Another reason why we need more green space
Many of us know instinctively and intuitively that open green space around us can relax our minds and lift our spirits – somehow we just feel better.
A new study confirms just that: it shows that people living near green space experience less anxiety, depression, heart disease, back pain and asthma than those living in concrete jungles.
“The role of green space in the living environment for health should not be underestimated,” Dutch researchers wrote in a study published in the British Medical Journal’s Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.
Law needed to protect access to coastline
This is something we need – a Marine and Coastal Access Act, which has just become law in Britain. From the UK Telegraph:
South of the border, we’re playing catch-up, but the Marine and Coastal Access Act, which became law on Thursday, is a historic breakthrough. The creation of a continuous, coastal access zone, and the protection of our marine habitats, will help us to see that we belong to a global biosphere. Part of that imaginative leap is the rediscovery of our status as islanders, with a responsibility for our own shores and coastal waters…
Tiiiiim-ber! Auditor’s report exposes forest loss
What happens when the Auditor General comes up with a report critical of areas under your ministry’s jurisdiction? Why, you ask for it to be amended, of course!
That’s what Sarawak State Second Minister of Planning and Resource Management Awang Tengah Ali Hassan reportedly did when he asked the Auditor General to amend its Annual Report for 2008. Awang Tengah was unhappy about the bit that cited Sarawak along with Kelantan, Pahang and Johor as having poor forest management that led to river pollution, erosion, landslides and destruction of flora and fauna, according to the Malaysian Mirror.
Here’s one such excerpt from the Auditor’s Report that might help to explain the fuss: the report noted that in Nov 2007 and March 2008, the Sarawak Minister of Planning and Resource Management had fixed six million hectares as the target for permanent forest reserves. But the report added that the Ministry did not say when this announcement would come into effect.
More on the Botanic Garden mess (updated)
A total of RM5 million in federal funds has been approved for projects at the Penang Botanic Garden. But would you accept such funds if this was the result?
Photos by three concerned Botanic Garden lovers – Click icon on bottom right to expand to full-screen slideshow mode
These are the projects under the Ninth Malaysia Plan:
- Vendor/hawker centre
- Bambuseteum
- Eco-stream walk
- Administrative and visitors’ centre
- Garden mall
“Give a person a fish…
… and you feed him for a day;
Teach a person to fish…
… and you feed her for a lifetime.”
Teach them to cook…
Herald confusion resolved (updated)
Updated: The permit for The Herald will be renewed, according to its editor after he emerged from a meeting this evening with government officials. He added that both sides agreed that the August letter still stands.
The plight of the Herald Catholic weekly newspaper in Malaysia must be a public relations nightmare for the Najib administration – as if it doesn’t have enough problems as it is.
If the government has really cancelled the permit (which it now reportedly denies), what does that say for the 1Malaysia concept and the government’s credibility internationally?
“Case closed”
Can’t say I am surprised to see this in the Borneo Post. I am also not surprised that the alleged victims were reluctant to provide statements.
Penan rape case closed: Deputy IGP By Gary Adit Nation’s No. 2 cop says police have done all they can and probe over KUCHING: The police have done all they can to investigate the recent allegations of rapes of Penan women and though no one has been prosecuted, they now consider the issue over.Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar, who said this, pointed out that the police had thoroughly investigated every reported case to separate genuine cases from those that had been sensationalised.
Can Pakatan make a difference?
Here’s something I wrote for Aliran Monthly on Pakatan’s economic orientation and the challenges it faces. Can Pakatan make a difference especially in the economy?
A question on public shareholding spreads
While trying to find out who Low Taek Jo is in UBG Bhd (group advisor/non-executive director, as it turns out), I was puzzled by what I also came across.
According to Bursa Malaysia’s main market listing requirements, Chapter 3 on Admissions, Rule 3.06(1) and Chapter 8 on Continuing Listing Obligations, Rule 8.02(1,4):
3.06 Shareholding spread (1) An applicant must have at least 25% of the total number of shares for which listing is sought in the hands of a minimum number of 1,000 public shareholders holding not less than 100 shares each. Updated PART B –CONTINUING LISTING CRITERIA 8.02 Compliance with shareholding spread requirement (1) A listed issuer must ensure that at least 25% of its total listed shares (excluding treasury shares) are in the hands of public shareholders. The Exchange may accept a percentage lower than 25% of the total number of listed shares (excluding treasury shares) if it is satisfied that such lower percentage is sufficient for a liquid market in such shares. (4) A listed issuer which fails to maintain the required shareholding spread referred to in subparagraph (1) above may request for an extension of time to rectify the situation in the manner as may be prescribed by the Exchange.
Surin contractor Wabina warns complainants
The main contractor for the controversial Surin hill-slope condominium project in Tanjung Bunga has responded to neighbouring residents who had written in to express their unhappiness about the construction work.
The management committee of the Straits Regency complex nearby had complained about nauseating fumes, noisy generators and construction work at night.
In a tersely worded letter dated 15 October, Wabina Construction and Engineering Sdn Bhd managing director Loh Geok Beng responded that the fumes from the generators were not poisonous and that the firm had abided by Penang Municipal Council guidelines. He added that the noise from the generators and excavators was “reasonable” and “expectable” considering the work being done.
Democracy, Sarawak-style
This is what happens when you raise inconvenient issues in Sarawak.
From Bernama: DAP’s Chong barred from attending current state assembly sittingWong said Chong had made the remarks outside the assembly proceeding that “80 per cent of the development fund is controlled by one person, Minister of Finance” published in See Hua Daily News and “Sarawak budgetary allocation – 80 per cent at the disposal of one person, Minister of Finance” in Sin Chiew Jit Poh that would tarnish the image and affect public confidence in the assembly and the state Finance Minister.
Pakatan mends rift with Hindraf?
The new Free Malaysia Today portal has a scoop about Zaid Ibrahim ‘smoking the peace pipe’ (figuratively-lah) with Hindraf chairman P Waythamoorthy in Singapore.
Who is “Joe Low”?
That’s a good question.
The Malaysian Insider carried a Singapore Straits Times report on 15 July describing Penang-born Low as supposedly being part of Najib’s inner circle.
“Big-spending” Malaysian in New York?
Interesting story here from the gossip pages of the New York Post.
The Post links Low Taek Jho, a Penang boy who studied in Wharton, to UBG Bhd, a listed firm.
Curious, I looked up the UBG Annual Report for 2008 and found that there is a 27-year-old group advisor/non-independent non-executive director by that name. “He currently serves as group advisor of several international corporations, involved in global private equity, mergers and acquisitions, buyout, government-togovernment offset structured investments and financing, networking and financial aid, amongst others.”
Must be some 27-year-old. Check out his ‘stock pick’ from 2000.
Contractor demolishes structures on govt land?
A cowshed located on what is believed to be government land next to the site of the flattened Kg Buah Pala was demolished by private contractors this afternoon.
The contractors are believed to be linked to the developer of the Buah Pala land, Nusmetro.
A journalist and another eye-witness contacted me and raised the question: why is a private contractor demolishing structures believed to be standing on government land (state or federal?), when government officials are nowhere to be seen?
Problems at the Penang Botanic Garden
The Penang Botanic Garden is close to the heart of many Penangites. But the following photos suggest that its maintenance leaves something to be desired.
Photos by a regular Botanic Garden visitor – Click icon at bottom right to expand to full-page slideshow
I just hope whoever is responsible for the upkeep of the Garden will look into this.
In particular the dead trees or branches need to be removed before any passers-by get hurt. (Two people were killed some time ago from falling branches.)
Until this trees is felled, the nearby walkway needs to be barricaded. Is the tree dying because of improper pruning (or hacking?) or maintenance?
Developer threatens to sue Penang govt?
A developer is threatening to sue the Penang state government for tens of millions of ringgit.
The developer is one of four that was compelled to scale down its project to abide by Unesco guidelines for the preservation of George Town’s world heritage site listing.
Instead of timidly conceding the possibility of paying compensation (as it has in the past, thus possibly having the opposite effect of emboldening developers to sue the government), the Penang state government should publicly name the developer concerned and challenge it all the way.
A few Penangites already know who the developer is, but I will leave it to the Penang state government to come out and formally identify the developer.
Commercial property glut in Penang
While more property development projects are in the pipeline, the research unit of a local bank, CIMB Research, has reportedly warned of a “significant” commercial property glut in Penang. From an Edge report:
Occupancy rates:
- Office space: 76% (the lowest in Malaysia)
- Retail space: <70% (second lowest in Malaysia)
“There appears to be a significant glut in Penang, which would worsen if more office and retail space were built.”
- Beach hotels: 63% (3rd quarter, 2009)
- George Town hotels: 68%
- Hotels outside city: 37%
Closed-door meetings between CM and PCCC
Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has had a couple of “closed-door meetings” with the Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce (PCCC) during which issues close to the heart of developers and the housing industry were raised.
“The meetings have brought fruitful result to both party and it has achieved a win-win situation,” remarked the PCCC on its website.
Really? Read through the minutes of these two closed-door meetings carefully and draw your own conclusions. Pay close attention to the discussion on the threshold for the provision of low-cost housing, back-lanes, building setback minimum distances and major house renovations. You will get an indication of what the developers are seeking and what could be in store for the rest of us.
Tg Bunga hill-slope project problems unresolved
Tanjung Bunga residents have been urging the MPPP to closely monitor what is going on in the Surin property development project on the steep hill-slopes facing Chee Seng Gardens.
Photos by Tanjung Bunga residents – Click icon on bottom right to expand to full-screen slideshow
After much effort by the residents in highlighting the issue of uncovered hill-slopes, the MPPP has taken some action and the contractor has now partially covered the slopes, more so on the higher slopes. But many patches remain uncovered.
The residents have also complained that work is being carried out at night, sometimes past 8.00pm. They want the Council to confirm if the developer is allowed to carry on work beyond 6.00pm.