The Penang Forum, a coalition of public interest groups and individuals, notes with dismay that Boustead is claiming compensation from the MPPP for consequential losses in having to reduce its hotel from 12 to five storeys.
Before the matter develops further, perhaps Boustead would wish to reconsider its position carefully taking the long-term big-picture view and the following.
Boustead should not have been given approval for 12 storeys in a heritage area in the first place by the previous administration. It was the Federal Government that chose to apply for and accept having George Town and Melaka jointly inscribed by Unesco as a World Heritage Site, which brought with it several obligations, one of which was to restrict the height of new buildings in the core zone. The Penang Government was merely its fulfilling international obligation. Not to have done so was unthinkable; losing the listing so soon after getting it would have been extremely damaging for our international reputation.
Questions of international prestige aside, being a World Heritage Site brings with it enormous economic benefits, which everybody, Boustead included, will enjoy. Some sites have reported a five-fold increase in visitors in as many years. For Penang, the world heritage listing is a god-send that has the potential to reverse its slow decline as a destination for international tourists.
The issue now is that Boustead is seeking compensation from the local government in Penang, ultimately at the expense of Penangites. As a responsible corporate citizen, Boustead, with a group profit before tax of RM502 million from revenue of RM5.4 billion in 2009, should not penalise the people of Penang (who will ultimately pay) for the folly of our past leaders. Bear in mind that the MPPP is operating on a tight budget: its projected revenue for 2010 is a mere RM230 million, giving rise to a budget deficit of RM40 million. An economic Goliath bullying a puny David (like the MPPP) is an unpretty spectacle that is unlikely to do Boustead’s image any justice nor would it be a manifestation of good corporate social responsibility.
The company should also remind itself that Penang’s gain is also our (and Boustead’s) gain and similarly Penang’s loss is our collective loss. In the long term, Boustead will probably earn more from a down-sized hotel in a World Heritage Site than from a full-scale hotel in a de-listed World Heritage Site.
Finally, we call on the Federal Government to take a more active interest in these developments and take some responsibility in resolving this unfortunate situation.
Ahmad Chik
Dr Francis Loh
Anil Netto
on behalf of
Penang Forum Working Group
10 April 2010
The Penang Forum is an informal network of some three dozen Penang-based NGOs along with concerned individuals who came together in April 2008 for the inaugural Penang Forum to chart a possible way forward for Penang after the historic 2008 general election.
Maybe, just maybe there is a silver lining in this thing …
Boustead’s lawsuit claiming 60 millions from the Penang state government may, and I stress, MAY cause Lim Guan Eng’s 50 Million PICC pet white elephant project to be put on hold.
At least for the foreseeable future.
No point of spending 50 Million now while a lawsuit of 60 Million is pending.
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anil,
game to start a boycott of all business under Boustead and LTAT?
such irresponsible corporates and that own by government agency.
… No petrol from BHP.
I am prepared to sacrifice my time to initiate this boycott in support of the Penangnites. Oh, I am an Ipohan who has moved to KL 20 years back.
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Finally you have to * beg * federal government. Fine tune your attitude now. Drop your MM and chanting 1Malaysia slogan first.
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World Heritage or not, who bothers? BN/UMNO Baru of today are not interested in the Rakyat! Najib, is too weak!
Corporate citizens? Corporate responsibilities? Do we have any in Malaysia today? As far as you vote against BN, you pay! Further, it is falsely projected as always to the Malays and perceived that Penang is a Chinese/Indians majority state, when in actual fact today, Penang like the rest of the country is a Malay majority state. Only the UMNO/Bn want to project it that way as though the Malays in Penang are being shortchanged!
Do Penangnites have the guts to continue fighting? Or shall we like Gerakan K follow his political masters and enslave himself eternally? Or shall we be like Iron, who because of his favourite nasi kandar store being demolished continues to criticize LGE till today, with such vile and venom?
Instead of nasi kandar, why not try some genuine Indian delicacy? If you love curry so much, why don’t you try authentic Indian curries? It will beat those offered by your nasi kandar vendors, and too much nasi kandar is not good for your health, Iron!
