Comment posted Why I am against the Penang convention centre by MyBlog.
You have my vote on this, sheer waste of funds when there are a hundred other priorities. This is why we must have an elected city council so that they can object to such developments
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Anil:
I have written a complaint through the Star letters column on Nov 26 but it was not posted. Below is the letter.
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It appears that the Penang State Government is adamant in going ahead to build the multi-million ringgit “international” convention centre at the Penang International Sports Arena (PISA) venue (“Open tender for RM50 mil convention centre”, StarMetro North, 26 Nov 2009). There are several pertinent questions which I hope the State Government will come forward to clarify.
Is the RM50 million project funding coming from the MPPP coffers which was reported it will be running at a deficit of RM40 million in 2010? The Penang International Sports Arena built in 2000 has been a dismal failure in organising and hosting international sports events. Apart from its swimming pool (which was not even built to international standards), there are practically no sporting events held there. The only “success” it can boasts of is its hosting of several Matta Fairs, PC Fairs and Food Fairs several times a year. Is this the justification that the State Government sees as a need for an “international” convention centre in Penang?
The Penang International Sports Arena is now a misnomer and will it be renamed to be the Penang International Convention Centre since no major sporting event has been held there for the last few years?
The Pesta Pulau Pinang expo site in Sungai Nibong was built in the late 60′s and has now outlived its purpose. The site is now shared with tour buses as a transport hub. The expo is still being touted as one of the major events in the annual Pesta Pulau Pinang calender after more than 30 years. It is actually nothing more than a big scale pasar malam. The present Pesta expo site is currently used only about 30 days in a year during December for the Peasta Pulau Pinang. Has the State Government considered upgrading and rebranding the present Pesta expo site rather than building another convention centre less than 5 km away.
The PISA is in a shameful state of disrepair and poor maintenance. The internal and external looks shabby and worn, the ground is unkempt and dirty, the road in front of the main foyer is potholed, the seminar rooms do not have air conditioning, the stadium seats are broken and tiles at the bottom of the swimming pool are cracked and broken. There is a car wash centre, several furniture shops, a food catering company, a private training centre and a car accessory shop occupying this International Sports Arena premises. Why is the State Government allowing the PISA to degrade to this stage by not providing funds to upgrade it but rather spend millions to build another spanking new convention centre beside it?
I hope the MPPP and the State Government will come out to clarify these points in the name of competency, accountability and transparency.
And below is my most recent feedback to the MPPP En. Riduan.
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I refer the the Star North report on 19 Dec 2009 (“Opinion on PICC sought”) in which CM Lim Guan Eng asked for feedback and inputs on the PICC. Below are several questions which I hope you will answer:
- who is funding the RM50mil construction of the PICC?
- If the State is funding the construction of the PICC, what is the financial justification for it on the back of a reported RM40mil projected State budget deficit in 2010? I would like to remind the present State Govt. that the MPSP (then under the BN) was near bankrupt in 2008 mainly due to the RM80mil funding of the construction of its HQ in Bandar Perda. The DAP was very vocal and against it at that time.
- why was East Design Architect retained as the consultant?
- Will an open tender be called for the construction of the PICC?
- how is the PISA and PICC going to cater for the larger crowd of tens of thousands of visitors during the major fairs like PC Fair and MATTA Fair with only 1800 available parking lots? Assuming an average car occupancy of 3 persons per car, the 1800 parking lots can only cater for 5400 visitors at any one time. There will be a spill-over of 2x to 3x in parking capacity.
- with a new spanking PICC built next to the PISA, will the PISA be upgraded and maintained to bring it to international standard again. If yes, how much is the budgeted repair and maintenance cost? The present PISA is in a terrible state of disrepair and non-maintenance.
- what are the traffic dispersal plans for the area with the increased traffic volume from the new PICC and residential/commercial development around the area?
I too fail to see the necessity of a convention centre for Penang. What kind of mammoth conventions the MPPP hopes to attract with this centre?
We already have the Equatorial Hotel just a stone throw away with excellent convention facilities. Not forgetting too, the grossly under utilised PISA which can double up as an exhibition centre.
The new Penang state government, through transparency and better accountability managed to save millions last year. I hope the appointed MPPP councilors will not simply frivol away the unearned money which came mainly from our property taxes.
YES I agree, renovate, upgrade and expand PISA and be done with it, otherwise PISA will be another white elephant and die a natural death when all important function will surely move over to the new Penang convention centre. PISA needs a multi-storey public carpark.
Catch-22 Situation. If you don’t have InternationalConvention Centers, no one will come to hold Conventions. No International onventions – no exposure. No exposure – no new opportunities. No opportunities – less jobs….
You have my vote on this, sheer waste of funds when there are a hundred other priorities. This is why we must have an elected city council so that they can object to such developments
Wira:
The decision to build the PICC was more a 9-1 decision by one person. The councillors have little say in it. There is this Mahathirism mentality of build-build-build in the name of development. Sadly we have not weaned out of our no maintenance culture. It’s becoming of a same-old, same-old thing.
please la just used that RM50m to upgrade the transportation system and uplift the poverty from the state
Hi Anil,
I agree with you that money is better spent to repair drains, upgrade walkways and toilets, improve wet markets and other public amenities. And most of all upgrade public transportation – I don’t mean just buses but also bus-stops, bus-stations and walkways. I can’t see the justification for the state/council to undertake a PICC. But if a private investor wants to buy a piece of land and build a PICC with his own funds, then by all means go ahead.
