This is the project called ‘Beverly Heights’ in Bukit Gambir in Penang advertised as being built 110 metres above sea level. Photograph: Beverly Heights project update, July 2013
The ringgit has weakened to around 3.23 against the US dollar, confounding analysts’ earlier predictions that the ringgit would strengthen below 3.00 by year end.
The federal government posted a RM14.9bn deficit for the first quarter of 2013 compared to a RM5.8bn deficit for the first quarter of 2012.Source: Ministry of Finance
In case you missed this scene in the movie Brother Sun Sister Moon, this clip shows what happened when the humble Francis of Assisi and his band of followers turned up at the Vatican to meet Pope Innocent III, one of the most powerful popes in history, some 800 years ago.
This is a must-watch movie about how Francis was called to rebuild the church through poverty and simplicity some 800 years ago. Haunting songs and breathtaking scenes from the countryside too.
The government is requesting approval for an additional RM12.7bn under a “supplementary supply bill” for 2012 on top of amounts previously approved for that year.
You know, how you win also matters. And in this case, there is little reason for the BN to celebrate – considering the millions of ringgit in projects announced during the campaign.
KUALA BESUT – BN wins with higher majority of 2,592 votes, polling 8,288 votes against PAS 5,696. There were 125 spoilt votes.
Despite all the projects promised, the BN’s majority today is only 158 votes more than its general election majority of 2434 on 5 May.
Malaysiakini earlier today reported long lines of people queuing up to collect cash. What was that all about then?
Is that why there was little excitement surrounding this by-election – as most people knew what to expect? You could almost slice the thick boredom in the air. Yawn!
While the Election Commission makes a big deal about the BN candidate displaying his ballot paper (EC trying to prove it is independent?), what has it got to say about the elephant in the room – the multimillion ringgit projects announced during the campaign?
This is a revealing graph that shows that while US corporate profits (purple) (as a percentage of GDP) are soaring, workers’ income (blue) is falling and small business income (green) is also faltering. What is happening in Malaysia?Graph: Economonitor
Update: It looks as if the Botak Hill land was indeed rezoned. Now the question is, was it rezoned before 2008 or last year? Who was responsible for the rezoning and on what grounds?
The Malay Mail indicates that it was rezoned by the State Planning Committee last year.
But Jagdeep Singh Deo was reported as saying the re-zoning of ‘Bukit Gambir’ from a hill zone to housing was carried out on 9 August 2007.
Which is it?
Following the government’s eyebrow-raising decision to award YTL Corp a contract for internet services, learning programmes and the supply of Chromebooks to school pupils, we might be curious to know who exactly owns the firm.
Mukhriz Mahathir’s Kedah may try to extract water charges from Penang to raise the state’s revenue. At the same time, the Lankawai Development Authority (Lada) has signed a deal with a “tourism resort and high-impact attraction developer” to build a RM1.2bn “eco-tourism attraction”.
Following requests from a few people, this poll, which was initially closed after three days (on 9 July), is being re-opened and extended by a week until 22 July 2013.
Let’s hear it from you.
[poll id=”73″]
There are a number of reasons for the higher household debt. One of them is that we have lost the art of living within our means even as our wages have been suppressed.
A Singaporean “lifestyle property developer” has entered into a joint-venture with Beverly Heights Properties Sdn Bhd to develop land that covers Pepper Estate in Penang – a move that could result in the displacement of an established local community.
Update (The Star): “General Accomplishment Sdn Bhd was fined RM30,000 in default three years jail for carrying out earthworks on Bukit Relau without a written permission from the local authorities. The company’s general manager, Rohana Shariff, pleaded guilty on Thursday to the charge on behalf of the company before Sessions judge Khairul Anuar Abdul Halim.”
Now let’s see what happens next on the hill-top. They will probably lie low for a few months, maybe even a couple of years, and then… But the big question remains unanswered and will not go away: How did the State Planning Committee rezone this hill-top land to housing? A new photograph taken on 6 July shows that the hill-clearing goes quite a way down, turning the hill into an eye-sore. Meanwhile, the Penang Forum Steering Committee has written to the MPPP.
