Bridge Express Shuttle Transit (Best)

 Public transport  9 Responses »
Oct 252010
 

Rapid Penang is working together with the Penang state government to implement its proposal for a shuttle bus service across the Penang Bridge from the mainland to the island during peak hours.

If the connections are done right with seamless ticketing, the plan could be a major boost for public transport in Penang and usher in a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system for the state. It would also be a fine example of federal-state cooperation – though I maintain that Rapid Penang, like all other transport modes in the state, should eventually come under the state government’s purview (in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity that local affairs are best planned and implemented locally). Continue reading »

Penang to table FOI Bill next week

 Accountability, Democracy  8 Responses »
Oct 182010
 

Penang is to follow Selangor and introduce a Freedom of Information Act.

The Bill will be tabled in the Penang State Assembly next week. This was announced by the Penang Chief Minister at a DAP fund-raising dinner tonight, according to a tweet by Lim Kit Siang.

Deputy CM Ramasamy headed the committee that drafted the Bill.

This move is to be welcomed, of course – but we should hold back on the standing ovation until we examine the contents of the Bill. Continue reading »

Higher density for Penang projects?

 Development issues, Malaysian finance/business  39 Responses »
Oct 052010
 

Alarm bells have started ringing over the premature talk of higher densities for property development on Penang Island.

Present-day coat of arms of the Municipal Coun...

Image via Wikipedia

Penang property developers must be grinning like Cheshire cats after reading a news report which said that the Penang Municipal Council has revised the plot ratio guidelines for high-rise properties in commercial and tourism areas on the island. This would allow the developers to build 122,000 sq ft per acre (i.e. up to 87 units) compared with 42,000 sq ft previously. See The Star report here. Notice also the low, low quota for medium-cost apartments. (How come no one talks about low-income housing?)

But hold your horses a sec. Continue reading »

Penang Bridge after 2018

 Public transport  8 Responses »
Sep 272010
 

Penang Bridge Sdn Bhd has a 25-year concession to operate and maintain the Penang Bridge which expires on 31 May 2018. What happens next?

It is important for the bridge to be returned to the Penang government after that – or even earlier if possible – as part of an overall restructuring of transport in Penang, in line with the principle of subsidiarity (local affairs managed by local government).

PBSB now comes under UEM Group Bhd, which is wholly owned by the Finance Ministry’s Khazanah. PBSB has probably collected many times the original RM800 million cost of the bridge. Continue reading »

Play your part in Local Plan process

 Democracy, Development issues  5 Responses »
Sep 242010
 

Remember how 8 March 2008 was seen as a watershed of sorts and people were said to be feeling more empowered after that? Now’s the real test. The Penang Local Plan will soon be put on public display for public comments.

The plan will show the detailed conditions for land use, planning and development in microscopic detail. This means you will be able to tell precisely what is allowed and not allowed in your neighbourhood.

But for the process to work, you need to take a good look at the draft when it is displayed and then submit your objections or views to the local government. Little point complaining later. So look out for the display soon. Continue reading »

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