Aduh! Nik Abduh trounced in Pas divisional polls; Husam makes waves
Pas youth leader Nik Abduh Nik Aziz suffered a crushing defeat in his bid to wrest the number two post in the Pengkalan Chepa Pas division from incumbent Dr Izani Husin.
Who will live on all the artificial islands Malaysia is creating?
With restrictions on the outflow of funds from China, what kind of impact will this have on the sales of property especially those on waterfront or reclaimed land in Malaysia? Are we in danger of creating ghost cities, where people buy property just for “investment”?
Tanjung Bunga: Good for developers, depressing for residents
This was outgoing Tanjung Bunga Residents Association chairman Renji Sathiah’s farewell address at the annual general meeting of the Tanjung Bunga Residents Association on 25 February 2017:
Penang and Tanjung Bunga continue to be threatened with unrestrained and unplanned development. More and more high-rise high-density projects have been and are being built in Tanjung Bunga and Batu Feringghi, greatly increasing traffic flows through our neighbourhood to and from the city.
Penang’s new (artificial) island in the sun – for whom?
The first phase of a 760-acre island, mainly for the well heeled, is emerging off the northeast coast of Penang Island – part of the Seri Tanjung Pinang Phase 2 reclamation. Smack in the middle of where the Tanjung Tokong fisherfolk used to work.
‘Severe mistake’ to turn Komtar into transport hub, says German urban planner
Most passengers do not have Komtar as their destination and to dedicate huge areas of prime land for platforms of stationed, waiting trains is undesirable, asserts Alex Koenig.
Where is Pastor Raymond Koh?
As people gathered at vigils calling for Pastor Raymond Koh’s release in George Town, Shah Alam and Johor Bharu last night, a CCTV video apparently showing the abduction of Pastor Raymond Koh went viral on social media, raising even more questions.
When housing becomes a commodity, a vehicle for wealth growth
What is causing so much dissatisfaction with the housing market? Well, the provision of housing these days in large part, no longer fulfils a social function to provide people with homes within their budget. Instead, it has become a tool of wealth creation – for ‘investors’, financial institutions, speculators, and of course the developers.
Penang Turf Club property development project REJECTED – but …
The Penang Island City Council has REJECTED a massive project at the Penang Turf Club on various grounds – but concerned residents and Penangites are not letting down their guard.
Pulau Jerejak: Would you buy a home on a small island with over 5,000 graves?
Would you buy a home on this island? These graves are on the north-western side of Pulau Jerejak.
According to a historian, there are at least 5,332 graves, most of them from the 7,500 leprosy patients who lived at one time or another on Pulau Jerejak. At least 3,691 of these graves are near the site of the old leprosy hospital on the eastern side of the island.
This hospital was funded largely by the local Chinese community. Frederick Weld, the then Governor of the Straits Settlements observed, “The building is a fine one with a central hall, and long tiled corridors and wards stretching out on either side. It is very cool and well arranged. Rows of coconut trees line the beach, and the view from it is most beautiful.”
This hospital was funded largely by the local Chinese community. Frederick Weld, the then Governor of the Straits Settlements observed, “The building is a fine one with a central hall, and long tiled corridors and wards stretching out on either side. It is very cool and well arranged. Rows of coconut trees line the beach, and the view from it is most beautiful.”
When moral outrage is misdirected
This is something I wrote a week ago:
As I write this, the large Pas rally in support of Hadi’s bill was scheduled to take place in KL on 18 February 2017.
While it is well within Pas’ right to hold this rally, its private member’s bill (Hadi’s bill) has raised uneasiness, especially in our plural and multi-religious society.
Priceless treasure: Eerie, enchanting Pulau Jerejak
The ruins of dormitories and leper homes, old reservoirs and undergound chambers, places of worship, jail cells, even a courtroom add an eerie touch to the island’s natural greenery that should be preserved as a state treasure for Penang.
I am appalled and still cannot fathom how, between a federal agency (Uda) and a state agency (PDC), 80 acres (a huge chunk of the flat land) of this national/state treasure could land up with a private developer, Ideal Property (which paid just RM160m for a 49 per cent stake that was previously held by PDC).
