New malls, shopping complexes and condo projects could turn Penang Island into a concrete jungle before long. Take a peek at what the future holds for us.
Tan Seng Hai gives us a glimpse of what is in store in this presentation at Penang Forum 4. It is full steam ahead for mega property development in Penang.
It is not a comforting picture. Already the traffic in Pulau Tikus, Burma Road, Kelawei Road and Gurney Drive is horrendous during weekends and public holidays. Can you imagine the congestion once all these new property development projects come on-stream? Do you seriously think that spending RM8bn on a tunnel and three highways will solve the problem?
Penang has more motor vehicles (cars and motorbikes) than people. The solution is to improve public transport infrastructure first.
The draft Penang Island Local Plan allows higher density property development only in areas that are considered public transport nodes. But sadly, there seems to be little urgency in speeding up the process of implementing the Local Plan.
In the meantime, developers are going for the highest density possible.
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Anil, It is not that I am totally disillusioned with the LGE’s admin, but also with the Penang NGOs who used to be so vocal and active in the past. So are seeing destruction of Penang’s timeless heritage, environment and culture at an unprecedented scale yet none of our NGOs have done anything about it. I remember how these NGOs used to oppose PGCC and other useless mega projects under Gerakan. But now the destruction is gone several levels more serious. What our NGOs do ? They go and see the CM with their tails under between their legs and… Read more »
Agreed that Penang NGOs appear to be selective in voicing their ideals.
I was at Komtar atrium 2 days ago where there is now a showcase for Penang Botanic Plan which welcomes suggestions, opinions etc. Today i saw the opinion box is still empty without constructive comments.
Sorrylah! Too busy indulging in my beer/alcohol drinking seasons with my mabok kakis. Anyway my too constructive criticisms are not welcome by all especially the local NGOs. What a good lame excuse for being lazy and nonconstructive. Forget about the Botanical Garden, me and my buddies are going to plant 4000 Paulownia trees in a 4 acres of land at Balik Pulau. The seedlings have been quite successful. We are going to create our own parks exclusive for same minded private members with the world most fast growing trees. The trees are now in Bangsar waiting to be transport back… Read more »
4 acres of land at Balik Pulau ?
Leased from Penang Gomen ?
i think Ah Soon quite smart as he can sue and countersue the authorities (gelakan or rocket) and get millions in return out of such land issue ?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cZfxdvrNxI&w=300
Suggest MPSP Plant Nursery now contact Eu Soon to import and plant such fast growing plants around Penang.
Carnavon Street more lively (not Keranda Street) now with the planted trees at road divider and so why not at other streets ???
Sorry! Private land!
Next Han Chiang rally, I will be at my father-in-law’s house to soothe his bruised BN ego. And scratch his back with gelak-gelakan stories minus the ostrich. At least, I can patch up with him beneficial to our already strained relationship. What did I (or we) get for the last 308 rally? We Kiam Siap Kui Penangites did’t shout our throats out for nothing. Shaking hands with LGE that night was the last thing I am proud of in my entire life of achievements. Braving with Special Branch at our backs was devil-may-care. The truth is, LGE doesn’t understand (deeply)… Read more »
Unfortunately your opinion does not reflect the mentality of the Gen Y Penangites who are not kiam siap to upgrade to the latest gadgets like Iphone and Ipad, and willingly pay RM10 to sip Starbucks coffee after dining at Kim Gary restaurant. They are willing to spend to enjoy the instant gratification.
Anyway, thanks to your feedback on Penang food.
Penangites should talk more about food that they could savour with joy, not those property talk that frustrates them.
Therein lies the reasons to some social woes in our midst: roadside snatching / robberies / muggings, prostituting, 4-D gambling, drug escapism (pay a visit to pubs, discotheques, house parties to see for yourself), illegal CD trades, smuggling, Ah Longs (some are in their 20’s), cross border money laundering, online gambling, China dragon dolls trafficking, the list goes on. In the 60’s and 70’s it used to be those like Botak Chin that dared cross the legal limits. And marketers don’t care a damn as long as lifestyle products / services get sold. This younger generations (X,Y,Z) will be credit… Read more »
Time they r changing ! Bob Dylan knew it even in the 60’s.
Penang has evolved with younger generations born in mid 80s onwards discarding their parental ‘kiamsiap” mentality in line with mall and cineplex n gadgets cultures.
May be a yesteryears penang indulgences as described by tunglang vividly should be preserved/documented/showcased in a living museum (suggest the abandoned The Majestic cinema can be refurbished for that). What say you readers ?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GY8G8_qyO-E&feature=related&w=350
HoChiak!, it is ok and in fact very good for the country if the new generation is able to spend. It would be great if young people today can have high purchasing power. The problem is youngsters today spend what they don’t have. Even if they have, they spend what they cannot afford. Either that or they spend their parents hard earned money. They do not save anything for their future. They take up heavy loans and credit card debts and have to repay it throughout their life. Just look at 16 year old kids sipping starbucks while their parents… Read more »
If you will, learn from the Jewish way of money management. Their financial skills are developed since childhood, since day one of birth. And it is more than the individual but extensive in social context in the extended family support. The Torah of thousand years money management is still relevant today. Looking at today’s youngster (not working yet) taste for branded hair styling & treatment (dying, straightening), expensive dining (Soul’s Garden, Kimmy Garry), lastest gadgets like iPhone & iPads (1yr social status cycle) and MyVi (for speed & left over-taking Kia Su), the marketing savvy like property gurus must surely… Read more »
Like it or not, the old kiam siap generation cannot come to terms with the free-spending Y-Generation.
Anson has opened up the reality to tunglang.
My advice to Kiam Siap Generation is that they should not be too hard with themselves. They should pamper themselves in their twilight years with good food and entertainment. No point giving away all your assets to your children, beyond providing them a good education (no cheap anyway).
To spend away all the hard-savings as if there’s no tomorrow, do you think the younger generation will guarantee to take care of penniless old folks?
His/her MyVi will share priority space in the house than the fragile old folks of caring inconvenience and no privacy!
See for yourself how many old folks caring homes have mushroomed in Penang Island alone. Not cheap though! The Chinese are the worst culprits.
At least in Belum, my Malay neighbors will share life’s simplicity with caring neighborly hearts.
Spending Wisdom, Saving None!
Dear Lok, I’m not sure of your age or background but let me tell you that if not for the previous generation who worked hard and saved hard, majority of their children would not be in the reasonably comfortable position they are in now. A few of us may have well to do parents who could afford to educate their kids and still have left over to spend. But most don’t and have to even mortgage their house to feed and send their kid to uni. They could have not been kiam siap and spent everything on themselves but they… Read more »
If the majority of the young generation is kiam siap, then the shops and eateries at all the shopping mall in penang will close shop! Bad for economy. Anyway, little incentive to save as the bank interest is so low nowadays. Remember the good times when the fixed deposit rate was 10%? So the young people are smart to spend and enjoy themselves while the inflation is devaluing their money – something the kiam siap generation has failed to realise. So the kiam siap generation should indulge now with their savings (e.g. go for overseas holiday to see the world),… Read more »
On average monthly, I can receive unsolicited sales call for:
credit card debt restructuring offer
credit card balance transfer
new credit card offer or switch card
What is happening? What does that mean? Is it not telling something?
In the early 90’s these were not so rampant. And the most one will default on average may be a few thousand ringgit.
Now, to have as many credit cards as your fingers counted is no big deal!
Can sleep and dream meh?
The American Dream (or Nightmare) of Credit Spending Spree Is Already Here.
Need to stay in Elm Street anymore?
When there is no real consumer (absolute spending power) money for circulating, to live on credit is Hara-Kiri.
The theory of consumer spending to churn the slack economy is not a total, final solution. Example are Korea and US.
The big corporations of consumerism addiction will want you to believe so, in hearts, mind and surreal-deep pockets.
