After getting a close look at the ‘pro-ISA protesters’ in Penang, we are now privileged to be able to closely study the ‘disgruntled PKR members’ bussed in to ‘protest’ outside the PKR headquarters on 21 November 2010.
I don’t know about you, but to me, many of them look utterly bored or not paying attention to the speech, only chanting and raising their hands on cue.
Sarawak Deputy Tourism Minister James Dawos Mamit has admitted that the impoundment of the Bakun Dam had adversely affected the livelihood of the people downstream and the tourism industry.
“Because of the shallowness of the river, some of them lose their jobs as tourist guides and have to chop firewood for a living because there are no more tourists coming after the water level has dropped,” the Borneo Post quoted him as saying. Ironically Dawos is the former environment adviser for the Bakun Dam project.
The authorities must now release the Environmental Impact Assessment report. Let’s have a look at the conditions of approval.
A prominent academician has expressed concern about the decline in the study of the Humanities and the rising ‘technologisation’ of everyday life.
We are undergoing transformation at the hand of the technological imperatives such as Rationalisation, Universalism, Monism, observed Dato Dr Sharom Ahmat, the chairman of the Socio-Economic & Environmental Research Institute in Penang. “We live increasingly in a world of Technology, not a world of Nature. Technological values have eroded Human Values instead of ‘humanising’ them.”
Sharom, who happens to be the father of law lecturer and popular columnist Azmi Sharom, was delivering the keynote address at the opening dinner in Penang on Saturday of the regional workshop for the ninth batch of 23 Asian Public Intellectual Fellows from around the region who had just completed their fellowship programme. The theme of the workshop was ‘Towards transforming society and empowering people’ with panel discussions on the poor, the marginalised, sustainable development, relationship with Nature and cultural ideas.
A small group of about 50 pro-ISA protesters tried to disrupt an anti-ISA forum at Komtar Walk in Penang today.
That’s bad. No, pathetic. Who is really behind them? And what’s the point of the protest? They are not going to convince anyone – unless their aim is to stifle freedom of expression.
The protesters should be free to hold their own event anywhere else – Speakers’ Square, perhaps? Why stop others from speaking out against the ISA?
Sarawak’s Land Development Minister James Masing has been surprisingly interviewed by Radio Free Sarawak, a new and mysterious station that has emerged.
In the interview, Masing, a senior figure in the BN state government led by Taib Mahmud, says again that the recent log-jam along the Rajang River was a man-made disaster. He points out that the timber companies and the relevant government departments (for their lack of enforcement) are to blame.
British American Tobacco (Malaysia) and Japan Tobacco International Bhd in KL have both cited a report that suggests four out of 10 packs of cigarettes are illicit.
In a press releases dated 20 October and 11 November 2010 respectively, the two cigarette firms cited an Illicit Cigarettes Study, commissioned by the Confederation of Malaysian Tobacco Manufacturers, which revealed that the incidence of illicit cigarettes rose to 39.7 per cent during March-May 2010.
The Church needs to do something fast to resolve the issue of the settlers near the St Francis Xavier Church along Penang Road with fairness and compassion.
The controversy, involving the settler-descendants of church workers and their families, should be of pastoral concern to the church. Resorting to church lawyers instead of persevering with face-to-face discussions and negotiations to deal with the settlers suggests that something is not quite right.
When I wrote about the issue last year I received some flak (directly and through the grape vine) from certain quarters within the church, the thrust of which was that I did not know the real background to the issue from the church’s perspective etc etc (although I had spoken at length with the residents). I was duly briefed on what the church thought of the residents.
Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister George Chan says Sarawakians should reject all candidates standing under the ticket of Semenanjung-based opposition parties.
He claimed they would only listen to their political masters from Semenanjung Malaysia and forget about the interests of Sarawak people and their well-being, according to a Borneo Post report.
“At least all the state BN components are truly Sarawak parties. We have been and shall continue to defend and protect the rights, interests and well-being of all the people here.
Did you know that Apco was created in 1984 as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Washington, DC-based law firm of Arnold & Porter?
Now, it has been reported, Apco played a behind-the-scenes role in the debate over universal health care vs private health care/private health insurance in the United States.
When award-winning film-maker Michael Moore came out with the acclaimed documentary Sicko advocating universal health care for all, the health insurance industry in the United States panicked.
A mystery illness has reportedly struck native families living in Rumah Bansan longhouse at Sungai Bedengan near an aluminium smelting plant in Mukah.
