Penang Forum highlights hill degradation to chief minister
Statement for the 11 January 2016 meeting with the chief minister of Penang issued by the steering committee of Penang Forum:
‘Unmitigated disaster’ on Botak Hill, Penang Forum tells chief minister
The Penang Forum steering committtee released the following ‘executive summary’ to the media during its meeting with the chief minister of Penang:
55 highrise blocks approved on hills of Penang in recent years
How is this possible? Not really heading towards a greener Penang, are we?
Save our hills declaration at Penang Forum
Over 200 people participated in the forum organised by Penang Forum on 12 December, reflecting the concern felt by many Penangites. At the end of the forum, the following declaration was made.
Hill degradation: Penang Forum steering committee to meet chief minister tomorrow
Some 16 steering committee members of Penang Forum, a loose Penang civil society network, are scheduled to meet the Penang chief minister tomorrow afternoon at Komtar to discuss property development on hill land in Penang and illegal hill clearings.
Penang transport masterplan flawed; more study required
The Penang Forum steering committee has just released this:
The chief minister of Penang recently used the accident on the first Penang bridge to justify his proposed RM27bn transport masterplan. This is disingenuous; it is like arguing that more highways are needed because of traffic jams caused by accidents on the North-South highway.
As Mustapa Mohamed talks up TPPA, USM students, activists stage protest
Some 30 university students and activists led a protest outside USM this morning against the impending Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement, which would allow large multinational corporations greater powers in the national economy. It is believed to be the first protest against the TPP by university students in the country.
Penang ferries: Service to public, not profits, should be main criterion
Penang Forum has released the following letter to the press:
The people of Penang Island and mainland Penang are suffering because of political malaise. Do those in power in Putrajaya realise how much distress is endured by every user of the Penang ferry service, everyday, not just on festive weekends? When did you last queue for an hour to board the ferry?
Poll: Does Penang need more shopping malls?
Does Penang really need more shopping malls in the next five years?
Check out this report in The Star:
Penang ferries under ‘go slow’ instruction?
Penang ferries these days appear to be running at a slower speed compared to the 1970s.
‘Those who do ill shall suffer more if they are not caught’
Some lunch-time philosophy: How is that those who are massively corrupt or evil seem to evade justice whether in the courts or even divine justice during their earthly lives?
Five major Penang developers plan to build homes priced at RM0.5m-RM3.3m
When the Penang government allowed the maximum density of 30 homes per acre for residential properties to be raised to 87 homes per acre in 2010, the argument was that the higher density would allow developers to build more affordable homes. Yeah, right. (Did you really believe that at the time?)
Take a look at this report below, now. Five major developers are now focusing on homes with prices ranging from RM480,000 to RM3.3m. The question is, just whom are they building for? The ordinary people of Penang? I think not.
Liow, resolve privatised Penang ferries debacle before you think of privatising rail services
I knew this would happen.
Just when KTMB is doing well and packing in passengers into new electric trains after billions of public funds were spent on double tracking, along comes Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai with an announcement that the authorities plan to allow private companies, apart from KTM, to operate rail services on inter-city routes.
Hand over Penang port, ferries to state government, says Penang Forum
The ferry dis-service in Penang is ridiculous! Penang Forum has just released this urgent statement:
The Penang Forum Steering Committee is heartened that the federally controlled Penang Port Commission has requested the privatised Penang Port Sdn Bhd to postpone the plan to reduce the ferry service that was scheduled to take effect on 1 January 2016.
Red sea at Kuantan due to bauxite mining
LKIM (Malaysians Fisheries Development Board), please do something about this. What are you doing to protect the livelihoods of the fishermen there? Who is responsible for this enivironmental disaster?
As ferry commuters fume, PPC asks Penang Port to defer reduction in ferries
A temporary reprieve (see below).
It is time to step up the pressure against the federal Transport Ministry, the federally controlled Penang Port Commission, and the privatised Penang Port Sdn Bhd, which is linked to Sea Terminal under Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary.
We are not just demanding that the ferries not be reduced from 1 January. We want MORE ferries. If not, hand over the ferry service to the Penang state government.
Fishermen bear disproportionate cost of Penang transport masterplan
The financing model for the Penang transport masterplan and the very plan itself appears to be fundamentally flawed.
For a start, it is the fishermen of Penang who will have to bear a disproportionate amount of the cost in the form of their very livelihoods.
Residents see red over bauxite mining near Kuantan
A ban on Indonesian metal ore exports and the weaker ringgit and expanded alumina refinery capacity in China has led to a surge in Malaysian bauxite exports.
Penang demands more ferries: Get your act together, Liow Tiong Lai!
Penangites are utterly fed up and disgusted with the pathetic ferry service that the privatised Penang Port Sdn Bhd is providing. For this the Transport Minister must take full responsibility.
Muslims host landmark visit by Christian delegation at prominent blue mosque
In a rare landmark visit to a prominent mosque, a delegation of Christians, led by Bishop Sebastian Francis, visited the Abdullah Fahim Mosque in Bertam in Province Wellesley on 14 December 2015.