Just don’t use taxpayers’ money.
Which government in the world not using taxpayers’ money?
@SH Tan
Did you mean LGE?
Same s… different CM…..
Dear SH Tan.
Can you please name the person?
Frankly, I wish they would use the money to repair council roads and public amenities. I don’t blame the local government for the bad condition of the coastal road which is under federal jurisdiction. However, the state must pay attention to municipal roads and drains in housing estates, many of which have gradually deteriorated since the PR government took power.
I don’t want money for maintenance being used to spend on some grandiose project.
I’m a Penangnite and I support this move. Penang needs all this infrastructure to boost its economic activities. The economic impact of building toilets and other amenities are not sufficent to boost the Penang economy. The economic impact of building the convention center will boost the tourism and hotel industry.It will create more jobs. It will also allows the international businessmen to visit Penang. This will facilitate further FDI into Penang. The ROI for 50 million investment is definitely worth it. I’m not saying Penang state should forgo the the suggestions you have made. It is their responsibility to ensure these amenities is in tip top condition. Boosting the economic activities in Penang must be the top agenda for the Penang state government.
You can have very decent conferences in hotels. Exhibitions are another matter altogether. You will require specialized facilities. The question the Penang govt must ask is who do they intend to attract? Which industry? Are these events sustainable, repeatable? Do we have sufficient infrastructure to support large events? Does the government have a marketing program lined up to fill the halls? This is not the era where ‘they will come if you build it’, and answer a whole lot of other very expensive if-you-get-it-wrong questions and when that happens we will have to figure out what to do with another white elephant. i am 100% behind the idea to outsource the entire project to the private sector. Let them make sense of the business viability. Lease the land to them. Separate governance and business
LGE is desperate to show off. He think he can. The truth is he know nothing. He claimed that he save money for Penang but want to waste our money on a project that he himself is convinced will not bring financial return to the state government. There are better convention centers else where what make LGE think that with this new convention center more exhibition will be held in Penang? Dubai has the best but on the edge of bankruptcy. The world is still holding its breath in anticipation of the upcoming financial crisis in the backdrop of Dubai financial woes. Why should we so hurry to commit ourselves on a project we can’t afford when we can’t foresee even the nearest future of the world financial health?
Your comment is more personal than factual. Whatever LGE has done or going to do, he will take the peoples views and deliberate on the matter. No need to claim that he is a show off or otherwise. Penang certainly can afford this project of 50million. It is just the cost of one missing jet engines! The gist of the article is whether it is justifiable to have another convention centre so close to Pisa and whether upgrading Pisa is a better alternative.
Dubai, will never go bankrupt! Check your comments! The greatest fear of all Malaysians, is the welcoming of another well blessed joining the league of a failed state, similary to Zimbabwe!
Whether LGE is well versed or otherwise, he is well advised with a team of very knowledgeable people, so Penangnites are fortunate in that sense. There are not blatant corruption, that is of utmost importance. If the State were to be administered by UMNO/BN component parties, then, Penang would have suffered the shame of sliding further down the social rankings in Malaysia itself
You want a factual one, you got it. This is what you ask for.
PICC: Monument of Lim Guan Eng — Ong Eu Soon
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/opinion/breaking-views/48334-picc-monument-of-lim-guan-eng–ong-eu-soon
Happy reading!
You can fight me point by point in the Malaysia insider arena.
I will not fight you la bro, we are ka kee lang la, both from Ko Ean la, Let us enjoy our crabs porridge at Chang Kee or Khee Xiang ok?
Just concentrate on your engineering job bro, it needs better attention. All the best to you. Sad to see so many negative comments for your article la, bro. Did you write that article, Ah Soon?
Eu Soon, you see, so many people condemning your English in Malaysian Insider. Should have got it edited before posting the article. Not nice la as we are English educated during those days. Malu a bit la for our alma mater.
Sorry! I am mandarin educated. I will not feel sorry for my broken english the way you feel sorry for LGE.
I think LGE is not elected by few guys. So, give him a free hand please. Like the author said, submit your letter of opposing.
LGE is well respected all over Malaysia. If you can run down a leader for the sack of just a proposal (not yet a mistake). I think you can offer yourself to stand in to fight head to head with LGE in the next GE.
Agree, upgrading existing convention facilities like in Pesta would cost less, after all, Pesta is under utilised from January to October. The economy is bad, is this where all the money the state government said it saved from reducing administration expenditure going to?
When come to objecting such a proposal, people tend to weight along their own interests. In another words, if the convention centre do not benefit me, just oppose, if the convention benefit me, just support.
Penang has no land for agriculture, it is mainly tourist attraction and relying on business and trading. In my opinion, if the convention is meant to boost such area, we should not against it. This convention can be used to hold huge crowds for major conventions and not a hotel facilities. It is world class standard. I do not see it creates rivalry to hotel or other existing premises.
RM50 millions is not a waste in construction if the tender exercise is carried to get a good price. Creating a hub for business opportunity. This RM50 millions will go to every pockets of Penangists, from contractor to workers and to food operators.