Nightmare on Elm Street is one of my favourite movie.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Adgp0v_mfTk&w=150
Freddy Kruger 2012 is now the Credit Card Master …. now can you go to sleep in peace with all the borrowings ?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Adgp0v_mfTk&w=150
Like I said no harm spending all you want. In fact it is good. As long as you can earn enough. Most youngsters today earn 3k a month but spend 4k. Worst still they spend not on investments but on liabilities like cars etc. End up accumulating debt. If you can earn 30k a month, go ahead and live a 30k a month lifestyle. Well done for you. But if you are earning 3k, don’t buy a mercedes, live in 5 star hotel and drink starbucks everyday. Invest your spare cash and with work and luck hopefully u will do… Read more »
Hi Anil, it’s me again. Perhaps one way of providing clarity to the question is to define what we mean by “over-developed”. Are we talking about too much buildings ?, too many roads ?, too many people ? too much concrete ?. Too much people is something that we can do little about. Penang island population will continue to grow bcos (i) natural growth circa 2%; and (ii) the pull factors are stronger than the push factors. I do not expect the population to plateau anytime soon – maybe only in the next 40 – 50 years. So we will… Read more »
Agree with what you say. And yes, the problem is we are allowing higher density property development without the public transport infrastructure to match.
Are we allowing higher density development at rich man’s price? How many can afford? It’s too easy to say uproot when other state’s denizens are coming here to cari-makan.
It’s like saying to your kids: Go to MacDonald’s 24Hr for your daily morning breakfast.
Kulim and Sungai Petani remains a good option for those who are angry and upset with Penang development.
Penang Fed-Up Network in the making?
It’s time to help ourselves rather than hope at the 308 wishing well of CHANGE. Saving a coin (than drop in this well) for more pressing living issues than pretending all’s well and affordable with a wildebeest herd mentality in super expensive global Cosmopolitan Penang.
Too much property talk is detrimental to the health of Penangites.
Please talk more of hawker food in Penang.
tunglang,
kindly advise me on my question to you on top of this page.
Looks like next Hang Chiang Rally the crowd will be minus one ex-die hard fan for tunglang now seems disillusioned with LGE’s policies.
It appears to many that tunglang may be clasiified s “Tan Tee Beng” syndrome – hanging on miserably alone not on BN or PR platform.
Dnn’t be disillusioned. tunglang’s misery can be undone by focusing more on positive energy vibes like mouth watering street food rather than the “over-development” matter.
Anil
Not sure Penang Plan for the future does take into accoutn a proper hub for public buses ? The only proper hub is only at Jetty & Komtar. The rest like at Air Itam is by the roadside causing traffic jam !
Gerakan has failed to allocate land for public transport hubs in the earlier Masterplan ! Pakatan may have to resort to underground hub since now ope area land is so scarce ?
What public transport? Just look at KL. Who are those taking Putra, Star and Monorail? 90% are lower income w/o any means of transport and have to depend on the public transport. Even with traffic jams, those middle and upper class still want to sit in the aircond cars and show off their means.
Public transport in Malaysia are only for the poor ones unlike Sinkapore or HK
Why the better off willing to use public transport in KL and Singapore? Therein lies the answer.
because of such typical mindset that public transports are only for the poor (looks like car marketing folks have been successful in transforming the mentality of penangites to MUST HAVE cars to show you have ‘class’ ?); most people will always be trapped in poverty with borrowing to satisfy egos while Ah Longs & Banks are flourishing !
Bank door lickers never learn the lesson of excessive borrowings. From cars, to homes, to hifi sets, to iPads, to candle light dinners (Valentine’s coming!) to even extra cash for Dragon Chinese New Year extravaganza. And zero deposit for new car is more tempting than Adam & Eve’s Apple.
I don’t foresee overcrowding issue in Penang, more brain drains will take place. It will be a surprise to you, when the traffic in Penang might even become better. The reason is the diverse and wide spread development that took place in the past few years. The real issue is unoccupied and under-maintenance high rise buildings sprout up every where, yet Penangites still face the problem of affordable housing. All those properties that have been sold are mainly for speculation not for housing. So even with high density it will hardly caused a problem to the traffic. Only places with… Read more »
Currency from hell may be a good and cheapo election money for brainless gomen and Aduns this coming election campaign. At least they know the exchange value in times of real needs like housing and not necessary in times of ghost voting.
Unless of course the GE13 be held during Hungry Ghost Month.
