Sarawak: BN pulls out all the stops

The BN is pulling out all the stops in Sarawak. Once again, money is pouring in.

Sarawak: Electoral rolls for 4 seats not yet available

The electoral rolls for four seats in Sarawak are not yet available for sale to the public.

How bad is Sarawak deforestation?

Sarawak Chief Minister Taib Mahmud says that 70 per cent of the rainforest in Sarawak is intact and he is prepared to invite independent and international inspection teams to verify this. But Mark Bujang, the executive director of Brimas, says that 85 per cent of Sarawak has been deforested. He says the Sarawak government includes plantations in its calculations of forest cover.

Images from Sarawak PKR ceramahs

A couple more images from the PKR ceramah last night in Lawas, Sarawak, where a crowd turned up to listen to Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian. In Kampung Long Tuma at 7.30pm and in Kampung Siang-Siang at 9.30pm

Batu Kawan deal raises huge questions

The Penang Chief Minister has revealed details of the re-negotiated Batu Kawan deals between PDC and Abad Naluri involving 750 acres of land.

Baru Bian, Anwar draw crowds

2000: Sarawak PRK leader Baru Bian is drawing the crowds at ceramahs, according to a PKR source at the scene. He is now speaking before 700-800 people – and this is just a village, Long Tuma in Lawas. Up next to speak will be Anwar.
The crowd at Long Tuma listening to PKR speakers including Baru Bian

Utusan front-pages video-stills

True to form, Utusan Malaysia has front-paged the video release with the headline, ‘Video seks didedah’. See its front page here.

Batu Kawan land deals to be made public

Just received word from a source that the agreements between the Penang Development Corporation and Abad Naluri in 2004 and 2011 involving 1,400 acres of Batu Kawan land will be made public soon. Apparently the PDC had to honour the price in the 2004 agreement, which involves 750 acres, and did some kind of trade off involving 650 acres of industrial land. An abandoned low-cost housing scheme involving 320 flats will be revitalised and completed.

YouTube yanks off so-called ‘Anwar’ video

YouTube has pulled out a copy of the controversial video that was uploaded yesterday depicting a woman with someone purportedly resembling the opposition leader, clad in a towel, and another man.

Kuching Anglican Bishop’s position baffling

The Anglican Bishop of Kuching’s response to the federal government’s decision on the Malay-language bibles and its 10-point concession appears to contradict the Catholic Bishop of Malacca-Johor, who is the Chairman of the Malaysian Catholic Bishops Conference.

RM3 per sq ft for Penang prime land?

Got-meh? Yes, RM3.05 per square foot for 126.04 acres of prime land on Batu Kawan on the mainland within 4km of the landing site of the second Penang bridge. Don’t believe it? Check this announcement by Equine Capital Berhad on the Bursa Malaysia website here. Look at item 2.5, which says “RM3.05 per sq ft” and “No valuation was carried out on the land”.

Cops block anti-nuke energy protest

About 500 police personnel in many trucks and cars were deployed to block a peaceful anti-nuclear energy gathering in Port Klang this morning.

Najib denies saying BN can recapture Penang

Prime Minister Najib has denied press reports that suggested he was confident the BN could recapture Penang.

Demolish first, talk later?

More demolition of shophouses appears to be underway this weekend to make way for Komtar phase 5, sparking outrage in heritage circles. The George Town World Heritage Inc office had earlier commissioned a study of the heritage significance of the area.

Pornthip: Teoh alive during fall

Dr Pornthip has testified that Teoh Beng Hock was alive when he hit the ground, though she was unable to determine if he was conscious during the fall. But she says his neck injuries raise questions.

Fukushima plant “clearly a lost site”

France’s Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) has expressed its views on the consequences of the Fukushima disaster, reports Green Action Japan.
André-Claude Lacoste, President of ASN (France’s Nuclear Safety Authority) expressed his views on the implications and consequences of the Fukushima disaster on Wednesday 30 March 2011, in front of the Parliamentary Office for the Assessment of Scientific and Technological Options.

MPPP mulls new building – but where is Local Plan?

The Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP) is mulling plans for a new building of its own in George Town – but where is the George Town Local Plan? Shouldn’t we first come up with the Local Plan and put it on display for public comment and then incorporate the feedback?
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Sarawak: Where has all the $$ gone?

Those travelling for the first time to Sarawak might be shocked to discover the poor condition of roads, even in urban areas. And if you venture further away from the cities and towns, you might find folks without proper piped water and regular electricity supply and people still using pit latrines. And all the while, some of the political elites and their business cronies in Kuching enjoy ostentatious life-styles, their families having accumulated millions.

Sarawak election campaign: Here’s how it should be done

Look, no splashing of money during election campaigns. Now, why can’t the Malaysian Election Commission ensure the Sarawak campaign will be like this? This is from the Times of India:
Chief Electoral Officer bans fund allocation from MLAs, MPs PTI, Mar 5, 2011, 08.38pm IST THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With the code of conduct coming into force in Kerala following announcement of the assembly polls on April 13, the Chief Electoral Officer has banned allocation of funds for developmental work from MPs and MLAs.

How Penangites handle difficult in-laws

Hello everyone, on a lighter note, since blog reader tunglang is having a spot of bother with his in-laws, I thought I would try and find out how folks in Penang would soothe ruffled in-law feathers. It would give us sort of an insight into local Penang social culture, don’t you think?