What happens when you put a group of youths in a room over the weekend, with plenty of coffee, and ask them to come up with an article ready for publication? Not just on any topic but on issues facing the nation. How do they grab the readers’ attention from the first paragraph and ensure that their writing is coherent, concise, engaging and readable?
Middle-East concerns mount over 1MDB debt
It is not just in Malaysia that people are concerned about 1MDB. Apparently, certain parties in the Middle-East are getting a bit jittery. This was the lead in the Business section of the Gulf Times on 15 January 2015.
Human trafficking syndicates believed to be behind grisly mainland Penang murders
Police have said they believe human trafficking syndicates are behind the series of murders in mainland Penang.
This was what I was alluding to in my blog post in August 2014: Bukit Mertajam in the spotlight – for the wrong reasons. The news about human trafficking syndicates operating here had emerged in January 2014.
Charlie Hebdo terror mysteries
Why would a judicial police commissioner allegedly commit suicide while wrapping up a report on investigations into one of the biggest criminal acts in France in recent times?
Helric Fredou, a 45-year-old French police commissioner, reportedly shot and killed himself in his office at 1.00am, while he was wrapping up a police report after meeting with the family of one of the Paris murder victims.
1MDB debt weighs down on Malaysian economy
Bloomberg has carried a report on the situation at 1MDB that Malaysians must keep a sharp eye on:
The Edge Financial Daily said this week the fund had missed a 2 billion ringgit ($563 million) loan repayment on Dec. 31. It has been given until Jan. 30 to settle the debt, which was first due on Nov. 30, the article said, citing people it didn’t identify.
Promote Province Wellesley heritage but curb property speculation
The promotion of heritage awareness of Seberang Perai is long overdue but care but be taken to ensure that it doesn’t encourage property speculation and further drive up house prices, pushing them beyond the reach of ordinary residents.
Batu Ferringhi residents launch petition against overdevelopment
Batu Ferringhi residents have launched an online petition expressing concern about high-rise high-density projects that could mar the tranquil setting (what remains of it) of this popular coastline.
This is the link to the petition.
Meanwhile, the Penang Structure Plan 2005-2020, which is the overriding planning document for Penang (just below the National Physical Plan), has this to say about the area. Note the densities specified:
Human rights lawyer Eric Paulsen’s arrest cause for concern
Feeling disturbed by the arrest and two-day remand of human rights lawyer Eric Paulsen over a tweet regarding Jakim.
GHAH press conf happening now in solidarity 4 Eric Paulsen charge under Sedition Act. @mandeepkarpall @SUARAMtweets pic.twitter.com/9Ku5qNJZfu
— BERSIH 2.0 (@bersih2) January 13, 2015
Soaring vegetable prices hurt household budgets
It is not only because of the floods that prices of vegetables have soared. The weakening ringgit may have made foreign vegetables cost more, while fuel price hikes last year may also have contributed to the price hike.