I don’t think DAP cares much about keeping Penang green. They have shown their true capitalist colors. It shouldn’t be bad but it seems like, they’re greenlighting these malls, housingproejcts…seriously…why more malls? the spending power is the same regardless, it will not be good for business as fr housing projects..the common penangite won’t be able to afford it. I’m starting to get seriously disillusioned… They’ve blamed the federal gov. in the past for hindering certain progressive moves (like cleaning up Batu Ferringhi) but this is just stupid. I’m a windsurfing/sailing instructor (a REAL watersports instuctor) it seriously doesn’t seem like… Read more »
You and I are in the same trench of the ‘outcast’ of Global Metropolitan Penang in the making. Our voices of discontentment are minuscule compared to money spitting orifices of loud mouthed developers. Soon the precious little beach on which you access for your daily windsurfing will be off-limit and privatized. Only the rich and famous will have these private leisures and dizzy beach partying of richie lifestyle. We vote for CHANGE. But what we are getting or bluntly, a slap in the face, so to speak is “CHENG”. “CHENG” means chase out, evict indirectly thro’ economic and financial dire… Read more »
Don’t worry, come election with money pouring rains, places like Batu Uban, Pantai Jerejak, Sungai Nibong can easily swing over to Barang Naik. All thanks to Heng Ong Huat’s money handout precedent. Kind of stupid isn’t it?
Rocket Chance doesn’t seem to want to learn humbly from Penangites. Like the saying goes: Customers are King. Don’t offend!
It’s Achilles Heel is housing development gone wrong. This may be the ‘pain’ issue to CHANGE BACK perception by Barang Naiki in the coming GE13. Can’t afford to be brainless, Rocket.
To please profiteering developers (how many) and greed-inspired opportunists or to win back sincere hearts of Penangites (how many)?
Your’s to decide wisely, or we can firmly decide for you with our brains and hearts.
Long ago I already wrote a nasty piece accusing the Heng Ong Huat administration of fast tracking Penang island into a big ghetto. But with the zeal to get rid of BN, what can you do or expect?
I see what you mean. But people, not just in Penang but Malaysia have no choice but to choose between the devil and the deep blue sea. Both are bad, it would be a miracle if you could find a 100% clean, honest, hardworking, selfless and good politician. If they were that good, chances are they won’t be politicians in the first place. But ppl don’t have a choice. They must vote for someone right? So people just pick the lesser of the two evils. And if both parties are equally evil or bad, then they switch ruling parties every… Read more »
You may be right about voting for the lesser evil, but how many of you have another 50 years to get rid of another bad politicians.
50 years is a long, long time to learn from other’s blady mistakes. Even a child can learn some sensible things in 17 yrs of education (excluding kindy).
When money talks louder, nothing sensible sinks in the cash-supreme head! Even Hee Frogs can sing “Chai Shen Dao” in Perak, so what’s the big deal of 2 evils!
Just cast them … back to the deep blue longkang.
The Bolehlanders took 50 years to realise that BN is bad, do you sincerely believe that they will not take another 50 years to realise that Heng Ong Huat is bad?
I believed Heng Ong Huat would be around by next GE
Anil,
With Heng Ong Huat what do you expect? You can continue to vote for this state government in order to get rid of BN. End of the days are you going to spend another 50 years to get rid of another stupid government which will do all the bad things willingly without bribery?
Ong, you really talk some sense. But many who gleefully ousted the Barang Naiki Syndrome are still in ‘Rocket High’ not knowing when to bring the senses back to ground of realities and back to business. Some sense means knowing what is right, practical and applicable for the living standard and financial capabilities/earning power and economic opportunities (what else except property development but for cheapo foreign workers) of Penangites. We don’t vote just (only) for getting rid of Gutless Ostriches, Gravy Trains Riders, Back Scratchers, Kotor, Napoleans and Brain Dead Politicians (brain dead to brain drain realities) in Penang. Unless… Read more »
Ong: End of the days are you going to spend another 50 years to get rid of another stupid government which will do all the bad things willingly without bribery?
What a depressing way of living one’s precious life for a ‘Ridsect’ purpose such as this! Not everyone has 150 year span to live to right the wrongs.
If cannot ‘Kau Tim’ this one good purpose, I would rather spend my remaining life for other more meaningful pursuit of life and hopefully live longer.
You have only ONE life chance. Why waste it on snake-oil politicians.
Good say. I think come next election, I better plan an oversea vacation let both PR and BN kill each other without my intervention. No eyes to see! I should comment less frequent in Anil’s blog to make Anil and all those sycophant supporters of HOH less worry about my constant nagging on Heng Ong Huat ‘s incompetency.
