This is the scene when it pours in Chee Seng Gardens, next to a controversial condo development project, which has exposed the hill-slopes. Elsewhere, the sea off Miami Bay and Moonlight Bay turns a muddy orange.
Photos by Chee Seng Garden residents and Hymeir Kamarudin of Batu Feringghi
Something must be done to rein in all those hill-slope developers who are responsible for this mess. What are the state authorities doing about this?
Related posts:
1. State Authorities do nothing as usual.
2. Tanjung Bungah ADUN would cycle there, joined by his hawker friends and supporters, pretend to talk to residents, and then do nothing.
You mean that “Yang Berbasikal” ?
I still remember the very first thing that Yang Berbasikal fella did after he was elected by the voters – he deserted the very voters who voted him in and cycled to Cambodia.
Typical DAP.
Just imagine how much money previous BN govt & its cronies made from approvals of these high density project on such sensitive hill slopes. The hills have been raped & cleared of all vegetation, destabilising both the slopes and the coastal road. The current coastal road is just inadequate to cope with the increased traffic arising from such dense development. PR had better freeze all kinds of development in this hilly area before a catastrophe occurs.
What’s new in PR states ???
Selangor too is enjoying hill slope development[1].
2 x 5
Reference:
[1]Hill slope development to resume in S’gor in 2010 (http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/116903)
Why do you think caused this? GERAKAN lead government for the past donkey years. PAKATAN needs to clean the … right now.
What do you suggest they do? Stop the project, and demolish the condo? Or is the flooding problem been there prior to the project being developed?
The most the local authorities throughput Malaysia can do is compound the contractors if they really are guilty.
Hi sri hartamas and GC Phan,
You hit the nail right on the head!
Would Azhar, Dr Teng HN and poliical eunuch KTK respond to GC Phan’s comment on “just imagine how much money previous BN govt & its cronies made from approvals of these high density project on such sensitive hill slopes.”? Don’t hold your breath though as their silence is definitely very deafening?! I, for one, hold them responsible for the mess they’ve created in northern Penang.
Gerakan K should urge LGE to comment on GC Phan’s perception since he kept on spinning and claiming that LGE is silent on certain issues. Alternatively, he can call upon his political masters THN and KTK to speak up, rather than call on proxies like the Kedah Gerakan Secretary to speak at the Speakers’ Corner in Pg. Gerakan K has still not responded to my call to him to do his spinning at the Speakers’ Corner. Let us know the date when you’re ready to do so, and, god-willing, I’ll be there to give you ‘moral’ support!
But to the question of what the MPPP and State authorities can do. The residents would like to see that immediate punitive action is taken whenever the developers breach the bye-laws in their projects. Supervise and be ever vigilant of the work in progress in these high rise and high density projects, which were already approved by the previous state govts. Of course, there’s no way that the present State Govt can veto and cancel these projects unless there are extenuating circumstances, otherwise, the people are the ones to bear the costs of legal action taken by the developer against the State Govt.
The current State Govt must not approve any Class III and IV hill-slope development. I understand that this is the stand of the State Govt already. If so, stand firm on this stand to withstand the lobbying of big-time developers whose only interest is the bottom-line!
No reason for me to talk in Speakers’ Corner. That is stupid idea. I still waiting for the first ISA ticket winner from there.
I rather stay at home counting my money.
Hi Gerakan K,
It’s your right not to speak at the Speakers’ Corner and continue your spinning in blogsphere, though I am certain it wouldn’t help Gerakan a wee bit!
Continue your spinning and counting of your money!
Wow, ‘teh tarik’ galore ! It is a pity and nuisance for resident in the surrounding area BUT what about public space ie. public beaches ?
I figure a public protest against the developer/s in all hillside areas is in order though I wouldn’t be too keen to condemn State Exco when it is the duty of the Majlis Perbandaran(Council) to enforce by-laws should the developer/s run foul of the law.
You have spoil my mood in today football match !!! I will order iced lemon tea instead of “teh tarik” at mamak stall.
