Trams could complement no-car zone

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Tram engineer Ric Francis has responded to a newspaper report about a proposal for a no-car zone in George Town.
Inner city George Town tram route proposed by Ric Francis
I read with interest your article on Heritage Area car free, I have pushed this subject with Government Officials included with my Tramway in Heritage Area, I know things take time to happen in Penang, but this idea would work with my suggestion on a Tramway Ric Francis Tramway Engineer Vice-President Perth Electric Tramway Perth, Western Australia
Trams in Berlin - Image credit: berlinculture.co.uk
Meanwhile, one political economist has said there is no reason why trams cannot be eventually extended all over Penang. He noted that trams are used extensively and effectively over long stretches in cities such as Amsterdam and Berlin.
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Customs poll: 90% say ‘No’ to GST

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More than 90 per cent of close to 5,000 respondents have voted a resounding ‘No’ to the proposed Goods and Services Tax (GST) on a poll put up on the Customs Department’s website. You can still vote here.

Live – Batu Sapi, Galas by-elections

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Latest updates from polling day for Galas and Batu Sapi by-elections.

MPPP to mull no-car zone for inner city

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A proposal for a no-car zone in the heritage enclave could be deliberated in the MPPP’s next full council meeting. State exco member Lydia Ong reportedly made the suggestion to MPPP president Patahiyah Ismail, who seemed receptive to the idea. She suggested that certain parts of the heritage enclave and the Esplanade could be made off limits to cars from 6.00am to 2.00pm on Sundays.
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Mega-tower: A sense of deja vu

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Najib’s recent announcement that a 100-storey tower will be built in the capital by a government investment fund comes as global liquidity is flooding the region and raises concerns the project could represent the front end of a coming new crisis. Najib unveiled the plans for the tower, to be known as the Warisan Merdeka, or Independence Heritage, on 15 October. Two weeks later, Asian Development Bank chief Huruhiko Kuroda warned of two risks facing developing Asian economies like Malaysia: that the recovery in developed economies could be elusive and speculative capital inflows into developing economies could prove volatile.
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Striking jackpot in Galas

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Some folks have struck jackpot over in Galas. Seems like it’s raining money over there. (Ho hum, so what else is new in such ‘buy’ elections.)  Check out this Merdeka Review piece. Before that, we read reports of Pas allegedly offering RM200-RM250 in transport costs to out-of-town voters and Umno allegedly handing out cash to party ‘election workers’.
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Council polls: Meet the applicants

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As of today, 16 applicants have submitted forms to contest in elections to determine civil society’s nominees to serve as MPPP and MPSP councillors. The Penang Forum folks have put up the list of names, which are linked to some basic information about the candidates, here. Remember, you can contest too, if you meet the criteria set out on the Penang Forum website. Closing date for applications is 10 Nov.
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RFPs to benefit moneyed class?

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The state government has issued a flurry of requests for proposals to develop certain sites – but would this mean surrendering to the whims of high-end developers and pandering to the life-style of the moneyed class?
The Bayan Mutiara site - Photo by Anil

View Larger Map Requests for proposals have been issued for the following:
  • 62-acre reclaimed site (with another 35 acres in the future) in Bayan Mutiara, comprising prestigious offices, specialist medical facilities (private hospitals?), commercial blocks, residential enclaves, retail and public spaces. This was supposed to be Gerakan’s mini-Putrajaya site in the days when it was dreaming and had illusions of grandeur. Is medical tourism really a priority for the people? Who benefits? Don’t we have enough private hospitals? What about decent low-income housing here? We always claim there is not enough land for affordable housing. What about this space? What about a large public park and more green spaces?
  • the controversial Penang International Convention Centre – a lot has been said about this already.
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Protest outside Penang State Assembly

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Some 70 people staged a noisy protest outside the Penang State Assembly at about 11.00am. They were protesting about the Komtar traders’ complaints and the state’ government’s acquisition of land in Balik Pulau. 
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14 applicants so far for 14 Nov polls

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While most eyes are on the Galas and Batu Sapi by-elections on 4 November, a couple of fascinating tests in the quest to deepen democracy in Malaysia have been scheduled for 14 November. That’s when the Penang Forum is holding elections to determine its nominees to serve as MPPP and MPSP councillors. This pilot experiment is a prelude to the full restoration of local council elections some day in the future. The 13-14 November weekend is also when the PKR elections will move to Selangor, which will provide the biggest test for the party’s direct electoral process. In Penang, so far 14 applicants have submitted their forms to be considered as candidates to contest in local council civil society nominees election. At least five of them are from the mainland (MPSP).
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Dried up stretch below Bakun

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Another omen for Taib Mahmud: pictured below is a dried up stretch of river below the Bakun Dam. This picture was published in the front page of a local Chinese daily in Sarawak.
A dried up stretch of river below Bakun

View Larger Map Another photo can be found at the Sarawak Update website, which reports:
The 51-door longhouse in Long Mejawah consists of 300 odd Kayan inhabitants who are now literally cut off from outside world due to the sharp decline of water level in the Balui River. Their communication with outside world has been interrupted, not to say obtaining essential supplies, sending children to schools, travelling to Belaga Bazaar to work or for official matters and other unexpected problems that may arise.
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Ritual “to appease gods” in Sarawak