Iron, it is clear now that the above project was approved by the previous administration and not the current one. Just let us go and canvass for PKR in Hulu Selangor. Gerakan K will be there for BN, so what are you just sitting infront of your computer and voicing your displeasures? PKR is contesting now and this is a steep battle for them, they need at least 24,000 votes to be there competing, not even a victory is assured, and your sitting infront of your computer and venting your frustrations on the DAP is not going to do you any good! You had been venting your frustrations for months, young man, sulking, just because of your favourite nasi kandar! Go to KL and you will enjoy first class, let me tell you first class Indian curries, much more superior than nasi kandar in every way!
If Datuk Zaid is contesting, all efforts must be put in to ensure he is returned to Parliament. I want to donate like Gerakan K, but, now cannot la … as ringgit had appreciated too much over the weeks. Otherwise, 1 lorry load of mineral water is no problem, but, luckily PKR is the State Government in Selangor and is rich! Kee will also be there, so bangkit and go to KKB. That is a nice town, but, since the NSE was opened, this town had turned into a sleepy hollow!
Gerakan K, go serve your political masters in Hulu Selangor…
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“Or shall we be like Iron, who because of his favourite nasi kandar store being demolished continues to criticize LGE till today, with such vile and venom?”
Oh wow !
Yet another “nasi kandar” fella !
It’s IKAN BAKAR, man, I-K-A-N—B-A-K-A-R !!!
And by the way, I criticize LGE not because of that Ikan Bakar store.
I criticize Lim Guan Eng because he is not, and I repeat NOT, serving Penang as he should be.
Lim Guan Eng’s only interest is Politics.
Since 308, Lim Guan Eng has done nothing but political game.
In the Kampung Buah Pala case — Instead of helping the residens of Kampung Buah Pala, Lim Guan Eng treated the residents just as badly as those from the Barisan Nasional camp.
In the case of PICC — Instead of prioritizing on the Penangites, Lim Guan Eng steadfastly determined to waste our RM 50 Million to build that WHITE ELEPHANT.
I do not have to say more. Just look at what is happening in Selangor and then compare it to what is happening in Penang.
In Selangor, the Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim is doing what he can to serve the people of Selangor.
While Tan Sri Khalid isn’t perfect — he has had a couple of mis-steps along the way — but we can see from what he has done since March 8, that Menteri Besar Khalid has the people of Selangor in his heart, and he has been trying his best to make Selangor a better state for all.
Back to Penang — is Lim Guan Eng doing the same?
Nope.
Instead of running a government, Lim Guan Eng turns the Penang State government into a BLAMING MACHINE !
Today blame this, tomorrow blame that.
Blame, blame, blame !!
C’mon la !
We Penangites do not vote for Lim Guan Eng. We vote for PR, Pakatan Rakyat, so that we can kick out Gerakan (and we did !!)
See how Lim Guan Eng as his foreigner gang gang have been doing so far.
That Jeff Ooi guy — his “wifi Penang” plan, where is it?
And the same arrogant Jeff Ooi has caused so much trouble in Penang that I think it’s best by next GE we sent him back to his hometown Petaling Jaya.
Lim Guan Eng ? He thinks Penangites must listen to him ?
He thinks he can LORD OVER THE PENANGITES ?
We are his boss, not the other way around.
Without the Penangites, Lim Guan Eng will still be Lim Guan Eng — an opposition accountant.
Lim Guan Eng better start listening to the Penangites. He better scrap that PICC white elephant project. He better STOP BLAMING THIS THAT AND EVERYTHING ELSE and START SERVING THE PEOPLE OF PENANG LIKE HE SHOULD HAVE.
Lim Guan Eng is a grown man. He should behave like a grown man, and not like a spoilt brat.
I don’t care how he was spoilt by his dear old dad, but this is Penang, not Malacca.
He better behave or he will find himself back to Malacca.
We Penangites do not tolerate too much bs.
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Hello Ikan Bakar Iron,
Sorry, I thought it was nasi kandar Iron, thank you for your clarification.
We are living in a democracy and you are practising democracy! Good. Even in America, no one is happy with Obama, and we do have people, like Iron Ikan Bakar, who sits and vent their frustrations each and every day on the computer. Well done, Ikan Bakar Iron, continue your good work, but, then I feel, we are all wasting our time commenting here instead of turun padang and bangkit! Just get off your comfort chair and turun padang!
