Ludicrous for developers to be money lenders
Excellent piece by MBPP councillor Lim Mah Hui:The proposal by the Urban Well-being, Housing and Local Government Minister, Noh Omar, to permit developers to be money lenders is fraught with risks.
Elevated LRT blues in KL
Another tourist attraction? A panoramic view of KL from a height while walking precariously on the maintenance platform alongside elevated LRT tracks.Two incidents in the space of a few days have shaken public confidence in the KL elevated LRT system.
CRCC and the Penang tunnel-highways deal
While much attention has focused on BUCG’s removal from Consortium Zenith BUCG Sdn Bhd, perhaps it is time to take another look at how another state-owned firm from China, China Railway Construction Corporation Ltd (CRCC), ended up as the main contractor for Zenith in the tunnel, highways and property development project.
After BUCG’s removal…
Interesting to see the Penang state government asking BUCG of China to take responsibility for an accident in KL last month or withdraw from the Penang tunnel, three highways and property development projects.A crane operated by the firm fell and crushed a woman to death in the incident in KL. The Penang state government has since consented to the removal of BUCG from the project.
Gobbling up the commons: Fisherfolk unhappy with Penang land reclamation
Fisherfolk have once again expressed their unhappiness over the land reclamation in Penang.There is a moral issue to consider here. The sea belongs to all of us: it is part of ‘the commons’. The commons is “the cultural and natural resources accessible to all members of a society, including natural materials such as air, water, and a habitable earth. These resources are held in common, not owned privately”.
Mahathir, Anwar exchange greetings after all these years
Eighteen years, three days ago to be precise. That was when Anwar was unceremoniously booted out of government on 2 September 1998.Mahathir turned up in court unexpectedly today to witness Anwar’s legal challenge against the draconian National Security Council Act, which gives Prime Minister Najib and an unaccountable council enormous security powers.
The mess near Mount Erskine market
This photo was taken this morning after about four hours of intermittent rain. The developer has built retaining walls, but what about proper drainage for surface run-off during a heavy downpour and internal ground water?
Avoiding conflict of interest: Consulting firm ‘should have no interest in project implementation’
The World Bank has specific guidelines to highlight conflict of interest situations especially in procurement.
Gentrification alert! Developer snaps up some 200 George Town properties
Kopitiam operator Wang Teng Kok, who specialises in Siamese chicken rice, is not a happy man. He has until 30 November 2016 to vacate his well patronised coffee-shop premises fronting Penang Road.
Tanjung Bungah hill clearings breach 250-feet threshold
Take a look at this and you can see the 250-feet threshold being breached at several points.
Another ‘tourist attraction’: The White River of Penang
Another inexplicable phenomenon: Sungai Kelian in Tanjung Bungah suddenly turned white – not the usual Muddy Brown that follows rainfall (there is a construction site further inland). Now this could be promoted as an ideal site for white water rafting.
Live updates – TangkapMO1 rally
In solidarity with the brave students demanding accountability in the 1MDB scandal. There is hope for this country yet.#tangkapMO1 Tweets
Now Bukit Jambul hit by hill-clearing more than 250 feet above sea level
This is apparently for a condo and semi-detached housing project by a major property developer. The site lies along Lebuh Bukit Jambul, on the hill-slopes just north of Inti College and near Equatorial Hotel in Bukit Jambul.
The Better, Cheaper, Faster alternative to a massive transport hub at Sia Boey
Take a good look at these images. This is what we could have at Sia Boey under the Better, Cheaper, Faster framework for transport in Penang.
An open letter to GTWHI general manager Ang Ming Chee
Lim Mah Hui, in his personal capacity, has written an open letter to Ang Ming Chee, the general manager of George Town World Heritage Inc:
Penang’s latest ‘tourist attraction’: The Dark Alley of Paya Terubong
This could be a tourist draw. An alley that is always dark, what more at dusk. Except that residents of the older flats facing the new condo blocks that tower over them are not impressed.
Paya Terubong residents worried over 47-storey towers on hill-slopes
Residents of Taman Seri Rambai/Lau Geok Swee in Paya Terubong are alarmed and worried about the extensive hill cutting and scarring in the area. Penang Forum press conference held a press conference this afternoon at the Paya Terubong JKKK Centre, which was packed with nearby residents and journalists.
Sia Boey: National Heritage Department to issue interim protection order, plans to extend buffer zone
This is a English translation (I am not sure who translated it) of a statement in Bahasa issued by the National Heritage Department or Jabatan Warisan Negara. JWN was among those that played a critical role in obtaining Unesco world heritage listing for George Town and Malacca.
Sia Boey: Penang Forum responds to criticism of its letter to Unesco
Penang Forum has responded to criticism of its letter to Unesco over the plan to construct a massive transport hub in an area designated as an arts and heritage district.Penang Forum’s original letter to Unesco can be found here, while the statement in response to criticism of the letter is reproduced below.
Sia Boey: ‘Do we want another concrete jungle?’
Comments made at the launch of the heritage and arts district at Sia Boey on 6 September 2015. How times have changed.“…the heritage shophouses will be retained, where ever they could be, we will make sure that they will also be able to contribute to a land and air of authenticity, and of course, the ambience and atmosphere necessary to signify that this is a Penang heritage and arts district.”