Which city is not congested in this world? KL is better car parking than Penang? Even UEP Subang Jaya in Taipan cant find a car parking during office hour. I never blame such thing because I have a right not to go there.
I hope government should implement more projects to bring more business opportunities to all.
Has there…could be…most probably….
Come on, you can do better than just being a fear monger.
And great suggestions on the alternatives but missing the cost breakdowns to make them more convincing. Ideas should be backed by data in order to sell. Just my 2cents.
ps…..Happy new year.
I cant do it myself as the exercise on cost and benefit studies required great expertise. I hope some one could ask MPPP to come out with cost and benefit studies to ensure the project the feasible to carry out in the near future.
In a development for public amenities, usually there is a cost and benefit studies to ensure the project is viable. The report is usually open to public for viewing.
Thanks Sunny.
I was referring to Anil’s article
To all commenters here:
The MPPP has said that they have only received 5 formal feedback/objections up till last week. If all of you feel so strongly about this project, please write in to MPPP with your formal feedback and objections. Pls be constructive and not just mere bashing.
I support SH Tan, please address to MPPP as soon as possible. It is worthless to argue here. The author also suggest to oppose at your might.
Again, MPPP is so fair to let opposition from the public before implementation.
The precious RM50m can be better used!
If it is the state government’s money there are more pressing matters as raised by others.
If it is a private venture, the state must ensure if it is built on government land, a fair deal must be reached for the use/transfer of that land.
I am quite disappointed the development was not that well publicised to ensure better input from the people.
So, are you expecting LGE to give free handouts for baiting vote campaign?
This PICC was announced in the papers except it was not carried by RTM. Don’t blame LGE if you cannot watch his face in RTM or TV3.
What is your better inputs? I see none from you.
I was told that the previous government had extended the land area lease to the operator of Auto City in Juru to build a three or four star hotel including a large convention/exhibition centre.
This is suppose to be a private initiative that was why the extra land extention was given by the state or PDC to Auto City.
Can someone check on this?
I also understand, Auto City gave a very convincing proposal or is it after getting the land they now have got others ideas.
The are pros and cons about the the proposed convention centre but the important point is a indepth study must be done before building it.
The present state government as I see it is getting alot wrong advisors in many areas especially in the tourism sector. These advisors could be the new cronies who would talk as if they are experts in every fields but usually kosong.
I have met some of them, like one of them a so call travel agent trying to give advice on Dragon Boat Race where he has never been involved before.
May he has money to show off to the politicians and make people believed in him.
There are some many experience people that has involved in the Dragon boat starting from been a rower to a coach of winning teams are not consulted.
There many experience people in its own field and the state government needs to invite these people to come in and share their experinces.
For example, a tailor want to show off that he can to teach state government to cut hair, just because he uses a sissors when in actual fact the barber is standing by to give his expertise.
For the convention centre, there are a few exhibition/event organisers in Penang whom I know that can give some ideas, there is also a national association for exhition/event organisers based in KL that can help as well.
As a Penangite based in KL, I’m associated with this association and as well as running a PR/event/exhibition organising company.
Let me, give you all an example, the annually international furniture fair held in KL bring in around 8,000 foreign furniture buyers and some of them bring their spouse along, that will give us a figures around 10,000 foreign visitors. They usually stays for at least four nights.
Any hoteliers reading this? They must salivating for such business?
What about the local exhibitors and visitors? It is estimated to be around 4,000.
During the first week of March every year, try to get a room in KL and you may ends up kicking yourself for coming to KL during this time.
KLCC convention Centre have booking to 2014 for various events and they are already seeing profits for their investment.
I will be involved in a convention for accountants to be held in KLCC in November 2010 and there will around 9,000 delegates from around the world.Don’t Penang want these type of events?
Tourism Malaysia and MATRADE are targeting to bring in more Meeting, Incentive, Conference, Exhibition (MICE) events because these events attendees will bring in high yeild (monetary returns) as they are spending companies money to attend such events.
If proper planning are done and with backup plans, this PICC project will bring some life back to Penang Tourism.
The previous state was sitting on the laurels established by Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu that is why the Pesta ground in Sungai Nibong has remained still as it is till today after Tun Dr Lim moved it from McCullum Street Ghuat.
There are so many wrongs done in Penang all these years after Tun Dr Lim and we should be looking forward to correct the situations so that the future Penangites will have a better Penang.
If you people still remember the international powerboat race that was held by the Penang Bridge, it would be still held there till today but the previous state government did not support the organisers, that was why the organisers stop the event and mind you the organisers are all 100% Penangites.
I am happy to see Bulldog Kuan and his gang are bring back the Street Racing which was the third country in world to have such racing after Macau and Monaco.
It was a pride for Penang when we have the single seat race cars going round the circuit before we have even heard of Sepang.
Penang used to have many first in fantastic events but most of them were killed off by the people who took over from Tun Dr. Lim.
I would recommend that the present state government seek the help from experience people to work on the PICC and come up with a solid plan on what is needed in market in term of location, design, size, requirements for immediate and future needs.
The state government need to start a working group to make the feasiblity study for PICC which should have been build some 10 years ago but it is still not too late with the new vision of the state authority.
Don’t build something for shiok sendiri which will ends up as a white monument/elephant.
Anthony just bring back a lot of nostalgia of our highly respected Tun Dr. Lim.