God Bless PKR! PR! Does that include DAP too, Iron Ikan Bakar? Or shall we exclude DAP from the PR?
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Iron Bakar Ikan,
Bro, why don’t you contest the next state GE? With due respect to you, you are very well versed with Penang’s politics, surely, you will make a good Chief MInister. Let me be frank that I am telling you from the bottom of my heart, with your wealth of knowledge, you should do very well to lead Penang.
But, then you still will have to face people like Gerakan K.
As PR is continuing to gain so much support, why not give it a try? I will surely come to support you in whatever way possible. I was shocked when I returned from Hulu Selangor on Saturday night. Hulu Selangor had always been a BN stronghold, but, I tell you this, it is not anymore!
I was attentding these ceramahs and gauging the sentiments of the people, and there were two ceramahs held simultaneously, from BN and PR camp. BN camp boast of Toyo and Ezam, and you guess what?
There were hardly 200 listening and those 200 includes the Rela members, while a short distance away, PAS was having their ceramahs in a community hall and it was packed to the brim with thousands attending and applausing in approval each time PAS strikes a point. And the peoples support for UMNO Baru continues to erode. Thank you Perkasa!
PKR the way forward.
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Aiya, O, stop pore lump par la !
But if you are really really REALLY serious, I suggest you go contact Dr. Toh Kim Woon.
Beliau is, IMHO, the best candidate for Penang’s next CM.
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Iron Bakar Ikan,
“pore lump pha la”? What is that? You are referring to the famous “lampha” noodle bread from Szechuan?
Toh Kim Woon also like that too? He is good but he does not have the confidence of the people and the Rakyat. There is no way the people would want him to be the CM because he chickened out in 2008. Unless the PKR wins more seats than the DAP!
Another thing, it will not be practical to bring those bread/noodles to Toh, as by the time we bring it back here, it will be too dry, wrinkled, all skins and no substance anymore, elasticity is not there and the suppleness of the noodles will be missing. You go and get it for Toh, I am no fan of his!
Cheers bro! Hope the your famous lampha noodles will be still supple and good when you bring it to Toh!
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O,
my business (mini market) in Hulu Selangor is increasing in 2-fold due to by-election. More money available for me to support BN. What surprise me is that most of the buyers are PR supporters !!! They keep telling me the great PR story. As usual I just repeat what you had said in this blog in order to please them. Anyway this may be a good news for PR because their people are starting to campaign but it is rather unfortunate that their money will channel to their opponent.
O, support BN now to avoid disappointment.
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Gerakan K,
Bro! You had just opened another mini market in Hulu Selangor? Fantastic! Which part of Hulu Selangor? Good to note that your business is prospering, and do you want to donate mineral water? Special price to you? You seem to open a business wherever there are by elections!
And how is BN doing in Hulu Selangor? It is still too early to tell, but, at this point of time, bro, it is advantage PR! Heard that Ezam and Toyol ceramah? Pitiful for these guys, people of all races are just fed up with these frogs…! Cannot even attract 200 while Nizar of PAS, hear that bro, PAS is attracting thousands, something which Hulu Selangor people had not seen, and the Malays are joining PAS and PKR! We had deviated from the above topic! Really, how does that Ezam fella feels? He tugged along with the big guns hoping that the big guns will pull in the crowd so that he can continue the spins, but, even, the rural area crowds, are spurning him! They just want to know where the six boxes of secrets are?
Let me tell you Gerakan K, the sentiments on the ground are very much PR throughout the country, including Sabah and Sarawak. It is good for you to keep on denying, but, let us first see off Hulu Selangor and then we will talk Sibu. I can tell you honestly, do you think your PM (whom you claimed were allegedly involved in a murder of a lady) What is the name of the lady bro? Your PM and UMNO Baru is not that magnanimous to give the seat to MIC to contest! They had measured the sentiments on the ground, they know it is going to be tough on UMNO Baru/BN, so they gave it to MIC to contest, in the event BN loses, they can easily shift the blame to MIC. Get me bro?
Hulu Selangor was once a very strong BN stronghold but not anymore. Even so, PR need to garner at least 24,000 to stay in the contention to win, as there are about 23,000 die hard BN supporters there! Just hope the PR supporters will turn out to vote!
