“If there’s something strange
In your neighbourhood
Who you gonna call?”*
The murmurs are growing louder in southern Penang Island – and still we haven’t been told exactly what to expect there.
Something big is happening in southern Penang Island
Suu Kyi’s landslide win … and now even Burma may surpass us in the democracy stakes
I wrote a blog post on 16 September 2011 about a crystal-ball gazing piece I had written in 2005 foreseeing the scene in 2025.
Some bits of that forecast have come true, especially the bit about the ISA being repealed (though not in the way I expected) – and now, Suu Kyi being poised to lead Burma after the nation’s first free elections in years.
RM300m ‘Penang Sky Cab’ project?
Some quick observations on the Penang budget speech.
The Penang state government has requested Penang Sentral Sdn Bhd to undertake a feasibility study for a RM300m Penang Sky Cab project, presumably a cross-channel cable car system (point no.58 in the Penang budget speech below). The state government acknowledges this is not meant as an alternative to public transport modes like LRT and trams, but more as a tourist attraction.
But cable cars are not an unusual gimmick; Malaysia already has them in Genting and Langkawi (see video above); and they would not be unusual for tourists from developed nations. Besides, the fares are unlikely to be cheap. So, hopefully no public funds will be used for this.
New Canadian PM unveils ethnically diverse cabinet with equal men and women
An example for the rest of the world.
They really have come a long way since 25 years ago when there was a huge controversy over whether Sikhs could be allowed to wear the turban in the Royal Canadian Mounties.
Taman Tun Dr Awang flats: Finally … what a difference a coat of paint makes!
Great news! What a world of difference.
This was what the Taman Tun Dr Awang flats in Butterworth looked like before (see below) when I tweeted about it a month ago, after yet another foreign visitor, this time from Singapore, asked why the the powers that be were not doing anything about it.
Looks like neither BN Adun nor Pakatan govt can give the Taman Tun Dr Awang flats in Bworth a coat of paint. Sad. pic.twitter.com/hw7RWXFyOl
— Anil Netto (@anilnetto) October 4, 2015
Five questions Obama must answer when he visits Malaysia this month
What, Obama back again? So fast, ah? Not content with a trip to Malaysia last year and a golfing rendezvous with Najib over the last Christmas break, Obama is visiting us again for Asean and related summits on 18-22 November. Gosh, he must like Malaysia golfing with Najib the TPP a whole lot.
Penang government’s ferry takeover offer: What’s holding it up?
Commuters using the ferry service in Penang are suffering interminable delays following a reduction in the number of ferries in service.
The Penang state government has offered to take over the privatised ferry service and increase the number of ferries. But it has reportedly not heard anything since meetings were held.
Does George Town’s 4th place in Lonely Planet’s list put it among world’s top 10 cities?
While there is much back-slapping over the accolade of being listed No. 4 in Lonely Planet’s ranking of places to visit in 2016, it is important to be clear what that list represents and what it is not.
KTM on right track with new Butterworth-KL electric trains, but …
… most people in KL and Penang are unaware of the new service or the train schedules and fares.
Six things you may not know about UKM
1. UKM is the only public university to receive an increased allocation in the 2016 Budget. Its estimated allocation will be increased by 5 per cent from RM488m to RM512m in 2015. All other public universities, including UTM, which is the highest ranking Malaysian university, have had their budgets trimmed, leading to concern among many that next year could see university tuition fee hikes. The above image is an excerpt from the 2016 budget allocations. What makes UKM so special?