Was there any public participation in this decision? Who were involved in the negotiations with Ideal at all stages? Was this matter tabled at the Penang State Assembly for debate?
Before you buy a ‘sea-view’ property, think about rising sea levels
You would be forgiven for not knowing the results of a new study on how climate change is going to raise sea levels to a level higher than earlier expected. After all, who wins the English Premier League is way more important to the media and many of us than inundation by rising sea levels, right?
And so it is business (including property development and land reclamation) as usual…
Jesselton residents object to property development near Penang Turf Club
Over a hundred residents in the Jesselton area, and nearby areas such as Casa Grande, have objected to the proposed development around the Penang Turf Club (lots 403, 28 and 278).
Jemputan ke tayangan filem alam laut Mission Blue
[English version below] Hi semua, kami ingin menjemput anda semua ke tayangan filem Mission Blue, anjuran Kuasa bersama Aliran pada Sabtu, 25 Februari 2017 pada jam 2.30 tengah hari di Rumah Aliran.
RUU355 rally and Bebas counter rally
This is the scene at Padang Merbok, where some 50,000 are attending a rally in support of Hadi’s bill.
Mind you, this is without any obstacles, roadblocks or threats of arrest. (And so can have a fair idea of how many people Pas could contribute to a Bersih rally.) This is more or less the number of supporters Pas could pack into a stadium in say, Kelantan and Terengganu. Indeed, the numbers appear well short of Hadi’s prediction of a 200,000 turnout – and it is hardly a ringing nationwide endorsement of his bill. My good friend, Tasik Gelugor Pas information chief Abdul Rahman Kasim, was more guarded, forecasting 100,000 ahead of the rally. As friends, we have had frank exchanges – and strong differences of views – over whether Hadi’s bill is suitable for a diverse, multireligious society like ours. But no hard feelings. Meanwhile, some 200 gathered for the Bebas counter rally at Taman Jaya. Among those addressing the crowd was Haris Ibrahim.Suasana terkini di Padang Merbok yang dibanjiri peserta himpunan. –Foto Sinar Harian pic.twitter.com/Rpglns0alN
— SinarOnline (@SinarOnline) February 18, 2017
Anyway, it is good that the authorities have respected the right of both sides to gather peacefully and air their views at different venues.#TakNakUsul355 at Taman Jaya PJ pic.twitter.com/0XwyYSYV2o
— AyuMusa (@ayuscure) February 18, 2017
Higher density guideline will lead to more affordable homes? We’ve heard that before
Deja vu… Back in 2012, when the maximum density was increased from 30 homes per acre to 87 per acre, we were told that this would encourage developer to build more affordable homes. Did that happen? You tell me.
CNN gives nine reasons to visit Penang – but notice something…
No mention of theme parks, shoppping malls, sky walks, cable cars, 18-hole golf resorts – some of the things that the state government believes will draw more tourists to Penang.
Instead, the CNN write-up focuses on the arts, culture, underground music, an indigenous plant, artisans, unique religious festivals and Balik Pulau’s natural charm.
Strange ‘rocks’ surface at Tanjung Bungah beach
Strange malleable rocks surfaced at Tanjung Bungah beach a couple of weeks ago. These videos were taken by a concerned visitor, Andrea Briglia, on 28 January at around 6pm.
One theory is that these could be balls of marine clay, material from the bottom of the sea found along the West Coast of the peninsula. These could have been dislodged when sand on the surface of the sea bed was sucked out – or something else could have stirred it out to the surface.
Another theory is that the mud balls are the result of land reclamation which has been going on in a big way since the 1990s. Reclamation material is a mixture of sand and mud, which is then deposited at the bottom of the sea nearby.
Any other theories out there?
Say NO to making Penang a federal territory
The suggestion by a federal minister that Penang should become a federal territory is ludicrous…
Look what’s happening in and around the Penang Turf Club
More cutting of hill slopes… above photo taken yesterday.
And do you know what else is happening over at the Turf Club? Penangites saved the greenery from the horrendous Penang Global City Centre project in 2007-2008 – only to end up with this: