Calling all Penangites, researchers, policymakers and community leaders. Come and share your opinions and ideas for a better, more liveable Penang.
This is your chance to be part of an open dialogue on the issues that matter most — from the environment and development to transport, heritage and housing.
A piece I originally uploaded here on 5 July 2025 – still relevant.
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.)
Aliran is gravely concerned by the US-Malaysia trade agreement, signed on 26 October, which the White House has labelled “reciprocal”.
In our assessment, the terms appear lopsided and raise serious concerns about their impact on Malaysia’s national interests, economic sovereignty and strategic autonomy.
The state has a great opportunity to do something for the people. But will it? Or will it pander to developers’ interests?
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.
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?