For once I start to change my mind, may be I should vote for corrupt politicians at least things won’t move so fast. Pay a price to do bad thing or free for all to do anything bad is what you should seriously think when you still decide to cast a vote in the next election.
It seems you all have better vision, ideas and solutions. Why still whinging? Go and form a poltical party and stand for election. Make your PROPOSALS and SOLUTIONS known. Otherwise just Ah Jee and Ah Jo here and there. To lesser extent – form a NGO and make changes. So sad, just whinge and whinge.
Tai Chek Kong Boh Yong! (Talk with hot breath, no effect)
GE13 Wa Lang Kong! (Comes GE13 our votes do the talking)
Boh Bak Chiu Khua! (No Eyes See Loh!)
I totally agree that Penang is definitely over develope. It is high time that LGE stop all high rise bulidings that does not benefit the people. Penangites need more greens around the island and not concrete jungles. I am not against developments but not over develope. I just hate to go back to Penenag during any public holidays. Frankly, do the people in Penang needs so many high rise buildings? LGE please come up with something so that Penangites will again breath freely and not choke to death. I support DAP and have no reason to go against it but… Read more »
…but sometime it does good to let the leaders know what the people want.
And NOT what the greedy developers desire behind closed door negotiation at Komtar.
Leadership who is firm and for the people will last longer.
The twist and turn one will never ever see the end of the day.
The Penang’s Serengeti Property Chase & Ambush has begun! … Speculators & Dizzy Buyers = The Wildebeests (‘shui’ (water=money) not enough) Forever Hungry & Greedy Developers = The Lions (ever ready behind the ‘concrete’ bushes & green glass for ambushes) Profiteering & Underwater (Subprime) Mortgage ‘Kau Tim’ O’Blady Banks = The Crocodiles (with lots of croc’ tears) … Property Gurus = The Cheetahs (fast changing spots for colorful property forecast) … Property Agents = The Hyenas (always everyday’s good-to-book laughter) Lovesick-Default Letter Writing Property Lawyers = The “Oloiboni” Maasai Witch Doctors (loan experts in do’s & don’ts ‘mumble-spelled’ in x-small… Read more »
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUlbu_i7uMo&w=400
wilderbeasts can symbolize those wannabe chasing “class status” with borrowed money for flashy cars & expensive condos; which without proper financial planning can eventually be swallowed alive by the awaiting Crocs (representing the Banks, Ah Long etc).
Many times the Nature tells us good lessons.
B’cos of Cosmopolitan Standard mah!
Pocket Khang-Khang, Bing Chui Tua Khang!
(no money, yet overtly status conscious)
It truly befuddles the minds of ordinary Penangites faced with ‘No Money, No Talk’ policy.
for non-Hua Hee Dai folks :
Pocket Khang-Khang, Bing Chui Tua Khang literally translated as pocket empty empty, face water big hole.
In Bahasa means duit tak ada tapi gaya mesti ada !
Courthouse Mammoth Elephant rich & famous slogan:
Gaya-raya sampai pok-khai!
Hi Anil, you are a strange fellow. You keep posting stuff about how congested Penang is becoming. Of course, Penang will become crowded. Business is good and that attracts people. Coupled with the natural population growth, it is quite logical to expect the number of people in Penang to keep increasing. Population increase will put pressure on the housing and land – hence land and house prices will go up. Pretty normal stuff. Perhaps you may want to suggest ways to keep Penang less crowded yet keep the business booming and families having children. Of course, improving public transport is… Read more »
I am talking about the perils of putting in place higher building density without the public transport infrastructure to support it.
The draft Penang Local Plan envisages higher density only at transport nodes. But do we have such nodes and where are they?
Overcrowded or brain drain? Make up your mind.
Congestion is related to poor planning and inadequate public transport.
Brain drain due to other factors.
Dear Sunny Ooi, I think brain drain and overcrowding are not always the opposite outcomes of the same issue. Brain drain occurs when talent is lost due to migration etc. That is what is happening now. Trained and highly skilled professionals are leaving the country. Many make a name for themselves abroad. Overcrowding can occur without brain gain. By bringing in 2 million labourers from our neighbours, there is overcrowding but no brain gain. In fact, that accelerates brain drain by keeping wages low, creating security concerns and safety issue.
