-rise condos, commercial buildings etc to be built without proper planning for dispersal road being build to accommodate the increase in volume in traffic.
I attended a seminar on housing in Penang two or three years back and spoke to some MPPP planning department officials on congestions in Penang. They told me their hand are tied and are forced to change some of their recommendations to suit the closely linked developers to high level MPPP officials and politicians. I think some of you have seen it yourself and even asked why houses build by PDC takes a longer time to get CF than some developers when their projects is only 99% completed? When such things happened, who is to be blamed?
We, Penangites must remember, ever since when Gerakan took over Penang in 1969, we were sideline or received very little funding from the federal government.
One example is we lost the free port status. Do you all know that Pulau Tioman is a duty-free island just attrach tourists? Isn’t Penang also attracts tourists?
All taxes collected except like entertainment tax, the cukai pintu, land tax, etc are collected that goes to the state government’s coffer. The sales tax, custom duties, road tax, income tax and a lot more other taxes goes to the federal government. THE PAINFUL GST SOON TO BE IMPLEMENTED WILL GO TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. So how much does the Penang Government get FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT when it was under the UMNO&Gerakan? DID WE GET BETTER THAN MELAKA?
If there is an interest, I would like to organise a study tour for those who bang so hard on the present state government to visit Melaka and see its progress since Ali Rustam took over as CM for the last 10 years. This would put KTK to shamed of been CM for 18 years.
You can see how much fund they have received from the federal government to build so many dual carriage express ways, land reclamations, a newly refurbished Batu Beremdam Airport with the extended runway but with very limited flights even Fireflyz doesn’t want to use (unbelievable?), convention & trade centre, Taming Sari tower, Eye of Malaysia, Melaka River rehabilitation programme (now a tourist attraction with its river cruises). BTW, what happen to Sungai Pinang rehabilitation programme that causes the renowned flood in Caunter Hall year after year?
Do you all think the present state government has been receiving a fair amount from the federal BeEnd Government if the previous state government could not its fair share?
Therefore, MPPP must see that it needs to generate income to supplement to its coffers from its assets and not leaving it to be dormant without ROI. With SOUND INVESTMENT by MPPP that gives ROI, MPPP need not have to squeeze the Penangites for increase in taxes like car-parking, cukai pintu etc etc.
To all:
An on-line petition against the building of the PICC has been initiated. Pls click on the link below and sign the petition. Pls forward this message to all your contacts and bloggers to get them to sign the petition. We are targetting to get at least 2000 signatures by Jan 15. Tenders for the PICC project has already been called (check the MPPP website). We have no time to waste to get our message across to the State Govt. Thank you.
http://www.petitiononline.com/picc2010/petition.html
SH Tan
Where can I find the petition for implementation of the Convention Hall?
Anthony Tan,
You wrote a long piece but please tell us your main point.
Please learn how to discern totally different matters, would you mind?
MPPP’s inefficiency is one matter.
Lim Guan Eng’s attempt to force MPPP to build the 50 Mn ringgit white elephant is another separate matter altogether.
We know MPPP isn’t perfect, but that still doesn’t give LGE a blank check to waste the 50 Mn ringgit in erecting yet another white elephant in Penang.
As for what to do with that 50 Mn ringgit, wouldn’t it be better if the money is saved for future emergency rather than wasted?
What was our aim in kicking Koh Tsu Koon out?
Wasn’t that because we don’t want wastage anymore?
Wasn’t that because we are tired of white elephants?
Wasn’t that because we won’t allow any misuse of public fund anymore?
If we allow Lim Guan Eng in wasting the 50 Mn ringgit to build this mini-convention hall, how sure are you that this will be the one and only white elephant from LGE?
iron
I concur. Today it is Rm50M and tomorrow t will be 50Billion if we do not stop this Cheap Minister now.
DAP supporters seems think that LGE was given chance to lead is not a privileage but a right. They think it is OK to allow LGE the same excesses done by BN as long it is done by Pakatan. It seems to them that Pakatan leaders are some sort of political royalty whom the usual laws and the needs for accountability do not apply.
