This was the scene at the Penang International Dragon Boat Regatta last Sunday.
Someone from the state government gushed over the “stunning waterfront” at Straits Quay. But this ‘moonscape’ photo reveals something else – the utter desolation which will soon make way for high-density property development.
Aliran has come out with a statement calling for real protection for the whistleblower in the eye of the storm:
A whistleblower’s allegation that multiple state assembly members were involved in a major corruption scandal is serious enough for the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate it urgently.
A primary schoolmate of mine from Penang reflects on precious moments from a generation past:
Do you remember those lazy Sunday mornings, when the air was thick with the scent of spices and the promise of a hearty meal? Where we’d sit at those rickety wooden tables, eagerly awaiting a steaming bowl of white curry mee.
Aliran’s latest media statement below:
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s outrageous response to criticisms of his “acceptance” of Najib Razak’s empty 1MDB apology is deeply troubling.
Anwar did not just dismiss public concerns; he showed contempt for those alarmed by latest developments. In bizarrely calling himself “father of the nation” – an accolade usually bestowed by others – he also revealed a feudal, patriarchal streak, similar to former Prime Minister Mahiaddin “Abah” Yasin’s.
This cover story from the Edge caught my attention:
According to news reports, more than two million victims in China are estimated to have been deceived into investing in MBI. The investments reportedly totalled RM300 billion, way more than what was siphoned away in the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal.
A banker points out that it would have been difficult for so much money to come into Malaysia without attracting the attention of Bank Negara.
“This incident happened after 2015, when Bank Negara was already under scrutiny for not raising a red flag when money came into the account of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak. Surely, if that kind of money flowed into MBI’s accounts in Malaysia, it would have caught the attention of the central bank,” he says.
Bank Negara investigated companies under MBI and its principal officers for money laundering activities and other offences related to financial services. Finally, Teow, his son, another director and two companies — MFace International and MBI Marketing — were fined a total of RM20 million in August 2018 for undertaking unauthorised payment activities.
Barisan Nasional has taken a commanding lead in Mahkota with 20,032 votes against Perikatan Nasional’s 5,065 at 7.30pm.
Will PN at least be able to match the 7614 votes in bagged in Mahkota in the 2022 Johor state election?
The top 15 are:
Ramkarpal Singh – 1,247
Steven Sim – 1,237
Yeoh Soon Hin – 1,225
Zairil Khir Johari – 1,166
Daniel Gooi – 1,133
Over the past couple of days, Penang has been hit by strong winds, swollen tides and heavy rain. Trees crashed down in several areas, like they did in Singapore.
The heavy rains have at least helped to fill up Penang’s dams, where water levels had declined of late.
On this Malaysia Day, Aliran celebrates the bonding together of the peoples of Malaya, Sarawak and Sabah in the Federation for 61 years.
Our nation’s greatest strengths are its diverse peoples and multicultural heritage – which contribute to our vibrant society. The existing inter-ethnic and inter-religious harmony we enjoy is a precious gift that has been handed down to us.
Recent elections in Europe have revealed a seismic shift in the political landscape. They have also laid bare a growing discontent around the world.
In many nations, centrist or mainstream political parties have failed to deliver on the “people’s agenda”: affordable healthcare, adequately funded public education, as well as genuinely affordable housing, energy and nutritious food.