Penang quit rent for residential areas will rise by 29–127%, so says a news report.
I am not surprised. Did you really think all those mega-projects, questionable land deals, easy reclamation rights (classified as freehold instead of leasehold) and lopsided deals, would not come at a price in the end? That it would not hurt your pockets in the long run?
We in Aliran are alarmed at today’s (28 August) rushed second reading and vote on the Government Procurement Bill 2025 in Parliament. This comes just three days before we celebrate National Day.
The 125-63 vote, which prompted opposition MPs to stage a walkout, represents a troubling departure from the reformist principles that some of those in government today once claimed to champion.
More and more people in Penang are demanding transparency as mega-projects advance without proper local plan oversight
This piece, published in Aliran, was written by Rebecca Duckett.
A statement from Aliran:
Aliran acknowledges that many judges of wisdom and integrity have served our country. Their contributions have shaped our legal landscape and fortified our constitutional values.
These judges have also expanded on those values to recognise new and essential civil rights to meet changing needs. These include the rights to education, to information and to privacy.
Imagine this: you are watching a political debate and one of the candidates has to spell out his own name because his rival cannot get it right.
“The name is Mamdani, M-A-M-D-A-N-I.” (This of course has been turned into a meme, complete with dance moves, that has swept across US social media.)
Check out this Rapid Penang mini-bus – instead of rushing to start the RM17bn elevated light rail project that risk turning into a loss-making venture.
Finally, it appears that China-Malaysia authorities are cracking down on the infamous MBI scheme. But what took them so long?
Fans of Kopitiam, the TV series around the turn of the century, may recall the wise and affable Uncle Chan bantering with his friends at a local coffeeshop.
The popular sitcom introduced Mano to the masses beyond audiences in Malaysian theatre halls, where he was already an established figure.
We welcome the government’s initiative to publish the “PetaRI” institutional reform roadmap.
This represents a positive first step towards transparent governance. It allows civil society to monitor progress and hold the administration accountable for any delays more effectively.
It is going to be an weekend to watch in the Klang Valley with several major events taking place.
Share your thoughts on these events and what they tell us about the direction the country is heading.