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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 Reviewpiece. 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’.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