I’m too not keen to condemn State Exco but the chairman !!! His pro-developer policies really beyond everyone imagination !!!
Aisay, Gerakan K.
Football positively made you mellow…
Ice lemon tea(non ciplak) is abundant in Vit C.
3 Teh tarik per match too sweet not good for health.
Hello, what’s happened to your solar promise ??? (http://anilnetto.com/development-issues/penang-launches-green-citizens-initiative/?cid=42351)
I’m interested in this one too. Specifically, how does give-take work for the home generator with TNB? Do they allow you to ‘turn your meter back’ while you’re net producing, or do they install a separate connection for you to generate power on, and pay you by the kWh (about 25sen per kWh, right?) while you pay them for your consumption? If the latter, do you have to pay for the separate ‘generator’ connection or do they throw that in with the generator contract? What did you pay RM/Watt for your solar panel installation? What surface area does it cover and what’s your installation’s nominal power? Have you got photos for us? What’s your generated monthly min/ave/max kWh if you’re generating on a separate meter, or what’s you’re before-and-after consumption if you’re turning your meter back?
Many residents of Batu Ferringhi, and there is now a Batu Ferringhi Residents Association – have called on the local Government to cease the dangerous overdevelopment of the North Coast. If someone doesn’t wake up soon in the Penang Govt. and realise the o/development is a disaster waiting to happen, believe me, when it does, the people of Penang can hold them responsible. It is shocking, it is deplorable and it has to stop. When we see the waters all muddy one knows this is massive erosion and do you know what happens to excess water, it eats into the rock and that too crumbles over time. What then happens is a massive slide. PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING. YES CALL FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION, WHATEVER IT TAKES FOR THE WAKEUP CALL. ALL RESIDENTS OF THE NORTH COAST ARE EXTREMELY CONCERNED. ASK THE GEO-SCIENCE DEPARTMENT TO COME ONTO THIS WEBSITE AND GIVE FULL ACCOUNTABILITY TO WHAT IS HAPPENING IN PENANG AND TO TELL RESIDENTS WHAT THEY KNOW. THEY OWE THIS TO THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE AND WHOSE LIVES ARE PUT AT RISK DUE TO THE RAMPANT GREED OF THE DEVELOPERS AND THEIR LACK OF ACTION. LESS TALK, TAKE ACTION YOURSELF. CALL FOR STOP ORDER OF ALL CURRENT AND FUTURE HIGHRISE DEVELOPMENT. A MORATORIUM TO BE PLACED FOR THE NEXT 5 OR 10 YEARS TO HALT THIS MADNESS.
Gerakan K
Go and get into the habit of drinking Green tea lah…it will cleanse your rotten soul….Mr handout!
2 stages in this fight:
a) No more NEW approvals, no more NEW development
b) All current developers will face hefty fines it they flout or violate any of the conditions.
Lets get objective about it. The damage was done more than 2 years ago when the development plans were approved. Let LGE and the State Government together with MPPP, come out with the mitigation plans. No use blaming the Gerakan Govt now, it will not help anyone anymore, except during the elections.
We’ll see what action is taken after this.
Probably they will make dunno ???
Hello everybody………let’s talk facts here….just go to this website…and you can see all the applications and approvals….who, when, where,…..
http://www.epbt.gov.my/osc/Carian_Proj2.cfm?CurrentPage=1&Maxrows=15&Cari=&BahKod=0701&Pilih=2
This is Koh Tsu Koon’s legacy to the Tanjung Bungah folks for the umpteen years that he was their state assemblyman.
Dear Anil,
…
How long has it been since 308, Anil?
Long enough to see something different, isn’t it?
The next GE would arrive very very soon, Anil, trust me, I have sources from the top echelon of BN machinery.
And as a Penangite, I have to tell you I am disappointed in what we got right now. The Lim Guan Eng administration isn’t that different from the previous one.
The traffic jam is still getting worse by the day.
Whenever it rains, it floods.
And the government? Can you really say that the present Penang state government a people-minded government, Anil?
So, as Penangites, we must do something.
