Just as the Emergency (1948-1960) was replaced by the ISA in 1960, today the ISA neared its end with the passing of the Security Offences Bill 2012 in Parliament.
DIDPs face bleak future (updated)
Update (17 April): Good news! The residents of Kampung Boundary 5 in Air Itam, Penang, today succeeded in obtaining a stay order from the court pending the outcome of the hearing of their case proper. Their village has thus been saved from demolition – for the time being.
14 April — Take note of this term: ‘development-induced displaced persons’ (DIDPs) – you will be hearing more and more about such communities across the country including in Penang.
The problem with GDP
Why is GDP such a poor measure of the economic well being of the people of a country? For one thing, it only measures “goods” (and services) but not the “bads”.
Students’ Occupy Dataran protest enters Day 3
A group of some 30 students are determined to continue their Occupy Dataran Merdeka protest against burdensome study loans.
Master plan recommends BRT, trams for Penang
“Moving to a higher quality Light Rail Transit or Monorail system is unlikely to be justified,” say traffic consultants hired by the state government to formulate a Penang traffic master plan.
Rich-poor gap widens across Asia
The divide between the rich and the poor is widening in countries across Asia.
Tsunami watch area reduced after 8.6 quake off Aceh
High-rise apartments in Penang swayed for around a minute late this afternoon when an 8.6 strong quake struck off the west coast of northern Sumatra, triggering a tsunami watch.
Smile, you are on AES cameras!
Large contracts have been awarded under a so-called “Automated Enforcement System” to Australian and German firms linked to two obscure local firms holding lucrative concessions for the supply and operation of more than a thousand traffic cameras and related software.
How to become a successful politician
Note: This blog will resume updates and comment moderation on 9 April 2012
From across the causeway, a light-hearted look at what it takes to become a successful politician with more than a grain of truth to it.
Monorail vs light rail debate in Australian press
A couple of letters have been sent to the Australian press touting the relative merits of light rail over monorail systems.