Voters in the Sungai Bakap by-election in Penang are heading for the polls tomorrow, but it has failed to capture the public interest.
It’s hardly the stuff of coffee-shop conversations here in Penang. Why? Perhaps its because it won’t change the balance of power in the state. But I suspect the real reason is that both sides have failed to articulate the People’s Agenda (structural reforms to the economy, healthcare, education and democratic change) endorsed by over 50 civil society groups.
By Rosli Khan and Anil Netto
So the piece “Penang LRT decision, the result of comprehensive evaluation“, published by a news portal on 11 June turns out to be only the personal view of the author.
Three hours later, the same new portal reported: “Putrajaya, not state, will decide on Penang LRT, says Loke“.
By Rosli Khan and Anil Netto
The population of Penang Island, standing at around 800,000, is simply too small to justify an elevated light rail transit (LRT) system, which is typically meant for cities with over three million people.
Not from the perspective of Malaysia, says investment analyst Tan Teng Boo.
Check out the video below.
Media reports are saying it is a close call. Unofficial results here
But what does the by-election even mean to the ordinary voters?
The sweeping protests in universities in the West shows that young people are waking up to the realities of the Empire. These protests are reminiscent of the student protests in the 1960s against the US war on Vietnam.
Former Penang state transport engineer Lim Thean Heng has written a piece asking why the Penang state government seems so obsessed with having an elevated LRT system.
Who says we haven’t made progress? Times have changed. Even Astro Awani has provided ‘live coverage ‘of the Bersih rally on its YouTube channel. And the police guided the rally participants.
Days after the Pardons Board decision on Najib was announced, a neighbour sent me a message that reeked of frustration:
“Top Members of Suaram, Bersih, LFL, Aliran etc, should form a 3rd Force party for next GE. Still have 4 years & there must be at least 200+ genuinely good people in the country.”
The news about the reduction in Najib Razak’s sentence has ingnited reactions in social media and messaging apps. Aliran released the following statement this morning:
Aliran is appalled and deeply disappointed by the Pardon’s Board’s decision to recommend a halving of corruption convict Najib Razak’s prison term from 12 years to six years and a reduction of his fine from RM210m to RM50m.