That explains why u guys complain about property prices going up then. All these brainless imports have money!
Low wages (increasingly in many jobs), increase in crimes, crowding, proxy voting, corruption of local street food. What obvious benefit for the masses except for greed-motivated employers, cell phone companies and mini market owners.
What a ‘great’ brainless way to global cosmopolitan Penang.
Yes Monyet King, population growth is inevitable but population densities can be managed in a more sustainable, practical and systematic manner. Business and the economy is not solely dependent on density. Switzerland has a lower density than Penang but yet has one of the highest GDP per capita and average income. They are able to also have families and children in a far more comfortable surrounding. Their industries make high-tech products and provide a lot of knowledge based jobs. On the other hand if you want to aim for high densities, singapore is a good example of how the environment… Read more »
What the present state gomen’s doing will be more dire than the abolishment of Rent Control Act by Gelakan Ostrich-Matriach (BLH) leading to many ‘extinction’ of cultural icons, heritage assets, local lifestyle of authentic George Town, neighborliness in diversity and affordable living. What’s the point of achieving UNESCO Heritage Site status when the intrinsic values of its heritage assets are becoming more fake, polluted with imports of rich and famous cultural values/assets and for exhibition show? Dare we call it LIVING heritage? UNESCO experts and well travelled tourists are no fools when it comes to authenticity of heritage whether in… Read more »
Kevin, if you or anyone else is interested in understanding cities, densities and their economic impacts better, I highly recommend reading “The Triumph of Cities” by Edward Glaeser. A very good book about how cities function.
Yes its very shocking. The other day I was looking at the Google Map of Penang island, satellite and I notice that slightly less than half of Penang Island are still green.Yes it will soon become a concrete island unless the state government start the urban renewal projects like Singapore whereby old buildings are being torn down to build new one
Yang, it will be more shocking if you drive round the island to see things up close, personal and depressing.
Depressing to those in heaven as well as to those down on earth.
Greed knows no end, not even in unlimited space (moon mining next on the agenda of men).
SPice project
A project aimed at changing the demographic of the Penang island. I can see where this heads to. Another Singapore in the making. And sadly most of the … leaders still keeping mumps over this matter. I hope we won’t lost another island of ours …
ATM please monitor the development there in Penang.
Who is going to pay for the cost of sewerage and sanitizing cost . And also the drainage planning, all Malaysia developer love to wash hands on the flood opportunity cost . Thanks to mahathirism , all this opportunities cost always bare by the people and tons of tax payer money.
Thanks Anil, for highlighting this! This is such pressing issue. Why is there so much emphasis on development and cars? As a young Penangite studying music performance and research it is almost impossible for me to find a job in Penang. CM Lim Guan Eng needs to focus more on improving the cultural & social life of Penang, not just the economic one. I’ve been to Straits Quay and it’s a joke- it’s practically a Singapore wannabe with little or no patrons, (at the expense of the Tg. Tokong community, of course). There needs to be a stronger emphasis on… Read more »
Sorry to hear about your predicament, Adil. Yes, I agree a lot of the new development seems superficial with little depth. And to hang out at these places, chances are you need to spend quite a bit of money – probably out of the reach of the bottom half of the population. I had a chat with a 19-year-old from mainland Penang this evening. He is going to Australia next week to study accounting. I asked him if he would be coming back after graduating. He says, no, he is planning to apply for PR status there and would only… Read more »
Adil, if you want to stay true-blue Anak Pulau Pinang and live in this land (island) for any longer, you better be rich, famous or wealthy. Even without a job, can live off your wealth in soon to be super expensive global cosmopolitan Penang (Island). Many young talents without jobs and money in the bank accounts will only dream of even a decent lifestyle. ‘Filthy’ rich is the antonym, not an option. Economic ‘forces’ will ‘shoo’ off these talents. The future populace of Penang Island will be mostly rich, famous and wealthy retiree Penangites (mostly from Singland because they will… Read more »
Young n bright penangites go and find lucrative jobs in Spore, Australia or even China. Make money legally there. Be thrifty and save up. In 10-15 years time come back and wallop Penang Island properties.
Locals who can’t afford to find jobs elsewhere, then learn the trade of preparing delicious food. Smart (not all) Penang hawkers are among the riches who may not necesaarily show off their wealth in the public.
