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Race is on to grab Penang port

Anil Netto
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The race is on to grab Penang Port Sdn Bhd from public ownership as the spotlight falls on private corporations expressing interest. But is serious consideration being given to the Penang state government’s interest in taking over the port?

At first it was reportedly just Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary and parties close to him.  Now, the Edge reports that another consortium has entered the picture: Oriental Pearl Harbour Sdn Bhd.

Oriental Pearl Harbour has apparently submitted a preliminary proposal to the federal government. Its directors are Rosli Abdul Latif and Mohd Ramli Abu Bakar, a former Navy chief. No information on shareholders or accounts is available as the company was only registered this month.

The latest Edge makes no mention of the Penang state government’s interest in taking over the port.

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Azmin’s promise to Sarawak

Anil Netto
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30

PKR deputy president Azmin Ali has made a pledge to the people of Sarawak that could change the dynamics of the local political situation in the run-up to the next state election.

What is his pledge? Go here.

Malacca monorail goes kaput

Anil Netto
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52

There, it didn’t take long for the RM16 million ‘toy’ monorail in Malacca to grind to a screeching halt.  Penang, which is still grappling with the idea of rail transit, can learn from Malacca’s costly experiment with monorail.

Embarrassingly, a skylift had to be used to rescue 20 stranded passengers from a monorail coach, just 100 metres from the station. The launch of the monorail had been timed to mark Malacca’s recognition as a ‘developed state’.

There’s some poetic justice in there somewhere, especially when you consider the unequal heritage conservation funding allocations for the two historical cities. 

Malacca monorail by night as seen from a boat cruising along the Malacca River

So what’s going to happen to the RM13 million extension plan under phase two of the Malacca monorail?

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Fearless Fan: The principled politician

Anil Netto
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13

I couldn’t help feeling a sense of loss over Fan Yew Teng’s passing. He was one of a kind, a freedom fighter with a strong passion for justice, tempered with a hearty laugh and a friendly disposition.

He was a politician but a principled one – which may explain why he never struck fame or fortune. He may have quit his party, started a new party and then left formal politics – not because he was a katak or for personal gain. As always with Fan, it was on a matter of principle, a matter of conscience.

After his departure from politics, he led a fairly secluded lifestyle. But he never truly left the scene. Every now and then, he would send articles to Aliran, which the social reform group happily carried in its publication, Aliran Monthly.

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Penang-Malacca double standards

Anil Netto
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21

The federal government’s double standards in the allocation of funding for conservation and revitalisation projects in Penang and Malacca are disturbing. Malacca receives RM30 million while Penang gets only RM20 million.

First, the disparity in the amounts given is hard to understand, given that Penang has the largest collection of pre-war shop-houses in the region. Unless the reason is political – you know, Malacca comes under BN and Penang under Pakatan.

Second, the RM20 million for Penang doesn’t go to the state government but to Think City. Now, Think City is a wholly owned special purpose vehicle established by Khazanah Nasional Berhad (under the Finance Ministry) to implement and manage a so-called ‘George Town Grants Programme’.


View ThinkCity Physical Projects Map Round 1 & 2 in a larger map

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Pykett demolition: MPPP takes action

Anil Netto
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The Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP) is set to take action against the preemptive demolition of a building at 20 Pykett Avenue, the site of a large property development project. But will such action be enough of a deterrence in the future?

The building, though not gazetted as a heritage structure, was demolished without prior planning permission, prompting the Council to take legal action under the Town and Country Planning Act 1976. The MPPP is in the process of seeking a judgement and penalties including applying for a mandatory order to take appropriate future action.

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Live – Public transport in Penang forum

Anil Netto
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39

Greetings from the public transport forum in Penang.

Red flag and black cake protests

Anil Netto
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Some comic relief in the midst of the political uproar of late.

This one’s not a red-shirt protest but a red flag demo. Coming face-to-face with a phalanx of riot police is not for the faint-hearted:

You got to say, that woman bearing the red flag did not flinch – she just looked up at her flag, grit her teeth and gave the ‘other side’ a glare.

Here in Penang, we had our own dose of ‘black’ humour, courtesy of a few jokers. Somehow, I don’t foresee many scrambling to try this latest Penang ‘delicacy’.

MPs suspended; Anwar’s fate sealed?

Anil Netto
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23

Have a look at this latest ruckus in Parliament as Opposition MPs tried to put forward a motion.

They had wanted to question the intention of the parliamentary rights and privileges committee’s decision to censure Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim over his allegations regarding Apco without calling for his defence.

Judge for yourselves the behaviour and antics of certain MPs. Notice how the BN MPs badger the Speaker to take action.

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Support Pg govt’s port takeover bid

Anil Netto
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39

The Penang state government should be supported in its bid to acquire Penang Port, currently under the Finance Minister, after news emerged of plans to privatise Penang Port Sdn Bhd.

The state government has written to the PM to express interest in entering discussions to buy the port.

theSun reported the Penang Chief Minister as saying:

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