Where is the market study, cash flow estimates, economic impact analysis?
No information what so ever regarding the physical site inspection? Any analysis of local and regional economic and demographic information? Any discussion with local area and regional hotel/conference center operators? Is there any gathering and compilation of data from national convention industry research firms and publications? Any discussion with representatives of hotel and convention center management companies?
Without analyses that based on estimates, assumption and other research of the market, knowledge of the industry, information regarding the project, how on earth the public, MPPP going to comment and participate of the decision making? This is purely a decision of a single individual who has no knowledge of the industry.
LGE totally disregard our right to know when he make the decision to build the PICC.
We need to see the financial analyses and forecast. What are the legal, engineering and regulatory requirements applicable to the project, including zoning, and other state and local government regulations, permits and licenses. Is there any effort being made to determine the possible effect of the project on PISA, present, and future federal, state and local legislation, including environmental or ecological matters, compliance with Manual Saliran Mesra Alam or interpretation thereof?
We need to know the market demand analyses, the cash flow estimates, the economic impact analyses, the potential impact of any sharp rise or decline in local economy and general economic conditions, to see whether the project is viable or not. Without all these information, how the state government come to the decision to direct the MPPP to build the PIGG will be a puzzle to the public. The so call public hearing or feedback is just for show. The decision already been made to proceed with the building of PICC, LGE is misleading the public again.
We need the state government to conduct market study based on the following methods:
1) Identifying local and regional competitive supply and comparable convention centers throughout the nation
2) Identifying and interviewing sources of demand
3) Identifying and characterising samples of potential users of convention facilities in the nation and neighboring nations.
4) Interviewing and gathering relevant data from various government entities and research firms and publications
The state government need to analyse the potential market support. Is there any upscale, full service, chain affiliated hotel with sufficient guest rooms and more than adequate meeting space in the neighborhood?
All these need time to prepare the analyses, but LGE, a super performer, can do it in less than a year. You sincerely believe that he ever do his home work? Another example of bad politician who only now how to listen to developers instead of the people.
Iron
What happen if MPPP strike oil in the convention centre?…
Why so negative? Our friend is talking about ROI in view of Gerakan Party supporting UMNO in GST and reduces the revenue from the State Government.
Do you mean the 50M is to sit in the bank and getting a interest less than Gerakan/UMNO created inflation?
Referring to the other article on your blog, Anil – http://anilnetto.com/accountability/why-i-am-against-the-new-penang-convention-centre/ -
Can you please give us THE INFORMATION like
* The address
* The name
* The department
* The phone number
* and other essential informations
regarding how to write to MPPP to object the building of that silly mini-convention center !
I have read the whole article, there were a few mention on writing to MPPP
BUT WHERE THE HELL IS THE INFORMATION ?
Stop asking people to write to MPPP while you guys never give any detail.
Sheeeeeeeh !
Er, the email address to write to was included in that post. The MPPP office is of course located in Komtar, Penang.
I think the state government should clear up the matter once & for all. Hmmm, reminds me of the Esplanade in Singapore. To those who doesn’t cherish art, it’s a total waste of money. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t support it either
Lets see what the state government gonna say. By the way, heard of Kelantan government got to pay 800 millions MYD as penalty
Anil,
Wouldn’t you agree after all
IT’S ECONOMY, STUPID!
Hi Anil: would you be able to help put up the link to the petition in yr main post? Not everybody goes to the comments section and they will miss out the link. Thanks..
Iron,
If “catch no ball” of what I have posted in Anil’s blog, please go and read in full and slowly again!
I was pointing out that whatever the government spent there must be ROI. Didn’t you read in between the lines? I DO NOT CONDONE WASTEFUL SPENDING OF PUBLIC FUNDS BY ANY GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS. I am a typical Penangites and we are renowned to be kedekut… I, like many others had work hard and paid the incomes and others taxes. It is very painful to see government departments spending wastefully for the wrong reasons.