If you are not the above, then voice your displeasure thru Voting or Speak Ouy loud with action at Esplanade every Sunday.
Get LGE & Rocket Team to attend Speakers Square every Sunday. Front seat row will be reserved for them. With umbrellas for shielding from all sorts of anger thrown at them!
Also get MPPP to clean up the mess afterwards. Working on Sunday is good for their bellies.
Concrete Penang has not been widely talked at Speakers Corner at Esplanade.
For those who want to be at Speakers Corner, check out that Uncle Lim. He speaks very passionately from the heart.
May be Anil can do a profile on Uncle Lim who is always ther 5pm every Sunday rain or shine.
No need to go to Belum la…dude..just go to Balik Pulau
In addition many places in Mainland Penang State are still affordable. Imagine all the brave and creative Penangites from those with minimum gerantied salary to the very rich can live responsibly in a city with great history and heritage sites, best tram, MRT, best road, tunnel, best low cost house, condo etc, then this will be a blessing from GOD! Amen!
Get rid of greed in our midst before we can ever dream of Utopia!
Greed & ego destroyed mankind since the days of first man & woman on earth. And we still don’t learn. This applies to everyone, from leaders, to businessmen to individuals.
Covetousness is forbidden in the 10 Commandments.
You cannot force others not to be greedy! But God allow you yourself to achieve Utopia or Buddhahood by learning and regular fellowship with His Good People! The Methodist Christian learn Salvation through fellowship in Churches every Sunday. Likewise Good Muslim will be with God be attending moderate Mosque every Friday. Remember Age is only a small factor when you learn to Comunicate with God! Amen!
Greed that causes hardship to others is one big difference from greed for betterment of the self. And such greed breeds other problems. Think.
Two years later and the situation has in fact gotten worse… More malls, more million-ringgit houses, more million-ringgit apartments which are half-empty because the fat-cats from abroad who got Fed-Reserve hot-money (conjured out of thin-air) are buying up property in Penang – speculation which in turn leads to even higher prices. Remember having a house on the ground in Penang? Climbing trees, falling down, finding crickets, and then running in when in got dark… A distant world now if you’re socio-economic standing is lower than middle-class. And the communities living in the kampungs in Penang now constantly fear that where… Read more »
Gelakan should put up ad on maintream Tv to show their development masterpiece at PISA i.e the water fountain that cannot function etc.
Fortunately this “legacy” of leaning (toward destruction) PISA will soon be replaced by sPICE gardens for people to enjoy leisure activities
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0r5SouK1BGs&w=400
Penang island overdeveloped with expensive condos without equal attention to public amenities like proper walkway (to encourage more to exercise under more shady trees); efficient public transport (LRT just a dream ); public garden landscape to neutralize the concrete impact etc. Penang actually encourages entrepreneurial spirits. May I suggest don’t waste money for higher expensive education that does not guarantee jobs in Penang (likes Arts, etc). Be bold to see the loopholes opportunities to become rich Penangites to afford ever incresing cost of livings. Hey, many earlier batch Penangites (eg Loh Boon Siew) came from China pennyless yet can make… Read more »
Woah there so you’re suggesting that the gov. stop students from majoring in the arts or anything they would like to pursue and only offer them business degrees. there is something extremely backwards about that suggestion..and you’re straying from the subject. the main issue here is overdevelopment. i saw the pdf file via penangforum and it made me quite uneasy. whereas the idea is nice but how can these projects benefit penangites? our roads are still SMALL and are incapable of handling more cars. basic infrastructure issues should be the focus here..not developing more malls. maybe a monorail isn’t such… Read more »
so you’re suggesting that the gov. stop students from majoring in the arts or anything they would like to pursue and only offer them business degrees. Highly regarded Cari-Makan degrees in Penang: 1) Designer Structural (Concrete, Steel, Alum. & Infiniti Pool + Landscaping) Engineering 2) Tunneling & Exploding Engineering 3) Green Glass Suffocating Engineering 4) Property Marketing & +ve Forecasting Pro-Course 5) Property Canvassing & Laughter Pro-Course 6) Lovesick-Default Letter Writing Legal Course 7) Underwater (Subprime) Mortgage Pro-Course And what about rainy green-horned speculating? No problema! Borrow as much as you can from Ah Longs (the law protects the borrowers… Read more »
tunglang
What’s your verdict on these Penang hawkers that are featured in Axian Food Adventure (Astro AEC) this week:
1) 888 Hokkien Mee
2) Loh Bak at Carnavon Street
If your verdict is good, I do not mind driving to Penang to sample them. 2nd opinion from you no disrespect to Axian.
ps: Street food talks evoke good feeling. Property talk makes Penangites angry.