We must stand up and be counted, Anil.
It’s time the Penangites do something different – after all, throw out one administration ends up getting us the same-old s….
We *MUST* put pressure on the Penang State government to START do something, or else they can kiss their behind goodbye.
I think it’s time you take the lead, Anil. Group up the Penang bloggers – non-partisan – and start a campaign for the betterment of Penang.
No more should we be complacent.
No more we would tolerate all those lies and shenanigans, no matter from which camp (BN or PR) it comes from.
We want to see *CHANGE*.
We want to see *RESULT*.
No more placing blame.
There ought to be a list of demands we should draft up – (my short list follows, but please add in yours) and make it public.
1. City Council Election.
No matter what Lim Guan Eng says. No matter what type of *GAME* he wants to play, it’s time to get serious.
Either he does it, or he doesn’t.
We should never tolerate anymore bull… from anybody on this issue.
2. Traffic jams.
There have been studies after studies on Penang’s traffic patterns, and there have been a lot of suggestions.
And in the previous Koh Tsu Koon’s administration, some of the suggestions had been implemented.
But the present Lim Guan Eng administration has done *NOTHING*.
They just sit there and doing nothing. As if by doing nothing the traffic jam problem will go away.
And when I say “suggestions” regarding the traffic jam problem I do not mean building the PORR toll-way, I mean, a change of traffic patterns (like making the traffics on Perak Road traveling one way, Jelutong Road traffic traveling the opposite direction) that would drastically ease the traffic jam problem, at least temporarily.
3. Flooding problem.
So far what the Lim Guan Eng administration is doing exactly the same thing as what Koh Tsu Koon admin does – blame this, blame that, blame everything while they did nothing.
In George Town they blame people throwing sampah into the drain.
In Tanjung Bungah they blame the hillside development.
And in the meantime, what have they done to rectify the problems?
Nothing.
4. Mass Trasport / Pedestrian Rights.
The road in Penang is dangerous.
Have you tried walking along Green Lane lately, Anil?
Try it, and you see what I mean.
The walkway is cracked and crooked. And in some place the pedestrians have to walk ON THE TARMAC (into the road) because the pedestrian way just *DISAPPEAR ALTOGETHER* !!
And this is unbelievably intolerable !
We should make Penang a much better place to work, to stay, to stroll around, to meet with friends, to enjoy.
And that Lim Guan Eng administration? What have they done since the 308?
Nothing.
All they care about is money.
7 Million and they sold out our botanical garden, and then turn around trying to blame a “little napolean” pulak.
And in that Kampung Buah Pala matter, how come Lim Guan Eng still hasn’t have the guts to admit that he was the one who signed away the land title?
I mean, if we Penangites want change, we must have someone who has his/her heart for the Penangties.
We used to have one. Lim Chong Eu. Unfortunately, that guy was forced out by Lim Kit Siang.
What say you, Anil?
I know you have the heart for Penang. You want Penang to be better.
So … are you game, Anil?
I do have to forewarn you, my 4th factory in China has just begun production, and I have to spend more time in China than before, so I may not have a lot of time to channel into this project.
But I will do my best.
Awaiting your reply, Anil.
Hi Iron
Thanks. I am not quite sure what you mean when you say, ‘are you game?’
If you mean entering politics, I don’t think I am cut out for it.
But I will do my part to highlight issues of concern. Everyone has a role to play in making Penang/Malaysia a better place, not just the politicians.
We should feel empowered to do our own little bit in working for change.
When I say “Are you game” I do not mean wallowing in the political mud.
What I mean is, will you consider leading a public campaign to put pressure on the government, with a compiled list of demands we Penangites want.
I have listed 4 demands, and I know that there are more.
What we need is *PUSH* to whoever helms the State Government of Penang to focus on making Penang better.
No more can we tolerate all those bull… that have been going on for so many years, when when I say *BULL….* I mean bull… from both BN and PR.
Till now we Penangites have been very passive. Only once every 5 years or so we come out and express our feelings through our votes, and those political … (from both sides) are taking advantage of us, by hoodwink us with empty promises.