Things has not been quite right in Penang after Dr. Lim. But who is the culprit of bringing down Dr. Lim and left Penang in a mess???
Bingo, he is precisely the CM’s father…..
If 50 million peoject by PR government is called huge project, then how your call 20 billion snail-like speed railway project by BN government?
Penang is lacking a proper convention center since 80s and urgently need a decent convention center to be a commercial center.
Where you are going to organize any international-class MICE if this “tiny” project is scrapped? In the Padang or in the Anil’s backyard?
Go see how big and advanced convention centers in Singapore or Hong Kong before you are barking a wrong tree.
Many questions raised by Anil and other opponents should be answered by previous government before the stadium was erected.
Except during the peak rushing hours, I do not see traffic around the stadium is a major issue.
You are expecting LGE to use RM50 as another subsidy to relieve your short-term pains like food, water, etc.? Let forget such subsidy mindset if Penang wants to be a advanced state by 2020.
I think more urgent issue we shall highlight is open tender for the project and not ridiculously to argue RM 50 million convention is another huge white elephant (or white mouse project!)
RM50 million in Council funds is not “subsidy” – it is money collected from the public via assessment rates. So the public must have a say in how it is spent.
That is why it is important to have local council elections – so that councillors are accountable to the public on the spending of Council (the people’s) funds.
I agree local council election is a promise not fulfill by DAP and PR. They have better be prepared some voters will abandon them in the next GE. I’ll spoil my vote instead of giving PR another chance. (of course BN will never get my vote for sure.)
No one dispute that all money used by BN or PR government are our money. I have never said the money is a subsidy. Building a convention center is much better than giving out free subsidy for water, etc. with the 50 million.
I see so-called objection for PICC from certain quarters is mainly for political reason, not from the feasibility aspect. Actually, this PICC project comes too late, it should be built 20 years ago by KTK.
You missed the point. Please calculate that RM50 millions is of how many percentage of the state total income before comparing 20 billions of Federal government total income.
Even the percentage is 50% does not matter as long as ROI study can convince the project is feasible.
Do you know how many years for BN snail-like electric train to breakeven? The answer is NEVER.
The fact is RM20 billion again gone down the drain, squandered and misappropriated along the way. Why invest in a rail system that can run safely at 80km/hr when the current system can do just as well, if not better? It is another classic example of bad governance by UMNO/MCA, MIC and Gerakan and co.
With regards to the Federal income, well, it should be the Government’s lack of income, should I say? If infact there is real income and proper budgetting and proper accounting, something we should not expect from the UMNO led BN Government, known for their inability to be accountable, why is the Government so badly in debt? To the tune of 336 billion? So again, it is not a matter of 50 million ringgit of the Rakyat’s monies that is being spent but more so, correctly spent!
The PICC if correctly thought up and executed with clear objectives of its use to further enhance the State of Penang, is surely worth a thought, as it will bring much needed investments and business opportunities to Malaysians in general and Penangnites in particular. I remembered there were some comments that Malaysia is a leader in computer chips technology owned by MNCs, perhaps, PICC could be used by this MNCs to showcase Malaysia’s achievements to the world in Penang.
Whatever the conclusion of the State Government, we believe they are done in the best interests of the Rakyat, but the question of traffic congestion etc must be seriously look into, studied, and attended to, before building. Such feasibility studies pertaining to every angle has got to be studied before implementation. The State Government cannot afford to embark on fund wasting projects, like what the Federal Government had done, and the 20 billion rail project is a classic example of abuse by those in power, because they built for the sake of building, to ensure that monies are officially spent, and to ensure that the project enriches a few connected individuals. Just compare spendings by China to link up China with a comprehensive rail system which is absolutely vital for any economy, today they proudly claim to have the second longest rail roads in the world, and one of the best and fastest, that had brought travelling time significantly reduced and had done much to spur the economy during difficult times. Part of China’s stimulus package to support its economy, Malaysia, also had two stimulus package to steer its economy out of recession, but what have they actually done to spur the economy? While Singapore has moved out of recession, Malaysia is still sadly mired in it. You see, the difference between good management and irresponsible, corrupt and dishonest management? Stimulus packages are vital to assist the Rakyat, but instead we are rewarded with missing jet engines, that had gained international attention for the country, and the latest news is that (of) Teoh Beng Hock… It does make an awful lot of difference if the Government can change to be clean, accountable and transparent, or be changed by the Rakyat. Happy New Year folks!
Anil, Ajax editor is very odd with texts lean to the right.
Yeah, I noticed that. Not quite sure if there is a better alternative editor around.
You may modify the code to make it lean to the left.
Penang certainly deserves to have a conventional centre of decent magnitude to bring in the experts in all sectors of industry to provide the boost for the economic activity when such meetings, conferences and seminars takes place.
Penang would not want to be in the backwaters of economic development, I am sure. The world is developing at a fast pace and if you are not prepared, you will be left behind.
Every city state has their own convention centre. KL and Selangor indeed has much more. The KL Convention centre, the Putrajaya Convention Centre, Sime Darby convention centre, Shah Alam Convention centre in Selangor and the Convention centre in UMNO building are some of the examples.
Surely, those who plan for convention centres have the vision to build parks , traffic dispersal and car parking facilities as well.The proposed PenangInternational Convention Centre will be no different.
