Home Blog Page 186

The most beautiful sound in the world – is in Malaysia

And it comes from a swamp in Sarawak. Another reason to treasure and preserve our natural habitat, instead of building all those artificial ‘tourist attractions’ while destroying our forests and hills and seas.

“Dusk by the Frog Pond” by “Wild Ambience” is the winner of the Most Beautiful Sound in the World competition.

Maha Tower will mar Langkawi

The news that a 138-metre tall tower dubbed ‘Maha Tower’ is being constructed in Langkawi has gone largely unnoticed. Why build such a huge structure to mar a natural paradise (or at least, what used to be a natural paradise)?

Maha Tower, Langkawi

Pedestrian walkways – or obstacle courses?

There is little regard for the rights of pedestrians in urban planning in cities and towns around the country. Pedestrian walkways are often obstructed with all sorts of obstacles – motorbikes, restaurant tables and chairs, food stalls, shop display stands.

Blog visitor Papa Sensible sent in these photos of five-foot-ways taken in Penang on 15 January 2014.

Pedestrian walkway obstructed
Limbo low now, how low can you go to get past this. Another obstacle in Penang – Photograph: Papa Sensible.

Pro-Umno groups hold protest rallies in Seberang Jaya, Alma

Trust the pro-Umno groups to find an ethno-religious twist to the kangkung episode.

This video appears to be of the gathering of some 600-700 people outside the Sunway Carnival mall in Seberang Jaya yesterday.

Podcast: Was the BBC’s kangkung commentary really blocked?

This BBC podcast on the kangkung episode discusses, among other things, whether there was an attempt to block a BBC website page containing an earlier report on the outbreak of kangkung jokes on social media.

Prolonged kangkung laughter an outlet for dissent over economy

The prolonged laughter over kangkung may be a sign of something deeper. Just as the Bersih yellow was the symbol of dissent over the unfairness of the present electoral system, the humble kangkung has become a symbol of the economic difficulties facing ordinary Malaysians.

Najib’s kangkung remarks make world news

“This kangkung obsession is fast becoming a laughing stalk,” tweeted comedian Kuah Jenhan. “Lettuce get to the root of the problem. We have mushroom for improvement.” That was the conclusion of a BBC commentary on Najib’s kangkung speech, which has been trending on social media.

Dedicated bicycle lanes: Go for bold pilot project

Cycling as a commute requires a bold move that is connected to something bigger. Not a half-baked patched-up idea in piecemeal dressed up with lots of PR, writes blog visitor Islandjoe.

Bicycle share system: Chicken-and-egg connundrum?

A couple of readers have left pointed comments about the bicycle share scheme that is being mooted in Penang.

Najib’s kangkung speech hints of burden of rising food prices

Najib’s by now famous kangkung speech is the latest sign that the burden on the rakyat of rising food prices cannot be ignored by political leaders any longer.