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.
Local residents are stakeholders in the development of Penang. Yet Penang Island has no gazetted local plan.
Development projects receive approval without transparency or accountability despite the public’s right to engage in future plans within their own neighbourhoods.
Transparency and public participation, as required in any local plan, is crucial to the democratic process to ensure transparency and accountability by the authorities. Read the full article on the Aliran website.
Do you agree? Is it a serious problem? Share your thoughts below.
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How Malaysians are growing old and going broke:
https://youtube.com/watch?v=gcb7GgaJeTY
Malaysia needs reforms as increasing lifespan and shrinking tax base threaten sustainability of current pension scheme.
Mobility is limited with age. So public places must have proper and safe walkways preferably with handrails to aid the elderly people. Encourage people to walk more especially the last km connectivity to combat obesity and also traffic congestion.
Is it too late to defuse the ‘ticking time bomb’ of Malaysia’s fast-ageing population?
Caregivers lacking respite and support, seniors who need more age-friendly infrastructure and financial security – will Malaysia’s upcoming white paper to tackle an ageing nation rise to the challenges?
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/malaysia-ageing-population-white-paper-elderly-retirement-nursing-home-epf-4989341
Many adopt YOLO attitude spending to enjoy today with no plan for the future. Next time hoping for MyKasih to survive?
As of 31 July, 2.85 million of the 7.44 million Employees Provident Fund (EPF) members aged 18 to 55 have met the “basic savings amount”, said Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan
This represents 38.3% of all members in that age group, mark an improvement from 30.4% in December 2022, following various COVID-19-related EPF special withdrawals.
Worst is many of them have drained their EPF savings no thanks to Abah’s decision.
Green initiative for Penang Beach Street:
Beach Street is incorporating more trees and pocket parks to create a cooler and more pleasant nvironment.
Pedestrian-Focused:
Footpaths are being widened to make walking more comfortable and enjoyable.
Car Reduction:
The number of parking spaces on Beach Street is being reduced, encouraging people to use alternative modes of transport, such as LRT, bicycles, and e-scooters.
Penang is implementing a plan to integrate greenery into parking spaces as part of its broader Penang Green Connectors initiative and the Penang Island Climate Action Plan 2030. This includes using grass pavers in car parks and creating a continuous network of green spaces. The goal is to enhance urban resilience, reduce vulnerability to climate change, and improve the overall environment.
here’s a far simpler solution. Remove the cars. Even taking away parking from one side of the road would be enough in most of Georgetown.
There should be a completely pedestrian only street from Chulia to Prangin Mall, put it in temporarily and watch how busy it will get with walking tourist traffic.
Walk more for healthier lifestyles.
No obesity.
No high blood pressure.
No diabetics
No breathing difficulty.
Free natural Vitamin from the mighty sun
Free from soaring medical bills.
Live with Dignity.
Problem is today people all drive cannot take bus or walk.
Most of them need to drive big cars to compensate for their lack of self esteem and ego.
Negara ketiga paling malas ialah Malaysia dengan purata langkah hanya 3,963 sehari. Salah satu punca kurangnya aktiviti fizikal adalah kerana kemudahan pejalan kaki di Malaysia kurang selesa dan juga kurang selamat.
Lazy to walk to buy food, but rely on food delivery by Grab or Food Panda.
Food delivery increases carbon footprint mainly through vehicle emissions and single-use packaging. Compared to grocery shopping and home cooking, meal delivery can produce significantly more CO2 emissions.
The invalids can use motorised wheelchairs. Obese prople use them in US, even inside shopping malls, but those are too large.
In Malaysia, diabetes is a significant health concern (high sugar intake), with a high prevalence rate and a notable number of diabetes-related amputations. Young amputated invalids could use motorised wheel chairs to get around.
There is a lot more to the devilish problem of obesity and diabetes than sugar. Over the decades, the problem has become far worse among Bolehland adults and children, the worst in this part of the world. Ask people who are diabetic whether any of the advice they got was practical, or any of the treatment they got helped significantly.
Want advice or excuse?
Sweet stuff sure give you diabetes.
Change your eating and drinking habit.
Sin tax should apply to sugar to discourage excessive intake. Obesity leads to all kinds of problems.
Not only sugar also rice, junk food, supplements with aspartame, prepacked food, dates, mango, bananas and much more unhealthy food cause diabetes and obesity.