I believe there are some people who will oppose just for opposing sake because they are from different camps.Just let Lim Guan Eng do as what he thinks is good for Penang and if it does not work well, then comment.
This is a Council project using Council money, so it should be the Council that should decide.
Anil
Council is under the directive of the state government. Decision is to be made by the government and Council to implement it through the decision of the state government whether its Council money or not.
Spot on SS!
Backseat drivers always have an opinion but never want to actually drive.
Dear Anil,
I am against the location. The PISA is too tight for a PICC (‘international’). I believe originally PISA was built for recreation and sport purpose, but now even with car accessories shop and furniture shops occupied car parks lock, car wash, catering outlets and others. It can be very ‘rojak’ eventually. The PISA is underutilised since it was completed.
Penang Government (PG) should look further, there is no place for any extension even if this proposal were success…
Professional Associations like PAM, IEM, REHDA and NGOs should submit their professional advices to PG/ MPPP. A public interest-related project should have design competition and open tender to ensure that the public interest is well protected and with best return.
Anyway, is the tender for PICC being called recently?
CAMPAIGN AGAINST PICC
The State Govt has shown an apparent attempt to be seen as transparent and accountable by asking for public feedback. Let’s hope this is not a PR prank to whitewash and say there are only a few objections from the Rakyat. To date, there are only 9 formal feedbacks to MPPP. Let us continue to get our voices be heard and insist that all valid objections and questions be fully addressed before they approve this project. The RM50mil that MPPP is going to spend is OUR money. Let us have a say in how they are going to spend OUR money. I am willing to initiate a signature campaign/petition to raise our objections/concerns. We can get the Bayan Baru and surrounding Residents Associations to help. We can get bloggers to help. Let us do this fast before they set this in concrete. Let us put Competency, Accountability and Transparency to test. Let’s get civil society and the voices of the Rakyat be heard. Let’s not just gripe and whine here.
I salute you more if you are also asking same accountability from BN. Did you do that?
A total of RM 30 billion snail train projects were awarded to cronies without open tender and public feedback. And still people forgive and keep quiet against BN for stealing our billions of money.
I think we should be more proactive rather than reactive to the above project. After all, it is only the cost of one missing jet engines! Less than one per cent of the stimulus packages announced by the Federal Government to spur the economy but how has it stimulated the economy?
But, whatever, being a responsible citizen, which I am sure you are, and you are correct to voice your opposition and objections in the true meaning of democracy, objectivity in objecting has got also got to be put in place. A good example of bad objections is the one against the teaching of Science and Maths in English, what was the real reason and objectives? The reason is that those young ones cannot follow the syllabus in English, this shows an unwillingness to learn and here again the objective is flawed, because to satisfy such objection means we will be pushed further down the rankings for FDIs to come in. And expectedly the Education Minister, in a piece meal decision to win popularity, upheld the demands of the protesters and ignoring the wishes of the silent majority! I am sure you are against the teaching of Science and Maths in BM, but as it is we have to keep quiet because we were not vocal enough in our demands. You see, objections are good, as it makes the party concerned more accountable and transparent, but objections for the wrong cause can result in the Rakyat losing out.
It is good that the political tsunami of 308 had brought along, greater awareness of the Rakyat about their rights, which will make the authorities concerned more clean, accountable and transparent! Had the awakening been earlier, the Rakyat would have prevented the Federal Government from going on with the PKFZ which had turned into a 12.5 billion scandal. The Federal Government had indeed bled the country’s coffer dry of our monies. They implement projects, the bigger the better, so that they will be further enriched, that is the primary objective, without really caring for the Rakyat!
Let me share my thoughts.
I don’t think anyone disputing the MICE industry is lucrative and profitable or the fact that Penang needs new avenues and attractions in order to diversify its flagging economy.
The main issue is whether we need to shovel Rm50M down the drain to build a new convention center. I think a more sesnsible and responsible government would have done a cost-benefit analysis rather than try to lecture down to the rakyat. An accountable leader would have facts and data to support such plan instead of wishful thinking. Has LGE asked Penang EPU to carry out a study ? Or any study has been done at all ?
I am with Anil that it is far better and more sensible to renovate and upgrade PISA then build yet another white elephant. If PISA able to attract business and its cpacity could no longer handle the volume then we can discuss about a new convention center.
Personally I am not convinced that Penang has what it takes to be a major venue for MICE and it better off to focus on its core strength of heritage, food and culture. There is no way that in terms of infrastructure, entertaintment, shopping and other usual MICE attractions Penang can hold a candle to KL or Singapore. It is a fight that doomed even before it starts, especially so that Singapore is going big on MICE with the impending open of its Integrated Resorts (ie, casinos).
There is a very disturbing pattern emerging in the Cheap Minister’s actions post 0308. All his actions are calculated to bring “development” to Penang in order be chummy with the Big Business. This also provides a fantastic opportunity for DAP cronies also to get a bite at the cherry.
DAP – Development Above People
Penang needs the developments necessary to enhance its position as a leading trade centre, which it once enjoyed. With the lack of serious activity to promote trade in the past two decades, Penang had transformed from being a busy commercial centre to a sleepy hollow.
