This is a petition by the Penang Heritage Trust (PHT) to save Soonstead:
The heritage of Soonstead is threatened by a proposed 13-storey tower block which would necessitate the demolition of the house’s dining room wing and annexe buildings.
Bukit Mertajam in spotlight – for the wrong reasons
A few news items caught my attention recently.
The first one is datelined Bukit Mertajam, the link for which I put up recently:
Trafficking abuse of Myanmar Rohingya spreads to Malaysia
The United States recently downgraded Malaysia and three other countries to Tier 3 – the lowest possible ranking – in its annual Trafficking of Persons (TIP) Report due to insufficient action taken to prevent human trafficking and forced labour. We are in the same group as Zimbabwe, North Korea and Saudi Arabia! See this Guardian report: ‘US penalises Malaysia for shameful human trafficking record’.
And the second revelation is about dead bodies, some of them reportedly foreigners, found dumped in and around the Bukit Mertajam area:
Penang fast becoming a state where there is no peace for the dead!
‘Cyber-troopers’ and ‘internet shills’
Locally, we are used to hearing the term ‘cyber-trooper’. But that term does not seem to be widely used outside Malaysia. Instead, the closest term seems to be ‘internet shill’.
Mahathir withdraws support for Najib – but how valid are his grounds?
Uh-oh, the news that an incumbent Umno prime minister dreads – Mahathir is withdrawing support. Deja vu.
Let’s look at some of the reasons he gave (in bold), with my comments next to them.
Mahathir didn’t like it when:
Najib repealed the ISA – Of course, Mahathir wouldn’t be happy with this. But other oppressive laws such as the Sedition Act (which Najib had pledged to repeal) remain in place, and this really should keep Mahathir contented – though not many of the rakyat.
Rohingya human trafficking at our door-step
While the authorities are busy investigating nudists scampering around at Teluk Kampi, an even more outrageous saga is taking place under our nose.
Why racism stinks
Here’s a good example of why racism stinks. I believe ordinary people know racism when they see it and that explains the reaction of patrons of this cafe in Sydney to racist hiring policies.
The slow food movement – a counter to fast food
Blog visitor Shila Kaur introduces the slow food moment in Penang to us:
Botak Hill: Teh’s case fixed for 23 September
From the High Court in Penang: Case management was carried out today and the hearing proper will be on 23 September at 9.00am.
Penang’s ‘Samy Vellu tunnel’ hits a road-block
This is what happens when you do things upside down. Zenith PMC Sdn Bhd has terminated its joint venture agreement with Astral Supreme Construction Bhd to conduct a feasibility study for the controversial tunnel after the latter failed to secure consultants to carry out the study.
Botak Hill: Green Adun’s defamation case tomorrow
Tanjung Bunga Adun Teh Yee Cheu is scheduled to appear at the High Court tomorrow in connection with a defamation suit filed against him over his protest and comments on the environmental degradation at Bukit Relau.