Overdependence? How China is set to change Malaysia’s landscape
The pro-Umno Red Shirts should think twice if they plan to create a ruckus in Kuala Lumpur on 19 November. China, which has just entered into a slew of investment agreements with Malaysia, will no doubt be watching events here with interest.
This is an article I wrote for Aliran:
It must be a confusing time to be one of the nationalist pro-Umno Red Shirts. What would they make of the giant state-run and listed firms from China that are now going to be involved in billions and billions of ringgit worth of infrastructure contracts in Malaysia?
More thuggish behaviour from Red Shirts
It is amazing that these Red Shirts seem to think they have free rein to intimidate and try and stop others from exercising their basic rights. What are the authorities doing about such brazen behaviour?
Have these Red Shirts given 10 days’ notice for their outdoor gatherings (aimed at intimidation) as required under the Peaceful Assembly Act?
Is this the kind of Malaysia we want? Malaysians must condemn such behaviour, urges Bersih 2.0.
#StopTheIntimidation.
Penang at a crossroads: Building more highways or a good public transport system?
MBPP councillor Dr Lim Mah Hui wrote this commentary after an exchange with Roger Teoh, a PhD student in transport engineering, who is also a DAP member:
Over the past weeks, Roger Teoh, a PhD student in transport engineering, has contributed three articles in Malaysiakini on the proposed Penang transport masterplan. Based on an analysis of an extensive database of key transport statistics from 100 cities around the world, he has come to several important conclusions, many of which are very relevant for Penang.
It is not about ringgit and sen; Pulau Jerejak is a priceless green lung belonging to the people
I am sorry; this is not the point (see the statement below about who is making losses and who is making a profit re: Pulau Jerejak). Everything cannot be boiled down to ringgit and sen.
This is about the need to preserve Pulau Jerejak as a green lung for present and future generations of Penang residents. We are always complaining about a lack of open green spaces. Here we have one – and what do they do? Hive it off for high-end property development!
In the end, the federal Uda Holdings and the private property developer Ideal Property will very likely make a profit. The state PDC makes a profit. These profits are fleeting and will soon evaporate.
The losers (in terms of loss of a large tract of precious open green space, ‘The Commons’, to private interests) are the residents of Penang. Their loss will be permanent.
Save Pulau Jerejak from ‘redevelopment’ #SaveJerejak
Penang Forum is concerned to hear about extensive ‘redevelopment’ plans for Pulau Jerejak, a prized natural asset and green lung for the state.
The corporate ‘takeover’ of Penang Island’s eastern coastline
Bit by bit, relentlessly, large stretches of the coastline of the eastern half of Penang Island have been handed over or sold to property developers, who are planning mostly higher-end projects.
The strong fencing (albeit temporary) in the photo above may be seen as a metaphor for the way coastal stretches are now being hived off to private interests.
The latest is Pulau Jerejak, part of which is now going to be closely associated with Ideal Property and Uda Holdings.
Just tram it!
Penang Forum, a civil society coalition of Penang-based NGOs and concerned individuals, has come up with a new video in its persistent campaign call for a ‘Better, Cheaper, Faster’ Penang transport masterplan as an alternative to the over-the-top RM46bn proposal put up by SRS Consortium.
The Chinese version below:
Floods, landslide, partial road collapse after latest downpour in Penang
After a heavy downpour in Penang, more havoc. This road collaspse is around 50 metres from the back door of the Tropical Spice Garden in northern Penang Island. Stress marks were spotted in 2015 along other stretches of the road further north in nearby Batu Ferringhi.
A landslide also struck the area at 5.30am.
MBPP continues operations to clear obstructed pavements
Not long ago, while walking along a dim ‘five-foot way’ in town, my knee struck against a parked motorbike in the shadows. “Ouch! Man, that hurt,” I thought to myself, with none-too-pleasant thoughts about the person who had parked the bike there and the council for allowing such things to continue happening.
Penang Forum launches Penang Hills Watch online crowd-sourcing mapping initiative
Now everyone can report hill clearing activities using Whatspp or email! Penang Forum held a press conference this morning to launch the Penang Hills Watch initiative.
Purported ‘suicide note’ that went viral reveals pressure, despair felt by some
This suicide at the second Penang bridge startled many not least due to the reported message purportedly left behind by the victim on Facebook. This statement by Parit Buntar MP Mujahid Yusof is worth pondering on.
Flash floods hit Farlim, state mosque area
Flash floods submerged Jalan Thean Teik in Farlim in front of All Seasons after a heavy downpour this evening. The areas around the state mosque, the Turf Club area and Jalan P Ramlee were also affected.
Welcome to the new ‘Thean Teik River’.
Newspaper deliveries slump; Gurney Drive going green?
Today, I met someone I know who delivers newpapers to homes in his neighbourhood in Penang every morning on a part-time basis. He told me he used to deliver about 170-180 newspapers on his daily rounds about two years ago. Nowadays, that figure has fallen to around 80.
From 87 units per acre density to 128 units per acre!
I am not sure what is going on here. The state government has announced that the “87 units per acre guideline, after deliberation with all stakeholders, will be replaced by a new guideline of 128 units per acre, whereby the units developed under this guideline cannot be less than 900 square feet and cannot be priced less than RM400,000…”
RM55bn for East Coast rail line project… but 19% budget cut for public universities
Tucked away in the PM’s Budget 2017 speech was this nugget:
240. The Government is also committed to upgrade public transport in rural areas through the following measures:
First: Implementation of the new East Coast Rail Line project connecting Klang Valley to the East Coast, in phases. The 600-km rail will connect townships such as Port Klang, ITT Gombak, Bentong, Mentakab, Kuantan, Kemaman, Kerteh, Kuala Terengganu, Kota Bharu, and ends in Tumpat, with an estimated cost of RM55 billion; A cool RM55bn. Interesting that there are no qualms going for such a mega project at this time. This comes at a time when the government also has no qualms about slashing the budget of public universites by almost 20 per cent!
Penang state government vs Gerakan: Why the GDP debate is meaningless
Over the last few days, we have witnessed an exchange between the Penang state government and Gerakan over the economic and development performance of Penang.
King Tides provide a glimpse into how climate change will affect us
Can it be business as usual for us? Why weren’t King Tides a big problem before? What has changed?
