52-51 vote shock exposes BN’s vulnerability to rising cost of living
The BN-led government’s razor-thin 52-51 winning margin in a vote called by the opposition to protest at the rising cost of petrol of goods has sent a ripple of excitement down the nation.
Group raises concerns over Penang Botanic Garden corporatisation
The following are areas of concern raised by the Friends of the Penang Botanic Garden Society.
Some questions about the quiet ‘corporatisation’ of Penang Botanic Garden
Update (15 November): The bill to corporatise the Penang Botanic Garden was passed yesterday with barely any prior publicity.
One BN state assembly rep reportedly questioned why the general manager reports to the chairman (who will be the chief minister) rather than to the board of directors.
Concern was expressed that the bill allows for the collection of fees: a DAP exco member conceded that fees should not be charged for entrance into the gardens; but then he suggested that fees could be charged for a certain ‘product’ within the gardens.
Uh-oh, if the Penang Hills Corporation is the model to be used, then we have reason to be concerned.
Original post (14 November):
With the Penang public largely unaware, moves are afoot to ‘corporatise’ the Penang Botanic Garden and turn it into a Penang State Park (Botanic) Corporation.
‘George Town looked as if someone had poured teh tarik over it’
That’s what a visiting friend of mine, a former Penang resident, remarked when he saw images of the flood in George Town.
Clarify these hill land project approvals since 2008
The Penang state government claims no hill slope projects above 250 feet have been approved since 2008.
Tree planting: Tanjung Bungah remembers the landslide victims
An update from the Tanjung Bunga Residents Association:
On 11 November, the Tanjong Bunga Residents’ Association (TBRA) will be planting trees at the site of the fateful landslide, which cost the lives of 11 men, all except one, migrant workers.
Penang landslides, floods: Unusual weather phenomena a sign of things to come
Aliran is holding a talk on Climate change: Global challenges, local solutions on 21 November in Penang. You might like to register here.
Meanwhile, Penang Forum has just released a statement:
Penang Forum deeply empathises with the suffering that many Penangites and Kedahans have had to endure over the unprecedented flash flood and landslide mishaps that happened over the weekend of 4-5 November 2017.
Gabungan Bertindak Malaysia launches fundraising drive for flood relief
If you want to contribute to the flood relief effort, please check out this initiative by this multi-ethnic, multi-religious civil society coalition.
Stop short-sighted urban planning; improve flood resilience, says TBRA
The Tanjung Bunga Residents’ Association (TBRA) is once again calling for the state to halt all short-sighted and patchy urban planning that continues to cause more flooded homes, uprooted trees, and power cuts, making travel inconvenient.
A sleepless weekend in Penang – Why so much mud?
Where did all that mud come from?
Guest writer tunglang shares his weekend with us:
Government must act now in wake of 4 November Penang flood tragedy
The Consumers’ Association of Penang and Sahabat Alam Malaysia are very distressed by the tragedy that has taken place yesterday and early morning today in Penang.
Penang’s nightmare: The morning after…
And so it has come to pass… reports of damage all over after a relentless overnight storm battered Penang. Near Straits Regency, behind Surin, in Tanjung Bungah, a dangerous road has collapsed.
Howling winds, floods haunt Penangites as rain lashes through the night
Barely a week after Penang Forum 8’s Dialogue on Floods, prolonged heavy rain is lashing the state, inundating several streets.
Google Earth images show how Tanjung Bungah landslide site was cleared
These are Google Earth images over the last four years, which GIS expert Dr Kam Suan Pheng of Penang Forum downloaded and commented on.
Revealing Google Earth compilation of hill cuttings reported by Penang Hills Watch
Penang Hills Watch, an initiative of Penang Forum, has submitted three reports to the Penang state government containing a total of 56 cases of hill clearing.
City councillor nominated by Penang Forum just delivered a brilliant address at an MBPP full council meeting
The local government in a democratic country should enjoy the autonomy and possess the integrity to make its own policies, rules and guidelines, city councillor Khoo Salma Nasution told a full council meeting of the Penang Island City Council in a landmark address this morning. “The council should ensure its own rules are not compromised, that they do not need to bow to the developer’s logic, to all sorts of development pressures or to political pressures, just because Penang is a ‘land-scarce’ state.”
Penang Forum 8: Dialogue on floods – a call to action (videos)
Representatives from all parties turned up for Penang Forum 8, which was attended by over 200 people.
Najib’s Budget 2018
How will Najib narrow the fiscal deficit ahead of the general election while dishing out the ‘goodies’ especially to rural voters? What about allocations for healthcare, low-income housing and universities?
Tanjung Bungah landslide: Penang commission of inquiry must have broad scope
The Tanjung Bungah Residents Association released the statement below. Incidentally, the chairperson Meenakshi was one of those detained under the ISA led under the Operation Lalang crackdown exactly 30 years ago today.
Tanjung Bungah landslide: Five REAL facts you should know (updated)
Some purported “facts” are being circulated about the Tanjung Bungah project.