I have comment on this subject on December 30th, 2009 at 11.18pm on this blog. I have stated there is a need of a proper study on PICC project before implementation and we have to make LGE take notice of this.
There are some of you that have commented the Chief Minister must have your green light before he can do anything and everything, this means you all have more power than the leader which the majority of the people has entrusted him to lead Penang. I am not affiliated to any political party, I believed in FAIR AND SQUARE DECISIONS FOR THE HUMAN RACE.
Again, I like to point out to you that if have read my earlier comments slowly you will know what I mean. Please read the Star Biz on Saturday 2 January 2009 article, LGE answering 10 questions. Two interesting paragraphs which you should take note:
3. The Penang government is fighting hard for financial autonomy. How does that limit your aspirations for the state? – Angie, Malacca
Penang never had financial autonomy. From 2001 to 2008, Penang paid to the Federal Government RM25.67bil in the form of taxes and customs duties, but only received RM794mil in federal grants. In other words, Penang got back only 3% of what it contributed between 2001 and 2008.
5. Do you feel it’s fair that Khazanah Nasional Bhd is managing the funds allocated by the Federal Government to conserve Penang’s heritage sites? – Oh, Malacca
This has been a sore point as George Town and Malacca were jointly listed as Unesco World Heritage Sites and should be accorded fair and equal treatment as promised by the previous prime minister. But what we have seen is the Heritage Department getting RM30mil for Malacca whereas Khazanah gets RM20mil for Penang, despite George Town being 50% larger and having 250% more heritage shophouses. Khazanah’s RM20mil has nothing to do with heritage and was submitted before the conferment of World Heritage status. We should not discriminate against George Town and must take cognisance that a World Heritage status is an honour that must be preserved, protected and promoted.
After I read the article (mind you The Star is owned by MCA and they are carrying a DAP story), I think IRON, you are barking up the wrong tree.
I repeat, I DO NOT CONDONE WASTEFUL SPENDING OF PUBLIC FUNDS BY ANY GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.
By the way, as you said “As for what to do with that 50 Mn ringgit, wouldn’t it be better if the money is saved for future emergency rather than wasted?” Are you asking the MPPP to keep it in FD when the interest rate is so low? What would be the ROI?
Way back, we Penangites were proud to say “Penang Leads” and we are now following behind many other states in Malaysia. Now, we have a chance to regain our pride with the new state government that has new visions and directions. We have to give them a chance to show their capability to prove themselves. If we have given KTK 18 years to give us result and failed, we have to give the new state government a chance to complete the full term. If they fail, we have an option to kick them out at the next GE but sad to say, with people like IRON, who would like see Penang stand still or move backwards only.
Iron,
Are you a qualified fortune teller or do you have a crystal ball? How do you know the RM50 million is going to be wasted? Have you seen the design of the building? Have you seen the business plan? I believe it is still in its planning stage, why jump the gun? The MPPP is asking for input before the 8 January, why don’t you submit your protest and suggestions to them? Get yourself heard!
You said you have been to many convention centres around the world, wouldn’t you want to share your knowledge with us in the designing and what is required for PICC? Out of so many you have visited, can you tell me which one that has impress most and why you preferred it?
People don’t to go an exhibition because of the size of the building but the quality of the exhibitions. In exhibition business, if there are not enough exhibitors, there will be no visitors. When there are not enough visitors, the exhibitors don’t come to join the exhibition. Simple as that!
The right location for the PICC is to be as near to the airport or seaport as near as possible and hotels must also must be nearby, preferred to be not more than 30 minutes away. Others are like good restaurants, shopping centres, tourist attractions and entertainment places.
Since we have a small budget, we can start small (phase 1) but there must be room (land) for expansion to meet the future needs, therefore PISA is not ideal.
If the government is thinking of PISA, than the best option is to redesign, refurbish and expand PISA. This will save a big slice of the RM50 million.
