This video has started circulating on social media, as if to say, “We are watching you!” It looks as if work on the land reclamation off Gurney Drive and Straits Quay is going full steam ahead despite yesterday’s serious incident.
This was what the sea off Straits Quay looked like yesterday morning, hours before a video emerged of a barge with an excavator on it overturning.
Despite the strong waves, a boats with workers on board was seen heading off to sea at 9.15am yesterday, according to an eyewitness who happened to be at Straits Quay. “I was just talking to one of the workers (yesterday) morning and asked him, isn’t it so unsafe to go out in the rough weather?”
So far, we haven’t heard a squeak from the authorities about the condition of the excavator operator, who was responsible for this incident and what action will be taken.
It was only recently that the state government removed BUCG from Consortium Zenith BUCG because of a crane accident that killed a woman in KL.
In this incident in Penang, the excavator operator was apparently rescued – but he could have so easily perished.
There is a bigger tragedy here than just a barge overturning, and that is, the tragedy of the commons. In this case and in other land reclamation projects in Malaysia, what we are seeing is the gobbling up of an unregulated shared resource, the sea, mostly for private profit.
And this is accompanied by the ‘commonisation’ of negative costs – in this case, the damage to marine life, fisheries and food security – which are borne by the public.
The Tragedy of the Commons, according to Wikipedia:
The tragedy of the commons is an economic theory of a situation within a shared-resource system where individual users acting independently according to their own self-interest behave contrary to the common good of all users by depleting that resource through their collective action.
The concept and name originate in an essay written in 1833 by the Victorian economist William Forster Lloyd, who used a hypothetical example of the effects of unregulated grazing on common land (then colloquially called “the commons”) in the British Isles. The concept became widely known over a century later due to an article written by the ecologist Garrett Hardin in 1968. In this context, commons is taken to mean any shared and unregulated resource such as atmosphere, oceans, rivers, fish stocks, or even an office refrigerator.
The tragedy of the commons is often cited in connection with sustainable development, meshing economic growth and environmental protection, as well as in the debate over global warming.
| Please help to support this blog if you can. Read the commenting guidlelines for this blog. |
Latest tragedy for the Commons in Penang is now the fear of being retrentched or rice bowls affected?
http://www.nst.com.my/news/2016/09/176226/another-wave-retrenchments-hits-penang-manufacturing-sector?m=1
Malaysia fell seven notches to the 25th spot out of 138 countries in the latest World Economic Forum’s (WEF) 2016-2017 Global Competitiveness Report (GCR).
http://www.theedgemarkets.com/my/article/malaysia-falls-seven-places-wef’s-ranking
Tragedy of Commons for those in midlife career facing structural unemployment due to skills mismatch, with household debts to settle.
The 1MDB scandal dragged Malaysia down two spots to sixth place in the Corporate Governance (CG) Watch 2016 ranking of 11 Asia-Pacific countries. Malaysia scored 56 points, behind Singapore (67), Hong Kong (65), Japan (63), Taiwan (60), and Thailand (58).
Najib is bringing down the nation.
Ah Jib said no concern as he benchmark Bolehland against the failed states. What a shame!
anil can only think as far as fishermen who numbered hundred but not thousands in electronic factories.
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 29 ― Malaysians expressed more pessimism about their country’s economy than any other among five Asean nations polled, the FT Confidential Research (FTCR) has found. According to FTCR, the Malaysian respondents of its latest quarterly survey were less optimistic about economic performance in the next six months, in contrast to Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam in its survey. “FT Confidential Research’s Economic Sentiment Index for Malaysia fell 6.1 points quarter-on-quarter to 29.6 in the third quarter of 2016, indicating that the majority of the 1,000 Malaysians surveyed expect the economy to worsen in the next two… Read more »
still want to rent from singland even with. hikes? pg lang must be like tak boleh. money no problem?
No confidence as the 2017 budget will see more wastage and leakage.
So, while we lament tragedy for the Commons in Penang to include those retrenched, how will the surreal hikes of rents in George Town caused mostly by massive SingLanders’ buy up of secondary property market affect further the ability of retrenched Penangites to open their own businesses (after retrenchment)?
To give an excuse for gentrification > business creation is Absolut Vodka nonsense!
Gentrification of Penang by foreigners is also a tragedy for the Commons (potential local businessmen who are not loaded).
The biggest tragedy if the commoners us money no enough to sustain basics in life!
When life is difficult due to financial constraints, matter like what we see n read daily are truly insignificant.
Justice is served when every one not in hunger because no money to pay for food.
Any readers at the farewell session of the Kong Thai Lai kopitiam at Hutton Lane?
http://www.thesundaily.my/news/1983072
The legacy will live on at Lebuh Leith.
Famous ‘billionaires’ kopitiam’ closes shop in Penang
https://youtube.com/watch?v=s9wQuxcE1WE
http://www.sinchew.com.my/node/1571286/
The new Kong Thai Lai kopitiam at Lebuh Leith:
http://www.kwongwah.com.my/?p=205087
Same old coffee taste in a new surrounding.
More convenient for customers to park their cars.
Char Kway Teow and fish head beehoon stalls available.
Fish Head BeeHoon as good as New Lane’s (fried fish head + beehoon, not the soup type?)?
New Lane’s very expensive – one M-sized plate of BeeHoon with 3-4 pieces of fish
costs more than Rm8.00 (trying to recall price from many months of abstinence).
‘Money no enough’ even with monthly household income of RM6K?
http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/these-families-are-middle-income-earners-but-why-cant-they-save
The Commons many of whom are ardent readers and contributors of this blog should provide the wishlist to be compiled then submitted to PM for Budget 2017.
For me, I wish Permata to be extended to all Commoners children e.g. daily allowance of RM1 to subsidize canteen meals. If not possible, then disband it as it is unfair to spend taxpayers money on “selected” few per selected criteria.
What say you all???
Reduce GST please, to 4%.
PM’s wife should go budget nationally & internationally to prove their cakap serupa bikin –
no more 1K hair dressing
forgo super-expensive croc handbags
no diamonds-are-ladies’-best-addictions
fly Air Asia Economy, not private jet-setting
pls add to the list for Malaysia Budget.
Better have proper audit on the expenses of Permata.
Too complicated accounting with many bank accounts?
LGE said better abolish GST.
DSAI said no need to pay back PTPTN.
Vote for Harapan!
There will never be perfect solution for any given problem. Unfortunate things happen from time to time. A massive project like land reclamation is both time consuming and involves different men (women), machines, weather condition etc, not wise to focus on the mishaps and condemn the whole project.
But the Penang tunnel developer BUCG from China was condemned after a fatal accident … on an unrelated project…. in KL.
Actually that was not solely or squarely BUCG’s fault (amid two more layers lah!). LGE was being very impulsive or rather, naive ?
you love a veh to give a knock during a perfect day. you never site safety? try stand under crane lift. it is like 1. 2. 3/
another safey is to go out and swim during rough sea? the marine and weather fails to give warnings. no wonder you all enjoy accidents in go kart race in pahang. federal gomen are third world nor spending money to educate rakysr about safety.
Yes. Immatured, easily provoked and always want to act like a hero. That’s why those UMNO friendly guys intentionally create problems against him so that he is seen as a chauvinist. And LGE easily fallen into their traps… Causing Pakatan and DAP to lose more Malay votes. Pakatan and DAP will be better without LGE
what talking you? bucg a chinaman company has to do with umno? an accident occurs a life gone. you mean cin cai? what happen the next person is your loved ones??
LGE Tak boleh so u support putting him in jail to gain maturity? If so, many comedians in gelakan n mca711 n MIC-let mouse also need wise up eating nasi kari in confinement?
Zoro, 1. It was BUCG’s fault, at least partly in the unfortunately incident. 2. But note that the crane operator is not direct staff of BUCG. The crane service was subcontractor to a local company. In this case, do you question the developer who awarded the construction contract to BUCG? 3. The family of the victim said BUCG did contact them through various means soon after the incident but the family decided not to talk about it before the funeral was over. LGE wrongly claimed that the contractor was arrogant and did not do anything to help the family. After… Read more »
Ask yourself a question. Would you simply sell a house RM1m cheaper than market price to a close friend? Not even to a sibling unless exceptional case where you are super rich. Don’t you doubt this slightest?
I heard that BUCG has been “extremely” accommodating and compassionate in settling the issue with the family hence, it took only 3 days to iron it out!
Tak boleh, you think pg lang or any malaysians can buy million ringgits residential property like kajang Putih? Why billionaire kopi tiams and not residentials are bought by singland and not pg lang like yourself or mates? Try selling multi million ringgit properties. Tun lang thinks there are no buyers even for 0.5 million ringgit condos. You think is like hot cakes? You are just inferring and so am I. You think you are smart #ss? Crane hook fall on your head is an unfortunate incident? You must be cruel. Why dont you say there are thousands of elevators and… Read more »
Tak boleh will not held the main contractor if the sub contractor crane operator accidently knock down his house. He is so well verse with penang construction contract.
Zoroo, I think you didn’t read properly and commented hastily. You read but you didn’t see. I have said “It was BUCG’s fault, at least partly in the unfortunately incident.” I don’t understand why you write so lengthy to argue that point, to concur with my view. Funny. Tak Boleh LGE did say something like he took action because the victim was a Penangite, sounded like he wanted to be a Penangites’ hero. A good CM should takes action irregardless of orgin, sex, race etc but whether it is right to do so. Zoroo, put yourself into the shoes of… Read more »
tak boleh. do you know public area is not the construction site which is defined by the hoarding? he has to seek appoval.
BUCG only acts a few days after the incident. point is that public are in fear because contractor and federal snd local council are not doing their parts.
It’s not true that BUCG did not contact the victim’s family at all after the accident . It’s only because the family at which time was so occupied with the funeral arrangement as well as being “so very sick” to discuss anything further. That was reported in Nanyang Press also.
http://www.enanyang.my/news/20160909/与涉案发展商达共识br-陈群欣家族撤追究/.
Another report by Kwong Wah Press immediately after the accident on 26/8/2016
http://www.kwongwah.com.my/?p=189072
http://www.kwongwah.com.my/?p=194549
LGE and his think-tanks, or what ???
bucg contacted after the incident. how many moons after? bucg should do it immediately. she go back to penang by herself?? tak boleh, why dont you comment on china home if your grand or great parent or selangor. as CM of penang you do not want him to care pg lang first. you want him to give pg state money to sawarak sliver medallist not penang? pg lang chose the cm as their leader and he respond back to his people. gilakan or amno also can do something. tak boleh your eyes are blind and mind blank. how can a… Read more »
Zoro, I really feel sad for you. Birds of the same feather flock together
i feel saddest for you, penang and malaysia with thinking to discard safety, responsbility and rules of law. how many ministers speak for common people against big companies? you are more developer empat sekawan than the minister. cm speak against bucg but you speak on behalf of bucg.
tak boleh
how can you accept a hook without any attachment just drop in public places and yet you support and defend the contractor? pictures show it is just a hook.
also if you knock down a victim you will not send him to clinic or hospital? she maybe in hospital for one or two days and you allow her to make het way to penang? that you call it generous? you mean with so many workers they only have time after many moons have passed?
anything amno always m.c.a nonbumi are always a punching bsg. they always ask non bumi for drink money and how to kau tim for small offence just like in indo.