I still remembered vividly how active Penang was previously, lots of tourists, a favourite spot for Thais, Indonesians, Burmese, Singaporeans and famed for its beautiful beaches that attracted many from near and far. Commercial activities were so rife and everyone was doing a roaring business, but today, after twenty years of mismanagement, what is left of Penang is a clueless economy, without realizing where and how it should move forward. What the current Government is doing is the first small step towards slowly reviving Penang’s fortune, but whether the convention centre should be built besides PISA is debatable. It is normal for those in the opposition to voice their discontentments, as it is the role of the opposition to oppose even without clear cut reasons why they are opposing, unlike Anil who had stated very clearly his concerns and reasons why he is against the development of the said centre. It makes a lot of difference between one who opposes objectively and those who oppose for the sake of opposing!
It is incorrect and pretty assuming that the efforts of the Government to bring developments to Penang as one that will enrich their cronies. I believe this is the first project the Government will be embarking on, and as usual it is meeting with objections, it is just normal as we are living in a democracy. I agree with you that all previous projects carried out by the previous Governments would definitely enrich its cronies, but this is the first DAP project to build a structure, so we cannot just lump them together with the previous Government, which we all know is corrupt to the core.
DAP – Democracy As Preached
O
I think you are trapped in nonstaglia and wishful thinking.
There is just no comparison between KL, Singapore and Penang and there will never be. KL and Singapore are commercial and financial centers with vastly better infrastructure. Penang on the other hand is an industrial hub and values its heritage, culture and history.
Penang could have been an entertaintment center decades ago but precisely because they lost this business and entertaintment sectors that the Penang leaders had decided to turn the state into an industrial hub of global proportion and world class standard.
Penang needs to re-evaluate its economic model but it has to chose the paths that it has comparative advantage (using economic theory here). In terms of MICE, Penang has very little to offer since the MICE crowds are business people with different tastes compared to the usual tourists who are attracted to our unique culture, heritage and the food.
Penang has to choose its fights and not ones that it has zero chance of winning.
To be honest, there are plenty of low hanging fruits that LGE can pick on for the next economic models but he has squandered many of these opportunities. Still, there are some brights spots where Penang can excel, but I am pretty sure talking big by LGE isn’t one of them.
CAT – Condos Apartments and Townhouses
DAP – Development Above People
I think you should stand against LGE in the next GE. You sounded so much a sour grape. And the fact is your chances of unseating LGE is slim and none.
Which part of the body are you speaking from? Penang used to be “the place” in Malaysia, long before KL was developed at very frantic pace. From commercial to entertainment, we make our way to Penang. Sometimes, please for goodness sake, please comment with facts rather than to spin. Penang will never move anywhere with people like you. Whenever the PR Government wants to start anything, people from the previous corrupt regime starts their spins. If the former regime were that good, the people would not have thrown it out. Mind you, they were not only thrown out, they were routed, mauled and dumped for good. Such anger in Penang by the voters were unprecedented in the history of Penang. A total whitewash in the Penang island, and now people like you trying to impose your views again? Just go and ask the voters. One thing is for certain, the mood of the voters in Penang is very much PR and there is just no way you can even steal a seat from the Chinese majority area. For people like you, please contest a seat in the mainland, by begging your political master the rotten to the core UMNO to allow you to contest. Your former leader tried to escape to the mainland, even so he was so badly routed and today he is just a backdoor KPI minister, I think you will do him good to ask him to retire his days in Penang rather than making a fool of himself in KL. So pathetic, i.e Gerakan and its people.
The State is with PR and PR will do everything possible within their power to ensure the betterment of the states and livelihoods of its people which had been seriously and badly neglected for the past 20 years! Penang a commercial hub had been reduced to what it is today without directions and plans after twenty years of neglect! It is absolutely wrong to have KTK as the CM, when a person can only take half a loaf of bread, why feed him one? If you want your say, wait for the next GE, and the next one and next one.
LGE by all accounts is definitely better than what the previous leaders tried to offer.
CAT – Competent, Accountable and Transparent (striving to build condos, apartments and townhouses at affordable price for all Penangnites, based on the above principles)
DAP – Democracy As Preached
O
Why are you cannot take constructive criticisms and resort to personal and unjustified attacks on the critics of the Cheap Minister ? Is this the way of DAP ? Has DAP transformed into PAP ?
It is obvious from you writing that you are a strong, ultra-DAP supporter. In fact your antogonistic language reminds me of a certain advisor to the Cheap Minister.
Why are you talking about people of the previous regime when we are discussing PICC ? Why can’t you justify the project and rebut the points that I and other commentators raised ?
Why can’t you ask the Cheap Minister to have an open forum on this issue to get our feedback ?
DAP – Development Above People
BN – Bolts and Nuts, Screwing the Rakyat left right and centre!
K,
I “am not cannot take constructive criticisms of critics of the Chief Minister”. If DAP has indeed transformed to the PAP, congratulations Malaysians. At least we can see the lights at the end of the tunnel, rather than groping in the dark for the past decades, not knowing when the end will be under Bolts and Nuts, being screwed, screwed and screwed.
Your desire to use “big” words without checking the proper usage and right wordings,denotes that you are one of a kind who wants to show off that you are knowledgeable, fearing that people will not know you are one, just another half past six one, that is.
I had put in my point without pointing and naming people or being so and so just because he or she is not agreeable to my views! We are living in a democracy, truly practised and preached, therefore everyone has a right of opinions.