Just to give a wild suggestion, the swimming pool complex could be converted to a convention centre since the swimming pool is built to non-compliance to the required international standard and under utilised.
Please remember, there are many international convention & exhibition centres that were converted from large ex-warehouses like Pasir Panjang warehouse next to WTC in Singapore before moving to Changi Expo, London Docklands and Cologne.
I would like to suggest that LGE and his people, is to get as much feedback as possible from the MICE industry players to incorporate it into the designing of PICC. We want an effective designed building to be able to meet the requirement of the industry for now and future uses. Architects are not MICE organisers and architects must design to their needs and purposes.
It should not be use by the architects and take advantage and opportunity to use it as their master piece branding at the taxpayers’ expense.
You like to write long long message, don’t you, Anthony Tan.
Although I know I am stupid, I still believe I am not the only one “Catching no ball” here.
But anyway, back to the topic.
No, I do not have crystal ball or anything like that, but my experience tell me, and I have been around the globe, attending a lot of conventions, for the past 40 years, tells me ONE thing — there are a lot of not-so-large convention centers are not being utilized for one simple reason — they are NOT big enough.
If you really want to know what is big enough, go to Tokyo or San Francisco and look at their convention halls (yes, plural).
One convention hall, even a huge one, simply can NOT hold everything. Cities like Las Vegas have over 8 HUGE convention halls, all situated along the “Strip”. They are designed in this way to with the convention goers in mind — The participants can comb through one hall, walk out and then walk into another hall.
The place at PISA is simply awkward.
1. There is NO other places to build more supporting buildings for the convention hall.
2. The empty lot in the PISA complex is simply too small to build a sizable convention hall.
3. The traffic around the PISA, aaaarrrggghhh … do you want me to say more?
And most importantly,
4. Where are the convention goers going to stay?
No matter if you go to Dallas or Shanghai or Toronto or Sydney, within walking distance (usually within 10 blocks) of their main convention hall they have at least 5 hotels.
Yes, LIMA.
Which means, the participants can attend a convention in the morning, listen to the various keynote speeches, get tired, walk back to their hotel room, rest.
After a nap and a shower they come out again, walk back to the convention center and continue.
Can you see this happening in and around PISA?
And Mr. Tan, you talk of ROI as if you are some expert in it.
What is ROI? Return on Investment.
Even without the aid of any crystal ball, I can guarantee you that the Return on Investment (ROI) on this proposed 50 Mn Ringgit mini-convention center gonna be in the negative column.
Why?
Simply because
A. The convention center would be under-utilized because of the size constraint AND the location of PISA.
B. Which means the so-called “ripple-effect” that convention goers might bring to Penang might not materialized.
C. Which means the 50 Mn ringgit investment is like throwing good money after a bad scheme
and worst of all
D. The cost of maintenance — and it will cost the Penang taxpayers to maintain that empty shell.
Lastly, since you are the one talking so much about ROI, please show us your figures.
Please prove to us that using the 50 Mn ringgit to build a white elephant will bring more ROI to the taxpayers of Penang than let the money sits in an FD.
Please show us the proof, Anthony Tan.
Thank you !
Why are you following me in writing long messages now? I believe you want to share your thought with your comments, isn’t it? This is what I am trying to do, try to share my thoughts with the concerned Penangites about the directions and future we are heading to.
I believe when you reply my comments, you are very angry so much so and again you did not read in between the lines in my two comments.
Looks like many comments made by some people like you is to complain, complain and complain with negative agenda. What we need is some recommendations and solutions to development that Penang has been looking forward to for so long for the tourism industry.
I DID NOT SAY YOU are STUPID but you said it yourself! What I am saying, you are not reading in between the lines of my comments.
How big is big when you talk about convention halls? What size do you have in mind to consider it is big enough? Do we need to proof to world that we can run before we could walk! We have to consider first what sort of events we are looking at and the target market?