Anson There are so many aspiring Ori-Maestro Hokkien Mee in Penang nowadays. Sometimes I find it hard to pinpoint the best of the best after savoring them and tidy up my sweating face and thicken eye brows with “Good Morning” Mini China towel. You will only find out after the great thirst for Eskimo spring water after the Hokkien Mee binge; some of these Hokkien Mee are loaded with Ajinomoto for the so-called fleeting illusion of great prawn taste. My recent unforgettable Hokkien Mee last Saturday was at this corner heritage kopitiam at junction of Lebuh Carnarvon & Jalan Cheong… Read more »
I heard from an old timer Hockkien Mee that 888 Hokkien Mee is only so so. With big prawns and liao, Axian must have been ‘fooled’ by such show piece toppings. It’s like comparing Bruce Lee & Jacky Chan!
Real Penang Hokkien Mee gastronomy lies in the prawn soup without which it is just another salty soup with Ajinomoto. And real soup stays on the lips for hours without the thirst (caused by Ajinomoto)!
sense plenty of frustrations brewing in penang based on the comments. if we dwelve deeper the root cause id the widening genie coefficient not just in penang island (nation-wide). the money earned by most malaysians cannot cope with escalating cost of livings. if we have higher disposable income (eg stronger ringgits) then we may not lament about over developments because we can always afford to take ferry to langkawi for example to get away from hectic phase of life in penang just an illustration. anyway, i live in bayan Lepas and quite satisfied we have recreational spaces in Relau Metrolitan… Read more »
Speaking of rising Gini coefficient and housing, look what’s happening in Hong Kong:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2084971/Hong-Kongs-cage-homes-Tens-thousands-living-6ft-2ft-rabbit-hutches.html#ixzz1j9wu7ZnP
The 1st wave of cage-home people will be the foreign immigrants and other states’ denizens too ‘poor’ to afford decent housing or rental.
The 2nd wave will be the ‘poor’ Penangites still holding on to a dream of 308 Manifesto and a decent cari-makan at all cost even to be self treated to an animal lifestyle of cages.
Anil,
One thing you gotta know… Penang’s rent vs. purchase ratio is heavily skewed. A apartment going for RM300k can be rented for only RM800, Rentals are actually going down due to the large supply of newly finished apartments and condos.
Be prepared for the bubble.
Yes, and there is an oversupply of higher end residential properties in certain areas.
Some speculators don’t believe or cry out loud they will eventually have to rent out to Banglas or Vietnamese!
And their beautifully decorated hall will be mobile kitchen for these Banglas!
Somehow this malfunction fountain is not featured on Gelakan TV ad on 8TV (during chinese shows).
overdevelped ? just look at the public amenities around penang island. The pedestrian walkways are not even and in poor condition (sub sub contract work), the drains are not being cleared of weeds & rubbishes, the metal railings and sinkholes covers were stolen not replaced etc.
also look at non-functioning PISA water fountains ? A disgrace to visiting tourists or FTZ expatriates.
need to say more ?
Do not blame the traffic congestion on condo development. It was Tun M that has killed public transportation with Proton.
If I am not mistaken, there are less Protons than there are other more expensive marque of Mini, Vios, MyVi, Hyundai and X-Trail (in Penang Island).
Proton is not solely to blame (give Tun M a good rest). Without Proton on the road, there will still be many lifestyle cars.
Call it easy financing @ minimal to zero down payment.
Call it Kia Su materialistic flaunting just like iPads @ Starry Eyed Bucks.
And in the near future, call it The Underwater Tunnel.
Guess who’s the real culprits.
Is there a holistic solution to the worsening Penang Traffic Jam with the rising development ?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwMO0Lm94pY&w=300
To make Proton a viable business, public transportation is not a BN priority so that people are force to own cars. That’s what I mean.