Dear readers, wishing all of you a Happy Lunar New Year of the Horse. I wish you all the best attributes of the horse – courage in adversity, strength in overcoming challenges, diligence in toil and hard work, and perseverance against all odds in these challenging times.
Update (29 January 2014): It is confirmed that this new structure at the corner of the Formal Garden is for new toilets to replace the old toilets located nearby, which are apparently in bad shape and will be demolished. Climbing plants will be used on the stone walls so that the new structure blends with the rest of the landscape. (But why such a tall structure for toilets?) Meanwhile it is heartening to hear that approval has been given for all buildings that have no apparent use to be demolished. One wonders why they were built in the first place.
Original post on 25 January 2014:
Sigh! Another concrete structure is sprouting at the Penang Botanic Garden.
The plot thickens! Rafizi Ramli says the gambit to force a by-election in Kajang is in anticipation of the possibility of Najib Razak being ousted by the Mahathir faction and to showcase Selangor as a model of Pakatan rule.
Bishop Sebastian Francis has released a pastoral letter calling on Malaysians not to be diverted from the real issues affecting us.
Penang Forum has issued a statement in response to the Penang Chief Minister initiating legal action over a report published in a news portal.
From various accounts, it was Selangor Mentri Besar Khalid Ibrahim’s perceived lack of consultation that resulted in faltering support from his Pakatan colleagues, especially those from within PKR.
While all the talk is of ‘Allah’ banners and Molotov cocktails, the real action is taking place in deals such as the proposed delisting of Padiberas Nasional Berhad (Bernas) from the stock exchange. The delisting of Bernas would take away what little public scrutiny there is of this privatised firm.
What is at stake? This is the cherry in the pie:
A police report has been lodged following the incident this morning when a couple of Molotov cocktails were lobbed into the premises of the Assumption Church in Penang.
A video clip showing the march around Seberang Jaya at the end of the Turun 2.0 rally to protest against price hikes yesterday afternoon.
Never mind the provocative ‘Allah’ banners in several churches in Penang put up overnight by a ‘dirty tricks’ person/group (to divert attention away from the anti-price hikes rally today?), the real issue in the minds of many Malaysians is the slew of price hikes. Some 1500 people marched in a procession around Seberang Jaya on mainland Penang to express their unhappiness after listening to speeches at the back entrance of Sunway Carnival mall this afternoon.