Why are we thinking of cross-channel cable cars when it is not in the Penang Transport Masterplan, for which the state government paid RM3.2m to consultants to undertake?
The Penang DAP State Assembly member for Tanjung Bungah Teh Yee Cheu is unhappy about a draft plan that would classify Tanjung Bungah, Teluk Bahang and Batu Ferringhi as a future development zone that would include commercial development.
The property development in connection with the tunnel is about to start with earnest with the RM800m City of Dreams project having received approval from the Penang Island City Council.City of Dreams involves the construction of a total of 522 luxury serviced apartments in two 38-storey towers on a 3.7 acre site in Sri Tanjung Pinang in Tanjung Tokong. Sea-front apartments will be priced from RM1200 per sq ft, which is reportedly lower than E & O’s nearby RM1800psf high-end condos.
An out-of-this-world proposal has reportedly been received from Hong Kong investors to build a 2500ha concrete deck island instead of reclaiming the Middle Bank as part of a land swap deal for the Penang Transport Master Plan.From Middle Bank to Gazumbo – Photographs: Hong Jing/FacebookIf the report is true, it looks as if the ecologically sensitive Middle Bank is being eyed as a target for land reclamation under the Master Plan (much like how reclaimed land in Tanjung Tokong is being handed over to the developer of the proposed tunnel).
Heritage enthusiast tunglang sent in this photo story of the remains of a 19th-century mansion at Pykett Avenue that was suddenly demolished before MPPP personnel could visit the premises to assess the building. The MBPP later stunned many Penangites when it rescinded its rebuild order.It was a September Sunday morning. Passing by the desolated grounds of the mansion, I decided to pay her (the remains of the mansion) a second visit.
Penang Forum has written a congratulatory letter to the new mayor of Penang Island which also outlines the group’s grave concerns over recent developments and trends.
Residents of Tanjung Bungah have launched an online petition against a Boon Siew Group project that will see two 50-storey buildings, one 49-storey building and one 34-storey building sprouting in the area.The online petition, launched on 4 April 2015, has so far drawn about 600 signatures. The petition can be found here. Over a thousand other residents had already signed a manual signature petition.
If not for the initiative taken by the Pepper Estates residents committtee, the unity of the residents themselves, and the assistance of the elected reps for the area, the residents might not have achieved a satisfactory deal.The residents grouped together and formed an association and hired an excellent, hardworking and honest lawyer. By the residents staying together and insisting on adequate compensation, they achieved it. Some important lessons to be learned here in dealing with developers.A Pepper Estate resident reports on the compensation agreement:It is almost three years since Beverley Heights Properties Sdn Bhd (BHP) bought the land known as Pepper Estate (about 30 acres in Tanjung Tokong) in May 2012.
Just when you thought things couldn’t get worse. They are trying to amend the Sedition Act in Parliament.
Govt is submitting an amendment to the Sedition Act which allows denial of bail once charged. Far more draconian! pic.twitter.com/zKyyXkWTyI— Nurul Izzah (@n_izzah) April 7, 2015
0226 (7 Apri): The Pota bill is passed. Detention without trial is back. It is a hammer blow to democracy in Malaysia. Janji dicapati.0125:
They are still grinding on.
Anwar Ibrahim was allowed to pay his respects to his late father Datuk Ibrahim Abd Rahman at the latters’ home in Kajang. Anwar arrived in a prison car, a black Toyota Fortuner, just after Mahathir had left the house.
Residents of Tanjung Bunga packed a press conference this morning to protest against a Boon Siew Group project that will see two 50-storey buildings, one 49-storey building and one 34-storey building sprouting in the area.
Even as Najib faces mounting pressure from Mahathir and Razaleigh, Malaysia’s leading political cartoonist Zunar reports: “My lawyer just informed that the government will charge me with NINE charges under The Sedition Act tomorrow, with the bail is about RM50,000. Otherwise I will be in jail.”
The good folks at Kajian Politik untuk Perubahan Malaysia have gone through the Prevention of Terrorism Act bill and are struck by how closely Pota resembles the ISA.Here are their observations:
KPRU mendapati, POTA memaparkan beberapa ciri-ciri yang dikongsi bersama sebelum Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA) dmansuhkan seperti berikut:
Update: Lionel Morais, Amin Shah Iskandar and Zulkifli Sulong were released this evening after the police failed to secure remand. Release Kay Tat and Jahabar as well!The arrests of The Edge CEO Ho Kay Tat and TMI chief editor Jahabar Sadiq this morning, along with three other TMI editors – Lionel Morais, Amin Shah Iskandar and Zulkifli Sulong – is deeply disturbing.This is not a step formard, but a step backwards to the dark days post-Ops Lalang, when The Star and a couple of other papers were effective muzzled.
@TerenceFnandez@hwabeng I thought I will never see the day when honest journalism becomes a victim. Not time to quit but stay n fight!
Update (3.40pm): The Prevention of Terrorism bill was tabled today in Parliament. The bill, which allows for detention without trial similar to the ISA, will go for a second reading this week. “They’re going to steamroll the bill through,” says one MP in Parliament. Preventive detention could very well be making a return soon with the tabling of the Prevention of Terrorism bill and a string of other related bills in Parliament tomorrow. We got rid of the ISA, which allowed detention without trial, not too long ago. Now this…
Update: After the rally, PKR organising secretary Faris Musa was arrested for sedition and taken to Dang Wangi. Bersih tweeted that two others were also arrested, but I’m unable to verify this at this stage.
The online petition, launched on 4 April 2015, has so far drawn about 600 signatures. The petition can be found here. Over a thousand other residents had already signed a manual signature petition.
The online petition, launched on 4 April 2015, has so far drawn about 600 signatures. The petition can be found here. Over a thousand other residents had already signed a manual signature petition.