Jom Sertai PAS, bro!
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No lah. That store I opened few years ago. I tell you the best selling items are cigarettes, bottled water, individual packed biscuits, and Ap**** layered cakes. Ha ha all old stock from this and other outlets being cleared now (* peace *). Not so peaceful in Hulu Selangor now. Both camps turn out very aggressive. I will attend some of the “ceramah” organized by the big guns. Your idol Khalid Ibrahim looks very old and “lembik”. He lacks firepower to spiced up the crowd. I cannot “tahan” his voice.
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Gerakan K,
Here is another lies from you. Previouly you said you are from Penang and you are based in KL cos they have several office. Now you said you have open a mini market in Hulu Selangor. Next I believe you will be operating a hotel in Sibu, maybe to welcome your favorite Najib and CSL for the by election.Make sure you have enough hot water for your PM to bathe cos the water he bathe in one of the settler home in Felda scheme are just too cold. Also make sure it not too hot…
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Aiya Yang, that office for me = real office and business outlet like mini markets, pop corn stall, wafer stall. I’m operating many small businesses, mind you. I love money very much.
Yang,
let me teach you something. It is very easy to get rich in Malaysia. I guess you still working for somebody. I guess I maybe richer than you monetarily. So listen. Here is my recipe for success in business:
1) must build excellent relationship with BN. This is a fact maybe you don’t like. Support them during election. Then you can ask them for help when needed
2) sell daily essential items particularly food & drink that no matter rich or poor people must buy it. For me, I have opened 13 mini markets in KL, Selangor, and 3 in Singapore via a 20/25/25/30 joint venture with my friend in Singapore. I take the 20% share.
3) stock product with no cost involved such as consignment, 90 days credit terms, and most importantly must fight for returnable stocks. No risk involved.
4) use computer technology in your business. I use ERP system supplied from India (cheap and it works!). I just need to visit my corporate website in order to know the daily performance of my stores.
5) save enough fund to sustain 6 months expenditure for each store. My current financial level able to sustain my business up to 2.7 years without a single sen income.
Yang, don’t jealous ya. You can do it also provided you have to start your own business and support BN.
Just to share some info with you. We are no enemy even you always disagree with me
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So no wonder you always want to be a wannabe cos you still need that CRUTCHES. What a pity. We don`t need that but rely on our grit and hardwork to get where we are. Having some small business and yet still want to boast. Don`t even understand what sustaining and big business is. OH MY GOODNESS…….Why should I get jealous, anyway I do not like to boast. I know what i am. better off than you.
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Hi Anil,
Is it possible for The Penang Forum to spearhead a signature campaign of Penangites, online and/or otherwise, to petition and appeal to Boustead not to pursue its compensation claim from MPPP?
Afterall, I do agree fully with The Penang Forum that Boustead shouldn’t even have been granted permission by the previous Pg State Govt for its 12-storey project within the heritage enclave area!
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I will start boycotting BHP petrol station and its products and services. I will not step into BHP even when I have to push my car to the next petrol station
http://shiokguy.blogspot.com/2010/04/boycotting-boustead.html
Regards
Shiok Guy
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Hi, O, I am fine, TQ v mh !
For the past few days, I was monitoring my stocks, hoping to make more profits so that i can donate to PR comes the next GE.
Winning 5 states is not good enough, I want to see a government changed this time.
May God bless Malaysia before it sinks deeper. Amen !!!
By the way, so, those bunch of losers (you know who you are ya) have to eat your own words now – please, to save your own face, in the future, make some homework first before you bang bang on Lim Guan Eng. Buat malu saja !!!
So, Anil, you are convinced now, the culprit was the previous administration ya?
You actually did say something earlier like “… a self fulfilling prophecy.” Sort of blaming Lim Guan Eng for providing ideas for Boustead to sue…
Do you mean Boustead dont know they can sue till Guan Eng tell them so?
Anil, i feel that sometimes you are too quick to judge Guan Eng too.
p/s Did you all see that Ah Pek holding the cup used by najib and said that he will keep that cup forever. Because of that kind of mentality, our nation perish. Sigh sigh sigh !!!
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Anil, please allow this as it has to do with JUSTICE.
