Guan Eng’s arrest
Chow Kon Yeow’s response:
Over 1,000 attend raucous debate on Penang tunnel, highways
Just back from the debate at the Caring Society Complex in Penang, and I can’t say I was edified or any the wiser from what transpired.Penang debate of the year on undersea tunnel: Dap LimHockSengvsGerakanLiangTeckMeng @caringsociety @malaysiakini pic.twitter.com/iJf8YKwlvY
— susan loone (@susanloone) June 28, 2016
Why are vested corporate interests influencing Penang’s urban planning?
Today an important meeting in Penang was held, away from the public eye, to discuss a revised Local Plan for Penang Island.
Behind Miami Green, a project higher than 250 feet above sea level?
The MBPP has to explain this project on a 5.0ha plot of land on environmentally sensitive steep hillslopes. About two thirds of the plot is above the Penang Structure Plan threshold of 250 feet above sea level.
Support Aliran’s fundraising dinner in KL on 23 July
For a worthy cause … the struggle for Justice, Freedom and Solidarity. And God knows we need that in the country. good cause. Hope to see some of you from the Klang Valley there.More details on the Aliran website.
Penang transport infrastructure cost balloons from RM27bn to RM46bn
When Halcrow first came up with its transport masterplan, the projected cost of implementing the Penang masterplan was reported to be RM27bn. This figure included the RM6bn-plus for the tunnel and three highways (under Zenith), which was the state government’s idea.
Keep a sharp eye on the Relau Agriculture Station land
Talk has it that housing developers are eyeing 60-80 acres of at the Agriculture Station land in Relau, the last major green lung in this area.
Penang’s FOI joke
All kinds of hurdles are placed in the way of releasing information under the Freedom of Information Enactment in Penang.First, you have to apply. Fair enough.
Kuala Kangsar, Sungai Besar by-elections: Quick comment
So it looks as if the BN is heading for a comfortable victory in both parliamentary seats, judging by the congratulatory tweets issued by the likes of KJ.What is clear is that the BN and, let’s not forget, Hadi’s Pas have succeeded in driving a wedge among opposition supporters, who have divided their votes between Amanah and Pas. Otherwise, the total opposition votes would have been closer to the BN’s tallies.
Farewell to the Gurney Drive we knew and loved
Look at the massive sedimentation along the entire stretch of Gurney Drive today.This is the sad state of Gurney Drive today as land reclamation work is in progress for a massive property development project on the western end (in front of Gurney Plaza).
Muhammad Ali’s greatest fights were outside the ring
The screen from the small black and white television flickered in front of a hall full of excited primary schoolchildren.
Something’s seriously wrong: Ipic seeks arbitration for disputed RM27bn with 1MDB
So it has come to this: Ipic, Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund, is seeking arbitration in London for some US$6.5bn, which it claims is owed to it following a dispute with 1MDB.
Mahathir campaigns for Amanah in by-elections (video)
Mahathir explains why he is supporting the opposition candidates in the parliamentary by-elections and opposing Najib’s leadership and Hadi’s hudud bill.
Why it’s crucial for Amanah to put on a strong showing in by-elections
The nation is at a crossroads now: we are faced with a choice between going down a more conservative route to religion, which we could alter the long-accepted character of public life in the nation, or we could adopt a more enlightened approach to Islam.
Penang shouldn’t follow Klang Valley road-building frenzy
A short comment piece by MBPP councillor Dr Lim Mah Hui:I welcome Roger Teoh’s comments on my article “Road to folly: Will building more roads resolve traffic congestion” as a healthy debate over an issue of great importance.
The Curitiba model: Towards a sustainable, liveable community and city
A short commentary by MBPP councillor Lim Mah Hui:Today I wish to share with you a short video on Curitiba, a medium sized city of 2m in eastern Brazil that transformed itself into one of the most liveable in the world. In 2010, it was given the Global Sustainable City Award.
Appointed to the Penang Transport Council; your suggestions, please
So I have been appointed to the Penang Transport Council. I thank the state government for appointing this “vocal critic” (cough, cough) to the council as a representative of Aliran.
Whatever happened to 1MDB’s Cayman Islands funds?
In early May, the Financial Times of London carried an in-depth feature on the City of London as a global money laundering hub, which included an expose of the Swiss private bank BSI in the UK.
Moscow mulls closure of troubled monorail
There aren’t that many monorail systems in Europe. One of the few is in Moscow – and it is bleeding red ink, burdening taxpayers.This is Vukan R Vuchic, a public transport expert, professor of the University of Pennsylvania, and former consultant for the US Department of Transportation on planning, design and operations of transport systems. Notice that he says the best tried and tested modes are buses, trams and metros.
China embraces modern trams/light rail – much cheaper than elevated LRT/monorail
China is embracing light rail in a big way. Check out this report here.
Step forward light rail systems, the construction costs of which are 20-30% of a metro, with a similar wave of construction and development now underway across China.
At the end of 2014, eight Chinese cities operated light rail networks, with a cumulative distance of 192.6km, and several cities are on course to open their first lines in 2015. Plans are now in place to develop more than 2000km of lines by 2020 and up to 4000km of lines by 2050. But with 319km of light rail infrastructure currently under construction, and 1835km already in the design phase, this number is likely to be out of date very soon.
It is important to realise that modern trams may be built at street level, but they can also have dedicated lanes and be elevated over difficult or congested stretches. This is what the original transport masterplan consultants Halcrow (to whom the Penang state government paid over RM3m) recommended for the 17.4km route from the Penang airport to Weld Quay route – dedicated lane at street-level, elevated along certain stretches and then shared roads when entering George Town. The cost RM40-80m/km – or just over RM1bn.