I am just an ordinary citizen and who am I to ask the Chief Minister to have an open forum? It is arrogant people like you who shoots your mouth without thinking, that is why Malaysia had fallen behind in every way!
You can send your opinions and express your disgusts, unhappiness ( you always are) and whatever grouse Anil had provided. You commented without reading? Next time, please read then comment ok, K? In the event you do not understand, please ask. Malaysians of all walks of life who visit Anil’s blog will be more than happy to enlighten you.
DAP – Democracy As Preached
BN – Bolts and Nuts, to screw, screw and continuing screwing the Rakyat!
O…mind telling me what kind of “big words” that I used “without checking the proper usage and right wordings” ?
I wish to differ your opinion. KL and Penang is different places. If you have visit Penang, you will know how fast the state has progress.
MINE exhibition is way out of KL. It is very unlikely to be any organization preference.
However, organization can prefer KL to Penang. If you see Hard Rock Hotel in Penang, you know Penang is not small.
Hope you don’t get offended.
K,
Lie you said, “I don’t think anyone disputing the MICE industry is lucrative and profitable or the fact that Penang needs new avenues and attractions in order to diversify its flagging economy “`. SO IT CANNOT BE MONEY THAT GO DOWN THE DRAIN
Yang
Your argument is just doesn’t make sense. Yes, MICE is a good revenue generator but that doesn’t mean Penang stands the chance to get a slice of this business. As I had said, please upgrade PISA first to attract the crowds and if that succeeds then we can discuss about another convention center.
K,
You are contradicting yourself in every comment you make. To be exact, you had contradicted yourself 5 times in the last four comments.
You mentioned, “MICE is a revenue generator but it does not mean Penang stands a chance to get a slice of this business”. Why not? Kindly qualify your statement, without just generalizing it without facts and statistics.
Upgrading PISA and attracting crowds? In what way? Just by upgrading, it will attract crowds? Without proper management and events? I think it will do you a whole lot of good if you can please go and upgrade existing malls which are wanting of crowds to attract the crowd!
I am not being personal but you are just commenting like empty drums, making the most noises. We can simply have loads of such people in the kopitiams, warongs and mamak stalls throughout the country! Come on, you are educated and try to be one, without stooping so low as to be personal. You have a right to your views, but you do not have to be personal on others who comment on this site. Sickening is the sight of such Bolts and Nuts critics.
O
I agree that none of the critics’ arguments will make sense or sound logical to hard core DAP supporters like yourself. So keep living in your dreamworld where your leaders can do no wrong and see no need to justify their actions or be accountable to the rakyat. It is scary that DAP supporters and leaders behave in such dictatorial manner after barely in power for less than 2 years.
It is not me but the Cheap Minister who has to convince the people on the feasibility since he’s the bloke who wants to splash Rm50M on a new convention center. In case you are unfamiliar, this is what is called as accountabality and transparency in governance.
I am shocked that DAP is so intolerant to even mild criticisms and so arrogant in power. These criticisms are mild compared to the kind of vicious attacks and mindless rantings that LKS and LGE churns out by bucketful on daily basic toward their political opponents.
I wouldn’t be surprised that if DAP takes over the power at Federal level, we critics must be arrested and locked up in labour camps.
Remember, people are watching your and your LGE’s every move and they will speak loud and clear when the time comes.
Guys guys guys … let look at it fairly. In KL there are the following places for conventions and concerts:
PWTC – heavily booked
KL Convention Centre – heavily booked
Putra Stadium, Bk Jalil – heavily booked
Sunway Convention Centre – average booking
MINE Exhibition Centre – low booking
So what is this? Well, it means KL is a massive place for exhibitions, conventions and concerts. Also, those who do well are in the right place and are very well managed.
Now Penang needs to ask this:
i. does it have the actual traffic for such events;
ii. do they have a proper team to manage it.
Question 1
KL is a favoured place and we know why, it is the capital. Penang is a sleepy hollow compared with KL and that is a fact. International events, exhibitions and concerts will not choose Penang as first choice.
Question 2
Does the council have professionally trained staff? I doubt it to be honest. In KL the top spots have staff who are very good at what they do and they have a great track record.
LGE has to be REALISTIC and not OPTIMISTIC only. Does he have proper advisers for this? As it is, PISA is struggling for events. Now, we want to talk RM50M to bring in conventions?
In my opinion, its a lousy idea. Not because I dislike LGE or whatever but rather I am in the industry for such things. Penang will struggle hard.
the issue is not whether penang needs a convention centre. it 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 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, S’pore, Bangkok? (6) what will happen to PISA during and after construction?
Let the private sector or the State Govt build and run it. don’t ask MPPP to spend rate payers money in a hurry for this when all the above questions remain hanging in the air.
Is there a comparison between PGCC and PICC being made ?
For a start, the glaring difference is G=Global and I=International.
The PGCC was very much opposed by the PR then and one of the reason is traffic congestion. How does the PICC overcome this and has there been a study conducted ?
Did the very same reasons why the PR rejected the PGCC has not turn 180 degrees that the PICC is very much needed now ?
Is there some “external pressure” that is mounting that requires the PICC to be built as immediate ?
Remember, it takes Taiwan 10 years to go from the top of their economic position to where it is today and still recovering due to thier poor handling of the economic investment. Can this happen to Penang too or is this the beginning ?