And then after the election, they so conveniently forgot every single promise they have made – one recent example being: Lim Guan Eng keeps on forgetting the Local Council Election that he has promised the Penangites.
And no, we ain’t gonna take that no more.
When they promise us something, they better deliver. That’s the Penang’s way, for we Penangites ain’t pushovers no more.
That is what I mean by “Are you game?”, Anil.
As I said, I won’t be here for long. Have to go to China very soon, but I will be back and I will do whatever I can to help out my hometown, Penang.
So, what is LGE KPI as Penang CM ???
Hi Gerakan K,
You’ve the cheek to ask what is LGE’s KPI!
Remember the UMNO MP from Sri Gading (if I’m not mistaken) openly declared and challenged in Parliament why a person of no KPI in Penang (the political eunuch KTK) is made the Minister of KPIs and that also thru’ the back-door! I’m really ashamed to have such a thick skin Penangite in our midst.
I would rather have a person with principles to be the CM, even though he may be from another state, rather such a spineless person!
As for LGE’s KPI in Pg, the auditor-general even praised Pg PR Govt in its first 2 years of administration of its open and transparent maintenance of an up-to-date accounting of the State’s Expenditure! So, go and figure out whose KPIs really sucks!
Iron
Easier said than done….why not you start the ball rolling rather than pass the buck around since you are so good at writting suggestions…Do you think that …-less Gerakan goverment can make a better difference if they take over Pen in the next GE….over my dead body…
It is *ALWAYS* easier said than done.
But if we do nothing, what do we get?
*NOTHING* !!
At least we gonna have to do something.
No, no promise of success, but if we ain’t even gonna *TRY*, then we all might as well emigrate, and leave Penang to the …, from both BN and PR.
People’s Power.
Though we may not have tons of money to throw around buying votes, destroying the environment in the name of development, or building stupid arches, we have conscience, common sense, empathies for our environment, care for our neighbourhood and undeniable basic rights to live, work and enjoy living in Penang.
If nobody can help us, it’s high time we Penangites help ourselves.
One way, we have the power of the written words to voice our concerns. Many thanks to Anil. The best blog to express yourself without fear or favour.
Words are powerful, but words alone ain’t enough.
We must put pressure, *REAL* pressure on the power-that-be, whoever that guy/gal is.
They must deliver, and we must make it so that we see to that that whoever wants to be the CM of Penang better deliver.
308 we threw out Gerakan. That was a very sweet victory for us, the Penangites, a payback for all the years they have screwed us.
And since 308 we Penangites have found out one thing – the new guy on the block is behaving just like that guy we threw out !
And worse … that new guy has a big mouth that blah-blah-blah non-stop !!
Instead of delivering his promises, he blah blah blah and then blah blah blah some more.
I concede, some of the “blahs” do make sense, but most of the other “blahs” cause us to scratch our collective heads.
Like “blahs” regarding the collapse stadium in Trengganu.
I mean, whatever happened in Trengganu has nothing to do with Penang what …
Why is the CM of Penang commenting on a collapsed stadium in Trengganu? The guy needs a refresher on Geography or what???
There are many more such examples but I will skip all that, and come back to the issue at hand …
The Penangites must form a pressure group and make public demands, and make sure that things get done and get done fast !
Remember: Words alone won’t be enough because them political swines are thick skinned.
Civil society groups in Penang have come together under the ‘Penang Forum’ umbrella to forefront issues relating to sustainable development and local democracy.
Do you mind telling us what that “Penang Forum” has achived so far, Anil?
As far as I know – as an outsider – NOTHING !
Yes, you get it right – you guys did have the demands but there is no follow-up.
And those political …? They just pretend that there was nothing ever happen.
Don’t believe me, Anil?
Wait 5 years (that is, if Lim Guan Eng’s adminitration is re-elected), and see how many of your demands are being met.
You know why?
Because those political … are expert in pretending.
They pretend to forget their pledges.
They pretend to be blind to all the things that are not being fulfilled.