Let give you some examples:
Genting International Convention Centre (GICC) catered for an AMWAY incentive and conference from China with 12,000 paxs but the event broken into three groups as the venue could not cater for 12,000 pax at one go. They have to spread their annual convention over one month. Each group stayed five days.
Avon Malaysia used Genting for their convention with 5,000 paxs
A Malaysian multi-level marketing company which has a strong base in China, organised their convention in Malaysia twice, one in Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) with 10,000 paxs and the preceeding year they held it in Langkawi which was not that successful as expected because of bad logistic planning by local agent.
There are a lot more examples, which I will not go on before someone will complain again I write long messages.
Hello friend, welcome to the club, I also have been to many MICE venues around the world and in particular I am very fond of is DWTC in UAE, where I saw it grow from a simple venue to what it is today, a convention venue almost as large as KL golden triangle!!
The places you mentioned like Tokyo, San Francisco, Las Vegas and others, please bear in mind that they did not succeed overnight but built up along the way and its reputation over the years. Watch out soon, MACAU will overtake them soon as well as Singapore.
So if you keeping harping and arguing on the negative side about PICC and try to give it an abortion before it can even be conceived, how can we succeed in Penang? When can we have a basic convention venue so that it can grow to what you have mentioned if you don’t even allow Penang to take the first step to have a small beginning?
If you have carefully read in my comment, I did not totally agreed that PICC is to be build at PISA ground but I gave some alternatives recommendations (solutions to the problems).
“And Mr. Tan, you talk of ROI as if you are some expert in it.What is ROI? Return on Investment.”
IRON, I am shock that you until now you don’t even know the business term “ROI” with your more than 40 globe tottering in attending conventions?
IRON, I am an expert in everything but I am will to learn to understand what is the new trend in the market. As I managed some small businessesin MICE, I am willing to share my experiences. ans in any other big or mall businesses, In any investment, be it long term or short business investment, you will expect an ROI. We are not running charity or welfare departments.
You said “Lastly, since you are the one talking so much about ROI, please show us your figures. Please prove to us that using the 50 Mn ringgit to build a white elephant will bring more ROI to the taxpayers of Penang than let the money sits in an FD.
Please show us the proof, Anthony Tan.”
Thank you for throwing the challenge, I willing to take it up!
Tell me, are in the position to commit and give my company the RM50 million to develope PICC?
If want me to show you the figures and “ROI” put the money where your mount is and appoint my company as project consultants. We will give a business and work plan, projections and ROI time frame. R&D cost money to get the result for feasibility study. Such working papers don’t come free to any party!
We are ready to use the RM50 million to build, maintain and operate the PICC but this does not include the land cost as it depend on the viability and availability of the venue location. If we can achieved a better ROI than bank FDs, are you ready to give the difference in profit to our company.
You asking for it, “YOU WANT PROOF, TAKE UP MY CHALLENGE”
Otherwise, please don’t sink Penang further with your negative thinking and outright rejections without basis and guarantees!
DON’T SIMPLE THROW CHALLENGES TO PEOPLE IF YOU ARE NOT IN RIGHT POSITION TO SPEAK THAT LOUD!
Correction to this para:
IRON, I am (missed out: not) an expert in everything but I am will to learn to understand what is the new trend in the market. As I managed some small businessesin MICE, I am willing to share my experiences with anyone.In any investment, be it big or small and for long or short term business investment, you will expect an ROI. We are not running charity or welfare departments.
From The Star: “Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng had said on Dec 22 that he encouraged anyone who felt that the PICC project was too costly to apply through the tender process to build it at a lower price.”
Sounds like political gobbledygook.
The average Penangite is not a contractor, and cannot tender to build the project at whatever price, but this is supposed to be a democracy, and he or she has the right to object to the spending of the RM50mil, without having to build it for cheaper!