Umno is sidelining MCA and Gerakan with the redelineation, moving chinese votes to DAP stronghold area, and malay votes to Umno area.
Baskets of deplorables are the focus of Anilnetto.com lately?
While many Penangites cannot afford ‘affordable housing’, certain politician was nicely sold ‘below market rate’ bungalow for his ‘than sai kai’! Isn’t this more inhumanly CAT deplorable???
I leave it to the deep (not shallow) conscience of one who considers articles in anilnetto.com deplorable.
Mind you, leadership who ‘cakap tak serupa bikini’ is as slick as any snake-oil salesman in Lorong Kulit…
Are the KFC chicken or McD’s McNuggets or Nasi Kandar chicken not from caged/farmed chickens?
Are you sure the chickens you bought at the markets are those free roaming kampung chickens?
There are many viral videos with positive message on internet, but the blogger choose to feature a tragedy. Please spread positive message on humanity.
Malaysia ‘Pokemon soft toy uncle’ rescued by the internet
https://youtube.com/watch?v=Gz4-v3OVZt0
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-37426565
Humanity is alive in Malaysia!
We need more uplifting report like this one on Uncle David that is even reported on BBC.
‘Pokemon soft toy uncle’ rescued by the internet
https://youtube.com/watch?v=Gz4-v3OVZt0
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-37426565
Anil – I don’t think we can call this the tragedy of commons in the economic sense. Based on definition this happens when individual self interests supersedes the collective common interests of the community. In our case it is not the individual self interests of people but the self interests of the state govt (in particular the CM) has been prioritized over the interests of Penangites. I believe a more appropriate name of this behavior would be abuse of power and betrayal of trust.
why no comment on 1mdb? far worst no point talking?
Selective. Choose not to see the bigger ill. Possibly being paid dedak.
If you are referring to Anil’s blog, I hope it did not disappoint you. There are more than 100 postings related to 1MDB. 24 pages appear if you search 1mdb within this blog.
But if you are commenting on Calvin’s comment, why deviate from this posting?
Very surprise with so many post, yet Calvin and you never utter a single word about 1mdb? Why cherry picking? 1mdb and selling land Malaysia air force for defence land to China for your interest?
Again, you jump to conclusion. Again, have you done your homework?
i have done mine but you only pour oil and grease to the floor.
Even a relatively well-demarcated project such as a dam requires extensive modelling and study. Here, we are dealing with open sea. We are trying to imitate other countries that either have a severe shortage of land or more money than common sense.
Commenting here also reflect the trajedy of the commons. Irrelevant, partisan, obsessive and nasty comments lead to restrictions. Because of such comments, most of the websites no longer allow comments except through proprietary channels.
dam is a damn when it fails. dams have to carry out risks assessents and dambreak studies and evacuation plans and mins of warnings given also the spillways design fir very extreme events. so how can one compare with bsrge. bad weather supposed to stay put. barge is not submarine
please explain why penang is not short of land?
The Joy of the Commons!
Majestic Theatre to be reopened after refurbishment and you can get to watch nolstagic old chinese movie in special 40 sen screening next month.
http://www.chinapress.com.my/20160919/大華戲院隔20年重開-40仙看場電影/
Good to focus on the positive things in life. Keep it coming as times are really bad now.
Cheers!
lucky no one went swimming. why no warning from marine dept or weather dept? is it because no one trust the reporting? other places depend. on weather report and prepare for it? again where tax money. we remain belakang
The workers need to cari makan, not everyone can cari makan the same safe and rewarding way like those Umno folks.
How come no report here on the flash flood at Jalan P Ramlee?
Is it because it could not be attributed to the state government?
For the safety of the workers, please do not say tragedy. Pantang!
The strong waves could endanger fishermen too.
So it is better for fishermen to consider commercial fish farming, instead of taking risks in the open sea.
The fisherfolks can always do other tasks during bad weather like mending their nets. Farmed fish is not as healthy as marine fish.