They pretend to be stupid when being asked why they are not doing what they should do.
And furthermore, they pretend that we the voters are stupid.
… come to think of it, we voters *ARE* stupid !
Iron,
If we Penangites had kept quiet like tikus, I’m very, very sure the stupid tilting arch will be there unopposed without questioning. Only thro’ blogs and forums can our voices be heard and taken seriously.
This is ONE of the ways to voice out our dissatisfaction for all (globally) to see.
Anil, i really admire your patience…
I just want to say too much of “teh tarik” is indeed not good for health but i think it is not as deadly as too much of “ikan bakar”…
We expect Pakatan to rule Penang with a miracle…
We expect after 308 the flooding problems be gone just like that…
We expect traffic problems to be ceased immediately …
We also expect DAP to pull down all the hillside projects approved previously…
Gerakan can approve any projects they want but DAP cannot…
O ya because their reasoning is, Koh Tsu Koon is orang Penang but too bad, Guan Eng is from Melaka… ai yo yo, that kind of mentality can do business ah?
We also blame Lim Guan Eng for the two arches in the Botanical Garden but praise Dr Ng Yen Yen… (orang penang are really topsy turvy la, no wonder Koh Tsu Koon was able to rein them for 18 years, this shows how smart Penang people are, sigh sigh sigh !!!)
We blame Lim Guan Eng for the Kg Buah Pala’s issue when it is the previous administration who signed the land away…
We blame Lim Kit Siang because Lim Chong Ee lost in the general election…
(Just wonder why did Lim Chong Eu want to join BN in the first place just like Pairin Kitingan did to his people??? For the past 18 years who was suffering under Gerakan, the Penang people or Lim Chong Eu???)
Toffees said it right, over his dead body Gerakan/BN can be a better government than Pakatan as if 18 long years are still not enough. How sad !!!
Tunglang is right to said in his other post that Penang people had been fooled for the past years and i must add, some of them just love to be fooled because they are fools, what to do?
I will change my stance now, i shall vote for Azhar to be the next PENANG CHIEF MINISTER, and then, i shall pack as i am a PR of some country.
All the best to all of you and Allah bless all !!!
Habislah !!! Habislah !!! Habislah !!!
BE WARNED !!!
Get ready for Singapore. The MOON is coming strongly ( * another pitiful event since WW2 *).
The ROCKET has been compromised in order to get a landing in the moon ( * sigh * ).
The EYE already got black eyes ( * LOL * ), so no eyes to see !!!
p/s: plus points to consider, Singapore got more casinos + legal sports betting !!!
1) Iron, since you talk soo much about making changes here and there….may I suggest you lead the way first rather than writting an episode of a book everytime you leave a reply….no offence though but I did see in one of your reply you mentioned you are busy with the 4th factory in china….so what does this means…you expect the blokes here to slog it out while you enjoy the fruits of labour while adding comments everyone already know about
2) Why Lim Chong Eu sold Penang to the BN goons….one will never know but to blame LCE losing to LKS as an excuse to sell Penang to BN is not the actual reason..i know and everyone knows there are more actual reasons to this
3) Gerakan was raping and screwing Penang’s beautiful landscape and economy for god knows how long….in this 2-3 years PR has been in control….do you or anyone expect them to make so much significant changes in such short time…..its like talking about out football team…we may have ” Jose Mourinho as the National Team coach now but do you expect our football team to qualify for the world cup less winning the Asean gold medal in 1-2 years….it takes longer than take
Please read, then reply.
I-do-not-have-the-time.
In fact, I won’t be in Penang for quite a long long time.
Forget about local elections.
Until PR occupies Putra Jaya, that is not going to happen. Moreover, the ball is now in the court of BN.
So if you want local elections, fight those in Putra Jaya.
I don’t want our Penang government to waste millions of precious tax payers’ money to force local council elections only to find out that they have no legal right to do so and may have to extend their fight in a partisan judiciary.
I will not support a fight which is directed only against the Penang state government for the ignoramus who fails to understand the state and federal constitutions and the limitations of the powers of a state in the federation.