More and more, it’s starting to look like LGE is yet another sloganist. Like Mahathir’s Cekap-whatever, and Najib’s 1Malaysia, LGE’s CAT is an empty jingle. If the planning studies were done, please share them with the public. Where were the consultations, the dialogue and openness? This has come like a bolt from out of the blue, and an abrupt invitation to comment after the project has been tendered sounds more like shoving it down our throats than CAT. It seems a forgone conclusion that LGE is determined to push this through, and the “call to dialogue” was a last-minute thing, an afterthought, because he realised he’d forgotten his own slogan.
This LGE fella, the way he put this PICC thing, giving us the Rakyat only two options:
It is either -
“We build the PICC”
or
“You build the PICC“.
How about the option of “NOT building the PICC” ?
How about the option of “Build a larger and more functional convention center some where else with more land for supporting facilities, NOT in the PISA complex” ?
Lim Guan Eng, if you want to continue be our leader, STOP limiting our options !
LGE is not just a slogonist, he is a great supporter of Mahathirism. That is why me, the voter who vote for change not the same, will find any opportunity to nail him down. All his apologists only resort to personal attack without offering any iota of rebuke to my points on this controversial issues. Shame on those so called reformists. After 50 years of oppression by BN, why should we just substitute the oppressor with someone else and switch to denial mode pretending all is fine. Overthrowing BN is our target, but not to the extend of giving blind support to bad politician who go all out to continue what ever left behind by BN.
Prove me wrong by getting rid of ISA, OSA, Sedition Act, Printing and Publishing Act, University And College University Act. Reinstate local election. Stop wanton hill cutting. Stop stealing public lands in Penang. Stop wasting our money on white elephant projects. Stop transforming Penang into Darul Sampah. Prove to us that Pakatan is really different from BN. Where is the right to information act?
Iron,
Have you forgotten the third option? You threw me the challenge and I am waiting for your answer.
Don’t continue to be negative, give some constructive solution to the problem. LGE is not to satisfy you alone and you must remember you were not the only one that put him there as CM. LGE has to satisfy all other Penangites that had voted him in, that includes me.
Please wait and let see if there are enough support to STOP the PICC. If there is, LGE has no choice but to stop the project or he will face the consequences of being kick out of Penang.
So why not you go out and secure enough numbers to stop the project that you hated so much and be heard loud and clear?
LGE is no Mahathir. As much as I dislike that old (man), I still to admit that Mahathir is smart.
Lim Guan Eng? So sorry.
No one can understand why Lim Guan Eng appoint an architect who has no prior experience on Exhibition Center to design PICC.
One needs to understand that a Convention Center is not the same as a warehouse.
A warehouse is a building with four walls, with a loading bay.
A Convention / Exhibition center is much MUCH more than a warehouse. One has to have some idea what a convention center is used for to appreciate the complication in designing such a building.
And it is not the building itself.
The surrounding area must also offer supportive function in order to make the convention center a success.
A convention center must situated in an area where it is pedestrian friendly. Which means, the convention goers has the option to walk into the Convention center from hotels nearby.
There must also be a lot of parking places where convention goers can park their cars.
Kitchen area within the convention center must also be adequate, as well as green rooms, security conduits for VVIP visitors, et cetera.
The design by that architect chosen by Lim Guan Eng is simply not up to par.
The convention center itself is too small.
And the surrounding area for PISA simply doesn’t provide enough supportive amenities to make the convention center a success.
Sorry, LGE, you have failed miserably in this PICC thing.
Congratulation, Anil !
One “enemy” blog is carrying your article !
http://justice4otk.blogspot.com/2010/01/penang-under-lim-guan-eng-from-anil.html
Looks like Lim Guan Eng has shot himself in the foot really bad this time.
After doing some background search on the unhappiness of some people on the PICC project on why some of you did not like to see the PICC to take off is because some of you don’t like the appointed architect company for your own reasons.
If it is business rivalry, than one has to understand the works of nature that sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. Worst still in Malaysia, cronyisms are order of the day and different political parties have their own sets of cronies.