Health care is a sickness industry.
Change lifestyle, eat more biological vegetables and fruit, oatmeal in the morning with ceylon cinnamon instead of rice. Daily walks for at least 20 minutes. Just a few tips!
Avoid those sugary drinks disguised as pricey milk tea – can contribute to diabetes!
The free Central Area Transit (CAT) bus service, which operates within the heritage zone is a convenient way to get around without a car. The first CAT bus departs at 6:00 am, and the last service departs at 11:45 pm. It runs every 10 minutes during peak hours.
CAT route:
https://mypenang.gov.my/culture-heritage/heritage-zones/free-cat-bus/?lg=en
Take bus, save money. No parking worry!
Right?
Next LRT!
Charge higher petrol price. Less fuel subsidy so that more free buses can be introduced.
Penang’s walkability is challenged by factors including poorly maintained and inaccessible sidewalks, inadequate infrastructure, and vehicle dominance, which restrict safe pedestrian movement and create a less pedestrian-friendly environment, particularly for the elderly and disabled. The government must take care of the aging population in this aspect.
Create Car-Free Zones in George Town, particularly in areas with high pedestrian traffic and historical significance, can significantly improve walkability and create a more enjoyable experience for pedestrians.
Transforming underutilized areas into vibrant public spaces, like laneways, can encourage walking and community interaction.
Malaysians love their cars. If you make it difficult for them to drive, they will punish you with their votes. Cannot play play.
The goal is 15 minutes cities
Wake up before it’s too late!
15 minute city good for elderly folks, can stroll comfortably to reach desired amenities like eateries, bank and supermarket. George Town can pioneer this effort in heritage zone by having more restrictions for motor vehicles.
Yes, no need for food delivery – reduced carbon footprint.
Why are Malaysian streets treated like free car parks?
Illegal street parking has become a normal sight in Malaysia, but it’s an unsustainable culture of entitlement that clogs public space and erodes liveability.
https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2025/08/09/why-are-malaysian-streets-treated-like-free-car-parks
Good point. Really no respect for pedestrians!
Enforcement is needed to fine illegal Parkings!
The usual excuses:
.- What I have to do is urgent.
.- I will only take a short while.
.- Not enough parking lots.
.- No public transport: usually true.
Big cars sometimes park into pedestrian walkway causing blockage to the inconvenience of pedestrians!
The Penang Green Agenda 2030 is a state-wide initiative aiming to make Penang the greenest state in Malaysia by 2030. It focuses on transitioning to a green economy, implementing innovative governance with public-private-people-professional partnerships, and promoting sustainability-led development. The plan also envisions Penang as a high-income, caring, inclusive, low-carbon, and resilient state by 2050, emphasizing both environmental and social well-being.
Behind the green mask UN Agenda 21
Wake up before it’s too late!!!
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2025/08/15/penang-council-targets-july-2026-to-gazette-long-delayed-draft-local-plan-after-three-failed-attempts-since-2008/187692?dicbo=v2-vXv8tpy
Local Plans with locals input? It’s time for Aliran and AnilNetto.com to publicize such event to creat more awareness and momentum moving forward?
https://youtu.be/-t-c0qiIr_Y?si=tNHh3QEAdaFEri68
Local council awaiting public positive response aided by NGOs like Aliran?
Google Gemini AI generated image of Penang heritage area with greenery, shaded walkway with pedestrians, no motor vehicle:
Very nice.
But can it become a reality?
The trees are needed to provide shades as the weather in Penang is very hot.
Anil, do you see any improvement 15 years after your article below?
https://anilnetto.com/economy/development-issues/we-need-more-pedestrian-walkways-like-this/
Some parts of George Town, yes. But much more needs to be done. Still too many obstacles, along existing walkways.
The government is considering a proposal to raise the tobacco tax rate, said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim today.
Anwar, who is also the finance minister, said the proposal aligns with the government’s commitment to public health and fiscal reform, particularly given the long-standing moratorium on tobacco tax hikes.
George Town Festival
2 & 3 August 2025 (Sat & Sun)
⏰ 5pm – 11pm
Padang Kota Lama, George Town
️ Free admission
From projection mapping to live music, a glowing market, and a concert in a moving bus, “After Dusk” is set to transform Padang Kota Lama into a wonderland of after-dark experiences.