I am happy if the state government can remain true to their spirit of competency, accountability and transparency, at the end of their corruption-free four or five year term.
The state budget for Penang barely topped RM400 million last year and most of those money were for salaries of state employees.
Where on earth is Penang going to find those kind of money for
i. flood rehabilitation.
ii. Mass Rapid Transportation.
iii. Green parks.
iv. taking over from errant developers.
v. Holding local council elections.
Is every property owner willing to pay 5 times more for their property assessment and quit rent so that the state may have those honest money for development?
One other thing.
It’s always easier to fight the state government than Putra Jaya because unlike the latter, the state government does not control the Police, use of ISA, AG office, MACC or any authoritative bodies which can give you protesters a very hard time !
1. Gerakan K-friend, I was ready but timing collision with Sibu-elect’n, then iced-limau kosong Football! Will work with Anil to pass him details/data, so that Anil can moderate the interactive discuss’n. Now-FOOTBALL IS KING!
2. Duh Iron-man. If you love Penang so much, then 4th factory should be in Penang Island lah! China labour-cost increase abt 20%, Renminbi go north, better come back Penang. Since u BIG-EMPLOYER status, you should know, for every new projects ( in this case help support LGE-govt how to do their jobs, ahem) the BOSS got to pull up their sleeves, GET INVOLVED! Alot of talk only, tak jadi. To me, WIRA speaks with IQ and EQ!!!!
Until the time you set up your own factory you would never believe the issues involved.
Factory in Penang?
What do you think I am? A world-leading multi-national-company with trillions in reserve?
Do you know how much it cost to hire ONE PENANGITE to work? *DO YOU KNOW THAT ???*
When i went to Immgration Office lately, i was pleased as the pavement was nicely done…
I also note that the pavement in Cantonment Road to Gurney Drive was very nicely done, too…
We have budget surplus in Majlis Perbandaran Seberang Prai after taking one year from Gerakan/BN…
We also have budget surplus in Majlis Perbandaran Pulau Pinang under DAP/Pakatan…
Lim Guan Eng fought for Federal funds to help Penang…
Under DAP/Lim Guan Eng, the project PGCC is cancelled …
The senior citizens now have RM100 to makan kuih instead of the millions and billions of Ringgit gone just like that … and they dare not complaint…
All the good done under Lim Guan Eng they see not… but all the bad done under Khor Tsu Koon/Gerakan/BN was condoned .
Why? May i borrow tunglang’s expression, because Penang people “bor lan hoot”.
What these people are good at is, they only know how to bully Lim Guan Eng, and nothing else…
OK, give them what they want, they deserve to have Azahar!!!
Have a nice day, guys !!!
Hi everyone,
wira, understand that Gerakan K and Iron are just spinning for their masters only…
wira, you’re also right that where on earth can the Pg State Govt find that type of money to build MRTs, flood rehabilitation, etc without having to increase assessment rates and quit rent since the bulk of taxes goes to Federal coffers. And the Federal Govt is treating Pg as a step-child in disbursement of taxpayers’ money! The only way forward is for PR to march to Putrajaya to stop the past and current excesses of the BN govts at Federal level and many others at State level.
Haven’t we had enough of the mismanagements, corruptions, cronyism, leakages, etc? If Malaysia is bankrupted in the process, the coming generations are going to blame our generation for allowing such abuses to continue unabated!! I don’t want my children and grandchildren to then say I didn’t try to do something.
Anil,
A funny thing happens here.
Spinners accusing me as being a spinner.
Like liars accusing me of lying.
And there are more than one of them doing that !
Imagine that, Anil.
Instead of working overtime for the people, they rather send their machais to attack people who disagree with their DAP cultist behavior.
See how they praise Lim Guan Eng.
As if Lim Guan Eng is the best thing ever happen since sliced bread.
Hi everyone,
Let the people read thru’ all the comments made by me and the one who cries “Spinners accusing me of being a spinner” to judge whoever is the spinner. Show me which comment I have made in Anil’s blog that I’ve spinned!!
The TM net bill came today and it costs me a ‘bomb’ as I need to pay it and not dependent on benefactors!
So who is whose machai? I’m not a member of any political party, though I’ve a dilemna as to whether I should commit as a member of any political party or remain status quo.
Due to the past 53 years’ mismanagement, I’m more interested in the country having a 2-party system that affords the rakyat a choice of throwing out whichever ruling party that have not performed to peoples’ expectations.
And, if I join a political party now, I’m also in a dilemna – should I join the PAS supporters’ club, the DAP or the PKR. If not, I’d then go for PR as the alternative govt and after that if they in turn don’t live up to the peoples’ expectations, then we can throw them out!
People here love to make “Penang as step child statement”.
Do you PAS supporters’ club is in fact a step child kind of membership ??? Why differentiate ??? Any future in the party for supporters club members ??? Able to stand for party key posts or not ??? Or this is a public relation gimmick ???
Correction:
People here love to make “Penang as step child statement”.
Do you think PAS supporters’ club is in fact a step child kind of membership ??? Why differentiate ??? Any future in the party for supporters club members ??? Able to stand for party key posts or not ??? Or this is a public relation gimmick ???
Hi everyone,
People join political parties for different reasons, some for political patronage, also those for positions and party posts, even some for possible govt positions.
There are others who join because they subscribe to the party’s ideology and struggle. For me, if I join Pas Supporters’ Club/DAP/PKR, it is hopefully to contribute, even though it just a small contribution, and to facilitate a 2-Party System.
And Gerakan K, if Pg has not been treated as a stepchild by the BN Federal Govt, then explain why currently Pg State is apportioned a mere 3% of the total taxes paid by Penangites! If the Pg State Govt is not being treated like a stepchild, why are the funds alloted channeled thru’ Federal Development Officers appointed by the BN? With such a move, wouldn’t the Pg State Govt be handicapped in terms of planning and administration of projects?
Don’t just sidestep issues by mere rhetorics of ‘People here love to make “Penang as step child statement”.’ Ask yourself why a significant majority of Penangites considers it to be so!! Though there’re no data to back this up, nevertheless the feelings on the ground is obvious! A proper survey conducted would confirm this.
Money must be taken care by smart people and not the otherwise to prevent abuses.
It is clear that abuses/wastage already occured. RM100 santa claus program is a wastage. Some may call it a form of bribery. What’s more, PICC ??? Tiger Park ??? Disney land ???
Hi everyone,
Gerakan K: “Money must be taken care by smart people and not the otherwise to prevent abuses.”
After 53 years’ gross mismanagement of taxpayers’ money, are you, Gerakan K, suggesting that the Federal Govt Officers and the BN Federal and State Govts are the smart people … to prevent abuses?!!! This is like ‘harap pagar, pagar makan padi’.
Are you blind to the scandalous losses of RM hundreds of millions and billions of taxpayers’ money thru’ such smart management, as you call it, of peoples’ money by the UMNOputras, BNputras and their families and cronies? Quite often such losses are with intent to enrich certain people at the expense of the rakyat!
The token RM100 disbursed to senior citizens, irrespective of race or religion, came from the budget surplus of the current Pg State Govt. You call it wastage, when in the time of previous state govts of BN, there’d be no surplus of budget – on the contrary there’d be even more deficits than it should be! No surprise since the money (could have been) ‘siphoned-off’ via direct negotiations at grossly inflated prices to the coffers of companies and pockets of individuals of the politically connected, especially those from UMNO and their BN cronies. On hindsight, the senior citizens could never have any hope of getting a single sen from the past BN State Govts in Pg!!
The PICC, Tiger Park and Disney Land Projects are still on the drawing board with maybe one or two of them already shelved. Why spin ‘what’s more’? When the plan for any of these projects is disclosed and found wanting, you think Penangites would just sit tight and not protest?
I am amused.
Choice of factory location depends mainly on economics of business.
Why build a factory in Malaysia if one intends to make and sell low end products to the masses in China and the rest of the world?