As in this PICC project, many had claimed cronyisms is in play and the project been given out without tender but no one has any evidence to support such claims. You have any evidence, please make a report to MACC and the Police who are ever ready to nail LGE, so what are you all waiting for?
Iron, are you confusing yourself?
At one point you are saying LGE is forcing MPPP to spend RM50 million on PICC is a waste of funds and it is going to be another white elephant.
Now you give some suggestions for MPPP to build something to your personal expectation of an international five stars convention/exhibition centre which you had earlier claimed and do have any confidence it will succeed as there is no market for such facilities for even a small one.
Can you have a clear mind which direction you are heading to?
Please bear in mind with a RM50 million for PICC, you are like asking for a BMW 7 series to be delivered when we have a budget for a Myvi.
By the way, PISA is sitting on 25.74 acres site and built at the cost of RM110 million at that time. It is now privatised to Penevents with its BOARD OF DIRECTORS, Chairman Dato’ Syed Mohd Bin Syed Murtaza, Managing Director/CEO Mr. Ong Ban Seang formally from PDC manager for tourism Promotion and Executive Director Mr. Wong Mun Hoe former Assemblyman from Gerakan. For more information on Penevents logon: http://www.penevents.com.my
Does anyone of you have any idea to share with us what is annual income (ROI) of PISA with the RM110 million investment?
Unless you can prove that we have all become architects overnight, please stop your senseless and baseless libeling that we oppose the PICC because of we don’t get business, Anthony Tan.
If you ran out of sensible arguments you can shut up. Personal attack and insinuation on our motives won’t make you a better person.
But then, what else can you do, Anthony Tan, other than personal attacks?
Can the Penang govt direct MPPP to build PICC?
Yes, by fiat, because we don’t have local election!
The ability to control local councils and their revenues is perhaps the biggest reason why DAP, PKR, and PAS are not pushing hard for local election.
That’s why we need local elections – to strip the state government of too much power, and keep them our humble servants.
Kah seng
You are right. I may also add that by not having local council elections, Pakatan also able to use the lucrative positions to reward its supporters and also as a channel to (allegedly) distibute contracts and concessions to its supporters and cronies.
I must say that they have learnt fast.
Iron,
I am not being personal but making a general statement using “SOME OF YOU without targeting any individual as there were a few people who mentioned the architect’s name and alleged they are inexperience or not qualified etc.
When a person zeroed in on any particular name or person that means, that is the target you want to hit, right?
How can one quantify a person not qualify to do a job when it is very subjective? I have come to a general conclusion after going through what was posted in blogs for examples like Anil’s, themalaysiainsider.com,, justice4otk etc.
By using such excuses to deprive the general public an access to a new public facility that have been long overdue is simply not fair.
If you feel that I am personally attacking you, it is the case of “siapa makan chili berasa pedas”. You have reach the point that you have enough been out pointed and you should not don’t simply tell me to “SHUT UP” and I feel that you ARE NOW GETTING PERSONAL!
You can say what you want but don’t mislead people to believe what you write in Anil’s blog are gospel truth and you are the master of all trade.
If you want to attack people’s comments in other people’s blog then you are open to counter attack unless you have your own blog where people can only read what you want cough out about your unhappiness against the government, your rivals, bloggers etc without allowing people to comment on your blog, then that is your right.
Anyway, you still have not answered some of my questions that I have countered what you have posted in Anil’s blog. Are you trying to throw smoke bombs to redirect the attention of the readers of Anil’s blog and by asking me to “SHUT UP”?
Lets be fair and be more understanding, sometimes when a project is initiated will make you happy but not others and vice versa.In this world it is filled with problems and we need to find the solutions to the problems not for individual but for the masses.
Kah Seng, you are right.
DAP promised us local council election and now they deny us the right.
And they blame the Fed for it.
With local council election no one, not even Lim Guan Eng, can push the PICC like they are doing.
And btw, the newspaper says (today) that the state gomen has met with a delegation from some business group to discuss the PICC, however everything was done closed-door style.
Can you find out what they have discussed, Kah Seng?