Mukhriz Mahathir’s Kedah may try to extract water charges from Penang to raise the state’s revenue. At the same time, the Lankawai Development Authority (Lada) has signed a deal with a “tourism resort and high-impact attraction developer” to build a RM1.2bn “eco-tourism attraction”.
Poll on illegal hill-slope development (updated)
Following requests from a few people, this poll, which was initially closed after three days (on 9 July), is being re-opened and extended by a week until 22 July 2013.
Let’s hear it from you.
[poll id=”73″]
Secrets of a bygone era: Living the simple lifestyle
There are a number of reasons for the higher household debt. One of them is that we have lost the art of living within our means even as our wages have been suppressed.
Household debt a matter of concern
Household debt in Malaysia has reached levels that should concern our economic planners.
Singapore firm enters JV to develop Pepper Estate land
A Singaporean “lifestyle property developer” has entered into a joint-venture with Beverly Heights Properties Sdn Bhd to develop land that covers Pepper Estate in Penang – a move that could result in the displacement of an established local community.
Bukit Relau/Botak Hill: Corporate culprit fined RM30000!
Update (The Star): “General Accomplishment Sdn Bhd was fined RM30,000 in default three years jail for carrying out earthworks on Bukit Relau without a written permission from the local authorities. The company’s general manager, Rohana Shariff, pleaded guilty on Thursday to the charge on behalf of the company before Sessions judge Khairul Anuar Abdul Halim.”
Now let’s see what happens next on the hill-top. They will probably lie low for a few months, maybe even a couple of years, and then… But the big question remains unanswered and will not go away: How did the State Planning Committee rezone this hill-top land to housing?
A new photograph taken on 6 July shows that the hill-clearing goes quite a way down, turning the hill into an eye-sore. Meanwhile, the Penang Forum Steering Committee has written to the MPPP.
Pepper Estate: We are not ‘squatters’, says resident
A blog visitor from Pepper Estate shares with us the reality on the ground.
Francis tells future priests, nuns to buy humble bicycles
Pope Francis continues to set the tone in moulding a church of the poor, which would be truer to Gospel values. Now he is advocating that future priests and nuns use humble bicycles.
Pepper Estate: Demolitions begin; residents unite
Three out of the 300-odd houses in Pepper Estate in Penang have been demolished, but residents are coming together to prevent further damage to their houses.