Moreover, why set up shop here when most of your workers are going to be Indonesians and Bangladeshis?
This country needs to move up the value chain.
Penangites who have the necessary knowledge and contacts after spending years working for MNCs should try to venture into higher technology industries like design and software.
These are the companies which should be located in Penang like what the Taiwanese did in Hsinchu.
I know (and I am glad) quite a few Penangites are venturing into this.
Iron-man: since you deem yourself as so ‘misunderstood’ n that you are better than sliced bread n LGE-sandwiches, perhaps you can rationale the FAIRNESS in giving allocation only to BN-MP but not PR-MR?
If your rationales are not just BULLDOZING warped thinkings, then perhaps we are able to understand you through different angles.
I am only my machai, nobody else!
The Najib administration has allocated an extra RM500,000 to each BN MP this year – on top of the existing RM1 million allocation – to be used for development purposes in all constituencies held by the ruling coalition
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/bn-mps-funds-raised-to-keep-voter-base-say-analyts/
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/136171
majority of the comments posted here makes one wonder about the maturity of the respondents. The effort made by author/blogger to highlight the various issues pertinent to the community should be applauded. Please restrain yourself, don’t make a mockery of the free space available and embarass yourself. Democracy demands responsibility. If you have brilliant ideas to share, lets meet, talk over the thorny issues and present the suggestions to local council man, or better still have the local council man present. There is no need to resort to name calling…. Be pragmatic, if you really care, DO something about it, don’t be an armchair critic. You can remain non-partisan on a lot of issues, if progress is what you really seek. The world has enough of its problems, therefore please do not complicate it any further. SOLUTION, no bitching please.
Unfortunately, DAP has nothing to do with maturity. Ditto for the DAP machais.
I once tell my Dad not to vote for BN but he told me it is necessary for a secure future. Today I hold all the older generation accountable for the state we are in. Iron and Gerakan K, you make me sick…
Malaysia is OK what ???
Malaysia got 1Malaysia, KLIA, KLCC, Putrajaya, Palace of Justice, astronaut, MSC, MNCs, etc.
Foods also heavily subsidized. What a BN people government for decades !!!
Dear Gerakan K.
If Gerakan rules Penang, we will again be step children of UMNO.
No, maybe even worse than step children because they will never accept any peninsular non-Malay/non-mamak a member of their ‘family’. Not even after you “masuk.”
Dear All Tanjong Bungah and Battu ferringi lovers
Yes I am so aware of the demise of our lovely penang hillslopes. I have raised this issue over recent years and I can tell you I dont mince my words. BUT you see deaf ears are those who are either profitting from these developers (back handers and corrupt bribes?) or they couldnt give a damn about the Island of Penang.
Our sea is a huge muddy puddle and the tourists are being short changed-international ad campaigns lie to them when they show lovely green paradisical waters along our North coast then they drive all the way up to B Ferring and see this filth and the carved up hillslopes replaced with concrete blocks towering precariously above the (1) ONE road, that is no longer safefor those whom need to use it every day.
So here we are in July 2010 and yet more monstrous approvals are underway. Hunza are hoping to build another monster FURTHER UP the hill from the present 2 condo blocks and housing site of Alila. Surely the building of such a massive tower above and behind them could be disturbing to their foundations. I sure hope that Hunza will not get permission so that a potential land slide can be prevented as has happened in other parts of Malaysia when upper hills have been developed above older developments on the foot of the hill.
Also another 41 high condo block coming up to block the sea breezes on the Tg Bungah Hotel site.
I left Penang to further my studies many years ago now and still return every year but I could never see myself returning permanently as the place is no longer A PEARL IN THE ORIENT more like MANY PEARLS IN THE BACK POCKETS OF THE DEVELOPERS!!!!
It is so amusing to see the orchestrated spin of Iron and Gerakan K. It is also heartwarming to note that the work of LGE is being highlighted and recognised by those who see and hear. Keep on spinning Iron and it will definitely be a blessing in disguise when the angels that surround LGE will sound their judgement.