Did you guys read that Dr Pornthip is not allowed to come to testify because of pressure from the bodoh land…
Iron, I am really running out of stuff now as i really dont know what to say anymore.
Yang and O and those who have souls, can i leave this to you? TQ !
Hidup Pakatan Rakyat !!!
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Dr. Pornthip maybe unable to proof that 80% thing (LOL !!!), so the best thing she can do is to run away.
BERANI KERANA BENAR !!!
BERSEMBUNYI KERANA BERSALAH !!! (also applicable to RPK LOL !!!)
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Gerakan K,
Dr. Pornthip not coming is a shame to all Malaysians!
And do not benefit on someone’s misfortune! Just imagine how the family of TBH feels? Look at how Abhisit is doing in Bangkok?
Fed up only, to go to Bangkok next week!
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I wish you good luck in Bangkok. Why not delay this trip ??? Very dangerous there currently.
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Gerakan K,
Thanks bro! Bro, what is the meaning of “pore lum pha” which Iron Bakar Ikan mentioned?
Is he referring to the famous Szechuan bread noodles? He is very fond of spicy food, so I guess it must be it, am I right?
No wonder, he loves his Ikan Bakar so much, mixed with the lum pha noodles/bread, it will be great. I can fancy that.
Cheers bro!
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Ai yoh yoh, Gerakan K, you are a really very very naughty boy! You scared the hell out of me! I cannot sleep the whole of last night because of your scary tales! You see, I am already up at this hour, infact, I was up the whole night! Luckily, I can afford to start work at 1pm because of time difference of 4 hours!
Gerakan K, after reading your comments I started doing my research and I found it in Zorro’s blog! You please visit and see for yourself, is that what you had been talking? Next time please do not scare me with such news! Really pitiful. God, please Help the Good and punish the evils.
Bro, please confirm after visiting Zorro’s, is that what you had been telling me ok?
Cheers!
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Gerakan K,
You are just too blind to see the truth. Here again you are spewing lies after lies. All over the media, she has said she is under pressure not to testify. Nazri said she told lies at the inquest. Tell me what lies did she said. What she said is her intuition based on her experience and expertise. Do you call that lies. Ask yourself whether you have been telling lies or not when you said there are RM30,000 house being built now in Penang. And Anil is just being biased by deleting comments…. Anil we want the truth and the lies to be seen please……so that people can see the truth we comment to retort over the lies that are being posted..
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Who knows what facts lie behind the recent Pornthip announcements? The truth is a long way down the priority list when political parties and their friends are facing each other in court. What is the source of the alleged reason for Pornthip not attending the Inquest? If it was a Malaysian news agency, I wouldn’t believe if it they said 2+2=4. It’d be nice if we could read an interview with the Thai expert about her involvement in the TBH Inquest, but conducted by a foreign news agency.
Have you got her phone number Anil? I’d mostly believe an interview conducted by you with Pornthip, especially if it wasn’t about Penang mega-projects.
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shiokguy,
wanna initiate a national boycott?…
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For goodness sake! Why does it all have to come down to food with everyone here in Penang! I try not to get political because it just nose dives into a total mess-kids in a kindergarden make more sense!
State Government made a stand in this particular case. They used political will. For this they have to be congratulated. I would love for them to use more. Public health and environment has to be protected- MOVE SWIFT FARMING OUT OF GEORGE TOWN, ALL URBAN AND TOWN AREAS, COMPULSORY GREASETRAPS FOR A RESTO LICENSE! ETC.ETC. If the UNESCO listing has to be the reason for this then just do it- if that comes above public health and safety of the public and environment, use UNESCO!
In the end it’s all about political will and what they need to do for the public-long term. The State has to get better at using this will and the people have to start looking long term. Federal Government has to get off its high horse and Penang people must take responsibility and think more about the bigger picture of health, environment, and other people. Its not about just getting your own individual way- that’s not sustainable for anyone.
Corporations have to be more responsible, developers, hawkers, landlords, individuals have to take responsibility and put their money where their mouth is. Everyone needs to act and physically take time and effort to make the difference for everyone. This is the only way things can improve. The State has to do the same. They managed to ‘move’ a building. Please can State start thinking about health and environment!
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