Mukhriz said PN chairman Muhyiddin Yassin had called for Pejuang and other “small parties” (Muda, the Malaysian Advancement Party led by P Waytha Moorthy, Parti Sosialis Malaysia, P Ramasamy’s Urimai) to form a “loose” opposition coalition that would focus on contesting 50 to 60 seats in urban and suburban areas, Utusan Malaysia reported. The idea was for this coalition to canvas for non-Malay support, while PN helped deliver Malay votes since they still form a significant portion of voters in urban and suburban seats. He hinted that the goal was to split the non-Malay vote to allow for Malay voters… Read more »
Such alternatives do not offer any meaningful plan or aspirations to Malaysians. They can only complain and object to Madani development plan. PN to be avoided at all costs, now also must shun its minions!
Come April next year, Penang island will no longer just be admired for its heritage and food, it will be celebrated as a lifestyle capital with the launch of The Waterfront Shoppes, the latest and most ambitious phase of THE LIGHT Waterfront Penang in Gelugor.
IJM Land Bhd chief executive officer Datuk Tony Ling said the 1.5 million-square-foot retail destination designed as a lifestyle landmark will be offering up a curated mix of fashion boutiques, artisanal cafes, flagship stores and immersive attractions.
Datuk Pua Khein-Seng, the man credited with inventing the USB flash drive, recently launched a new high-tech company MaiStorage in Malaysia, offering RM6,000 starting salaries for fresh graduates and five-figure pay for experienced engineers.
Last time he had factory/office in Penang but the employees were punctually leave home at 5.30pm and would not stay overtime to help the company.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/penang-lrt-project-costs-spike-anwar-5314946
Penang Transport Plan under scrutiny, with ballooning cost and to go ahead.
Pyramid Game excesses being channeled to developers to ‘legalise’ money flow and justify Penang’S high rise growth?
Connecting the dots in the Penang World City probe
https://theedgemalaysia.com/node/766211
The thrust of police investigations into the RM10 billion Penang World City project in Bayan Mutiara is said to be related to a hefty sum that Hemat Tuah Sdn Bhd forked out when it took over the project in 2018.
Sources say that when Hemat Tuah bought into the project in 2018, it had to pay a fee to the Penang Development Corporation (PDC).
Some notable Datuks of property companies have been arrested linking to money laundering with MBI involvement.
Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) antara 12 parti pembangkang Yang membentuk gabungan untuk ‘mencari salah kerajaan’ dan memperjuangkan isu rakyat termasuk janji reformasi didakwa gagal diselesaikan Perdana Menteri Anwar Ibrahim.
https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/bahasa/tempatan/2025/08/18/12-parti-pembangkang-bentuk-gabungan-cari-salah-kerajaan
Anil are you disappointed that PSM choose to be a PN minion?
Non Malays will shun PSM and Muda.
I think they have decided not to be under the PN umbrella?
But why they are mentioned by Muhyidin? PSM must stick to principles else being manipulated by others. Don’t discount PSM is trying new options to be PN friendly and anti PMX?
PSM neither agree nor disagree- trying to wait and see. Clearly they lack principles to make good decisions!
Now we know why PH is very wary and cautious when dealing with PSM.
US-based chipmaker AMD has expanded its operations in Malaysia by opening a new office and engineering lab in Bayan Lepas, Penang.
Located at GBS by the Sea, the 209,000 sq ft facility is designed to support more than 1,200 employees and features open workspaces alongside state-of-the-art engineering labs, according to a joint statement by AMD, Invest-in-Penang Bhd (InvestPenang), and the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida).
New jobs for Penangites?
Hopefully so else they may head south to seek SingDollar!
The Penang Institute is in the final stages of reviewing and shortlisting proposals for the establishment of the Penang International Financial Centre (PIFC), a strategic initiative aimed at boosting the state’s role in global finance.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said PIFC is expected to attract capital inflows, foster financial innovation, and strengthen Malaysia’s semiconductor and high-tech sectors.
https://www.penangpropertytalk.com/2025/08/final-review-underway-for-penang-international-financial-centre-proposals/
https://www.thevibes.com/articles/news/111286/penang-cable-car-project-may-extend-to-gurney-bay-says-cm
Cable car to create more chaos to Gurney Drive traffic?