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The Botak Hill summit that Penang Forum activists were not shown

The above satellite image is of the 1.5km-long flattened summit of Botak Hill, which Penang Forum activists were not taken to see. Instead the four-wheel drives stopped at the boundary of the plot of land, well below the top (see the yellow pin in the photo below). Why were they not taken to the top?

That cleared strip at the summit is over 1,500 feet in length
That cleared strip at the summit, the yellow line, is over 1,500 feet in length

The photo below is a 360-degree shot of the summit in early 2014 taken by an avid hiker.

Botak Hill summit in early 2014 - Photograph: rexymizrah.wordpress.com
A 360-degree photograph of the Botak Hill summit in early 2014 – Photograph: rexymizrah.wordpress.com

The hiker has published more photographs on his blog of the devastation on Botak Hill along trails leading to the summit. Vigilant hikers like him are the guardians of our hills.

Heated argument over Botak Hill ‘mitigation’ work during site visit

Up on Botak Hill 27 January 2016

An engineer (right) involved in the mitigation work under intense questioning by Penang Forum steering committee members as Chow Kon Yeow (centre) looks down.

A heated discussion took place during a site visit to Botak Hill (Bukit Relau) this morning over whether the work being carried out was mitigation or restoration.

RM2.6bn donor must officially confirm repayment

The RM2.6bn donor must step out and official confirm if such a donation was made and how much was returned. The prime minister should then account for the difference.

This is in the light of the widespread scepticism that greeted the attorney general’s statement. Here’s an excerpt from a Dow Jones Business news report on the Nasdaq website:

A Saudi government official, while declining to comment specifically on the prosecutor’s statement, said the Saudi ministries of foreign affairs and finance had no information about such a gift and that a royal donation to the personal bank account of a foreign leader would be unprecedented. Representatives of the royal family couldn’t be reached for comment.

Appeals Board decides in favour of Sungai Ara residents

The Appeals Board this morning decided in favour of the residents of Persiaran Kelicap and Solok Kelicap over a “special project” on hilly land near them.

Botak Hill as you have never seen it before

Why the road up Botak Hill? Some of these images were projected during a dialogue between the Penang chief minister and Penang Forum on 11 January 2014.

Poll: Should Malaysia ratify the TPP agreement?

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Watch Obama tell the American people how the TPP would help American exporters penetrate countries such as Malaysia. Yes, he actually mention Malaysia and its “30 per cent tax on American auto parts”.

Are our local businesses – and farmers – ready for an influx of American goods and services?

Platform collapses in sea off Gurney Drive

A platform believed to be used for carrying out tests (for land reclamation?) has collapsed in the sea facing Gurney Paragon along Gurney Drive in Penang.

Sungai Ara residents await Appeals Board decision on 27 January

Residents in the area around Persiaran Kelicap and Solok Kelicap in Sungai Ara are anxiously awaiting an Appeals Board decision on a developer’s plan to build 14 fairly highrise blocks on hill-slopes, more than 250 feet above sea level.

Each political party, each MP must make stand clear on TPP

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Party whips should not not be imposed and MPs should be allowed to vote on the TPP according to their conscience next week. But I would like to know the stand of each party and each MP. 

Trams return to Burma – with just RM17m funding

With just US$3.88m (RM17m) funding under a Japanese investment agreement, Burma has brought back the trams to Yangon after 100 years.