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Sarawak Chief Minister Taib Mahmud says that the interests of natives would be protected in all future dam projects. Can they believe that after the bitter experience of Bakun and Batang Ai? According to the Borneo Post, Taib said he was prepared to offer what the displaced natives would need – similar to what was done for the affected communities when building the Bakun and Murum dams. “We have plans to resettle our people, like the Penans, to adapt to the new way of life. Maybe the facilities given are not for them per se but will be for their generations to come.” Taib can’t even protect the interests of the displaced natives now and he is talking about protecting their interests in the future? I thought those displaced by the Bakun Dam were not exactly thrilled with conditions in the Sungai Asap resettlement scheme.
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Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-10-31

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  • Why Beng Hock's sister, 3 others arrested in Galas? For campaigning? Release now! #
  • Look Ma, no helmets! http://y.ahoo.it/jirgxY http://y.ahoo.it/qhC5RS5l #
  • WikiLeaks Iraq War Logs Expose US-Backed Iraqi Torture, 15,000 More Civilian Deaths, and Contractors Run Amok http://bit.ly/bDl1jE #
  • Live coverage of Batu Sapi and Galas nomination day has begun https: #
  • BNM reports central govt debt (total current liabilities) RM388b in 2nd qtr 2010 RT @wansaiful: @TriciaYeoh @anilnetto budget 2011 is higher #

Rifle Range flats set for urban renewal

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The results of a competition to come up with the best urban renewal design for the congested and run-down Rifle Range area in Penang will be revealed on 4 November. Rifle Range is one of the state’s oldest low-cost apartment projects, and when completed in the 1970s, the 17-18 storey blocks, were among the tallest buildings in the state. (Did you know that Rifle Range got its name because the site was originally used for target practice back in the 1950s?) The nine blocks contain one- or two-bedroom pigeon-hole apartments, measuring about 400 square feet each. Haphazard hawker stalls and parking of vehicles add to the general sense of congestion. The design competition, which closed on 22 September, has received 57 entries (17 from overseas), of which 22 have been shortlisted.
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Will land reclamation affect fisheries?

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Under the Penang Structure Plan (2005-2010), major land reclamation has been slated for Penang. But how will this affect water quality and fisheries in the state?
View Larger Map Under the Plan, the following projects are slated as part of reclamation in Penang (as highlighted in a 2007 presentation by JPS):
  • artificial islands in Tanjong Tokong
  • Gurney Drive reclamation
  • an artificial island in the Middle Bank (which is an eco-sensitive fisheries area)
  • the area north and south of the Penang Bridge
  • the extension of the North Butterworth Container Terminal to Teluk Air Tawar (long stretch, that)
  • the Penang Airport expansion
Now, some of these ambitious plans were obviously planned with the controversial Penang Outer Ring Road in mind. Of late, though, talk has re-surfaced about land reclamation involving the Middle Bank, between Queensbay and the Light project.
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Polls for Penang municipal councillors

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Interested in public service? Want to become a Penang Island or Seberang Perai municipal councillor? Want to participate in the voting process? It’s still not too late. LATEST! MPPP – Six candidates have applied to become councillors. Three more are seriously considering. MPSP – A single candidate has applied. Two more are considering. Extension of application dates We are extending the closing date for candidate applications to 10 November 2010. Application forms are available here.
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Sarawak’s most peculiar ‘drought’

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Listen to the Sarawak government’s spin on the reasons for the drop in the water level of the Rajang River. If you believe what they are telling you, the main cause is a dry spell, El Nino, or even climate change. Repeat after me, it’s not mainly due to the impoundment of the Dam, dummy. (See Borneo Post here.) Dry spell? From what I hear, it has been raining bucket loads in some parts of Sarawak. The Post concedes: “There has been rain on some days in Central Sarawak but that has not been sufficient enough to raise the river water level.” Oh, maybe the rain just avoided the Rajang River and catchment areas. Or maybe the downpour is not enough to raise the water level. Things must be serious then, if rain cannot raise the river water level.
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Butterworth: Muddy waters choke fish

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Muddy waters at Pantai Bersih, along the northern coast of Butterworth, have been causing concern among fisher folk. It is not clear what is polluting these waters – not far from ports on the mainland and the island. On a related note, Pantai Bersih is anything but – in fact, it is a haphazard eyesore of illegal and legal buildings right up to the coast line. Pity the poor residents of Butterworth as this  small stretch, as well as the Robena Park area, is their only recreational space after the Butterworth Outer Ring Road cut off access to the beach along most of the coast line. These reports from theSun.
Sea of mud by Himanshu Bhatt Polluted waters off Butterworth killing marine life, say fishermen Abdullah compares the muddy sea water to clear water. SEBERANG PERAI (Oct 24, 2010) : The seas off Butterworth are being affected by a mysterious mud-like deluge that is killing fish and other marine life along a 5km stretch of shoreline.
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Time to let your hair down

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As we enter by-election mode, how about some light relief…

Live – Galas, Batu Sapi nomination day

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Bringing you live updates of nomination day for the Galas and Batu Sapi by-elections.
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