Can this end up being same story but under different government and ended up the same way ? Your guess is just as good as mine or even better.
Oh… There is so much dilemna and will there be a 3rd solution coming out soon ? (Forget about PCM as they are BN friendly)
Anil,since the MICE is a council project,the public must have a say and scrutinise on the feasibility first. Why LGE wants to rush it and complete by December 2010?This is against his own motto of CAT governance.SO far no public forum has been set up from MPPP or State Government to gahter public and expert views first and deadlines have been set.
To those who favor the building of that mini-convention center I will ask you this —
How many of you have attended world class conventions in other countries, like Japan, China and America ?
Please tell me how big the convention centers are.
The land on the whole PISA compound isn’t big. If we take away the existing structures, the available land mass is even smaller.
How to build a world class convention center with such a puny piece of land ?
No, I am not saying that we should build the LARGEST convention center in the world, but if we are to build one, BUILD ONE THAT IS LARGE ENOUGH !
The 50 Mn ringgit mini-convention center that Lim Guan Eng likes so much is totally pathetic.
On one hand it isn’t large enough for true world-class events, meaning, people won’t come to Penang to have their conventions just because our our puny little mini-convention center.
On the other hand, the 50 Mn ringgit could be used for much better purposes.
If LGE is really interested in building a convention center, I would suggest that he build something that makes sense.
FYI, there are still land available in Penang for that — land in Batu Kawan or Kepala Batas or Balik Pulau, or even the existing lumba kuda place at Batu Gantung.
And one more thing — if you are to argue FOR the building of this convention center, please do not use the 20 Billion federal fund as an excuse.
Two wrongs do not make a right.
The federal government’s wasting of 20 Billion ringgit doesn’t give Lim Guan Eng or any other person any right to waste ANOTHER 50 Million ringgit to build a white elephant.
That LGE is forging ahead without a care for the rakyat’s views is an indication that how far he and DAP have moved on since their pre-GE days. DAP used to be the party for the man-in-the-street with no taste for grandiosity or mega projects. Their opposition to mega projects such as PORR, PGCC and many others are the testament for their principled stance rooted on social democracy.
However, putting them on power has unleashed their inner demons and turned them into a third-rate and low cost version of the tyrannical and paternistic PAP.
LGE himself has been the grand Transformer himself, from the defender of the weak and margainalised to the dictatorial and power-crazed Cheap Minister.
As many have pointed out the whole PICC project reeks of poor planning and smells of (alleged) cronyism.
I wonder how a government that can’t even keep its celebrated beaches clean can develop and execute a strategic plan to be a key MICE hub ahead of other locations with much more to offer in terms of infrastructure, attractions, marketing power, connectivity, branding,human resources,etc.
I strongly propose LGE focus his attending on the dirty beaches, improving MPPP/MPSP efficiency, local government elections, heritage protection, FDI,etc.
Many Penangites are getting more and more concerned with the sad decline of Penang under the Cheap Minister and his equally pathetic and clueless exco.
Unlike Khalid Ibrahim, Lim Guan Eng has never thought of how he should serve the people.
Unlike Khalid Ibrahim, Lim Guan Eng doesn’t have any managerial experience.
Selangor prospers under Khalid Ibrahim while Penang turns from bad to worse.
Selangor is a big state. Penang is much smaller than Selangor.
Comparatively Penang is much easier to manage than Selangor but please tell me, what has Lim Guan Eng done for Penang, so far?
We kicked out Koh Tsu Koon because we are tired of his uselessness and the (BN) corruption.
…but this PICC, especially the way Lim Guan Eng fast-track the whole thing, it does give strong impressions of something very fishy…
Prove to us that you are not just another Koh Tsu Koon, Lim Guan Eng.
Please prove to us that you are different, Lim Guan Eng.
Saya memang setuju dengan bantahan terhadap projek ini. Mungkin ada yang berfikiran agar kami semua beri peluang kepada LGE untuk membuktikan yang beliau memang ada rancangan besar untuk PP ataupun beliau memang berkaliber untuk menjayakan PP he arah tahap baru dan lebih maju dari dulu. Tapi, pada pendapat saya PICC adalah satu projek yanag sememangnya TIDAK BOLEH dijadikan prioriti kerana alasan ia akan menarik pelabur dan pelawat ke PP adalah satu alasan yang tidak kuat sangat. Untuk menarik perhatian pelabur atau pelawat, apa yang dikehendaki adalah sebuah negeri yang stabil dari segi politik dan juga dari segi pembangunan. Membina sebuah bangunan tidak bererti kami memang ada pembangunan. Pembangunan melibatkan banyak aspek seperti, kebersihan, kemudahan sistem transpot yang sesuai, ekonomi negeri semakin meningkat, keharmonian di kalangan rakyat, infrastruktur yang digunakan dengan sepenuh penuhnya dan juga struktur komunikasi yang lancar…bukannya dengan membina sebuah bangunan yang tidak terjamin ia akan berjaya atau tidak.
i agrees that Penang is in need of a proper convention centre but i don’t believe this is the one Penang needed right now… We have that PESTA Pulau Pinang site at Sg Nibong but i think its a rather outdated, fix that first and we’ll start talking bout a PICC then… if we cant even handle to properly manage such small scale exposition site, don’t start on a big one… learn by crawling, not jumping, we’re not kangaroos…