The public needs iron-clad guarantees from the Sarawak government – certified by truly independent health and environmental safety engineers/inspectors – that there is no link between the aluminium plant, which is 300 metres away, and longhouse illnesses since September 2009. Failing which, the state government, which has very little credibility, can hardly be believed.
From Free Malaysia Today:
Explaining the ‘mysterious illness’, Tuai Rumah (longhouse chief) Bansan said the community has been “experiencing all sorts of health problems such as breathing diffuculties, coughing and skin diseases” since the construction of the smelting plant.
While our public hospitals groan under the weight of so many patients, many Malaysian medical personnel, including specialists, prefer to work in public hospitals abroad.
Blog reader SH files in this report from Down Under:
Hey, 100% true story below. Happened in Melbourne, Australia.
10 Nov 2010
1. Arrived early at hospital, so decided to walk down the street to check out an expensive shop by famous Melbourne-based designer. Was pleasantly (but sadly) surprised to learn the ‘local designer’ was a Malaysian whose entire family migrated from Malaysia!
2. Went back to hospital. Was registered by a loud receptionist who was Malaysian whose family migrated from Malaysia!
Sungai Pinang, only a few years ago regarded among the seven most polluted rivers in the country, has improved in water quality from Class Five to Class Three (moderate contamination).
The improvement came after the Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) and IWK spent RM120,000 to fix a water discharge system at an abattoir along River Road and channel the waste water to the IWK treatment plant in Jelutong.
Well done, MPPP and DID; that’s the way to go. (One question: who absorbs the RM120,000 cost? The abattoir, MPPP or IWK?)
Some of our underfunded general hospitals appear to be overstretched as staff struggle to cope with the large number of outpatients. And to think they want to build a 100-storey tower while others want to promote ‘medical tourism’. Waiting to pop your card in the box at the counter, and then waiting to get a waiting number(!) and then waiting to be called to see a medical officerWaiting for a waiting number!Finally waiting to see a doctor - notice the crutches and the wheelchairs
I happened to be at the orthopaedic outpatient treatment section at the Seberang Jaya General Hospital this morning and this was the scene that greeted me. Young and old, of all ethnic groups – people in wheelchairs, others in arm slings and still others holding crutches – they are accustomed to waiting and waiting and waiting to be called.
Welcome to updates from the Penang local council elections to determine civil society nominees to serve as MPPP and MPSP councillors for 2011. It is the first step in the journey towards the full restoration of local government elections. Penang residents packed the hall for the Penang Forum 3 today
Suddenly, it seems that the United States is on a charm offensive in Asia. It’s amazing what an economic slowdown or recession can do.
A flurry of high-level visits by top US officials appears aimed at reasserting American influence in the region as China flexes its economic muscles. These high-level US trips around the G-20, Apec and the East Asia Summit (EAS) may also be seen as attempts to secure access to important markets (and cheap labour) and shore up US footholds in the region.
The US of course is also concerned about China’s growing naval power. America has large long-term bases in Japan and South Korea and military facilities and strategic arrangements elsewhere in Asia.
A total of 24 candidates will contest in elections to determine civil society nominees to serve as MPPP or MPSP councillors for 2011. The elections this Sunday will see 15 candidates contesting for five MPSP positions and nine for five MPPP positions.
Have you registered as a voter already? Deadline is 5.00pm today! The following is a statement released by Penang Forum:
Penang Forum 3 (PG3) akan berlangsung di Penang Chinese Girls School Alumni Hall (di hadapan St Nicholas), Jalan Bagan Jermal pada hari Ahad, 14 November. Acara ini membuka peluang kepada penduduk-penduduk Pulau Pinang untuk mendengar, membuat pertanyaan, dan mengundi bakal ahli-ahli majlis mereka.
I can’t say I was surprised to read reports that the Selangor MB appeared less than unequivocal in expressing opposition to PNB’s proposed mega tower.
His subsequent back-tracking on his initial apparent support for the project was reported in the Malaysian Insiderhere.
Apparently, the 240,000-strong Facebook opposition to the tower didn’tt seem to count for very much – nor Anwar’s and Khalid Samad’s vocal opposition to the tower. As if PKR didn’t have enough problems as it is!
So far, more than 20 people have applied to contest polls to become civil society’s nominees to serve as MPPP or MPSP councillors.
Information on the potential candidates is being uploaded onto the Penang Forum website. Closing date for applications to contest the elections is tomorrow. (The application form is available on the PF website.) Polling will be on 14 Nov.
