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Trams could complement no-car zone

Anil Netto
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43

Tram engineer Ric Francis has responded to a newspaper report about a proposal for a no-car zone in George Town.

Inner city George Town tram route proposed by Ric Francis

I read with interest your article on Heritage Area car free, I have pushed this subject with Government Officials included with my Tramway in Heritage Area, I know things take time to happen in Penang, but this idea would work with my suggestion on a Tramway

Ric Francis
Tramway Engineer
Vice-President
Perth Electric Tramway
Perth, Western Australia

Trams in Berlin - Image credit: berlinculture.co.uk

Meanwhile, one political economist has said there is no reason why trams cannot be eventually extended all over Penang. He noted that trams are used extensively and effectively over long stretches in cities such as Amsterdam and Berlin.

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Customs poll: 90% say ‘No’ to GST

Anil Netto
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4

More than 90 per cent of close to 5,000 respondents have voted a resounding ‘No’ to the proposed Goods and Services Tax (GST) on a poll put up on the Customs Department’s website.

You can still vote here.

Live – Batu Sapi, Galas by-elections

Anil Netto
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43

Latest updates from polling day for Galas and Batu Sapi by-elections.

MPPP to mull no-car zone for inner city

Anil Netto
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26

A proposal for a no-car zone in the heritage enclave could be deliberated in the MPPP’s next full council meeting.

State exco member Lydia Ong reportedly made the suggestion to MPPP president Patahiyah Ismail, who seemed receptive to the idea. She suggested that certain parts of the heritage enclave and the Esplanade could be made off limits to cars from 6.00am to 2.00pm on Sundays.

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Mega-tower: A sense of deja vu

Anil Netto
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9

Najib’s recent announcement that a 100-storey tower will be built in the capital by a government investment fund comes as global liquidity is flooding the region and raises concerns the project could represent the front end of a coming new crisis.

Najib unveiled the plans for the tower, to be known as the Warisan Merdeka, or Independence Heritage, on 15 October. Two weeks later, Asian Development Bank chief Huruhiko Kuroda warned of two risks facing developing Asian economies like Malaysia: that the recovery in developed economies could be elusive and speculative capital inflows into developing economies could prove volatile.

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Striking jackpot in Galas

Anil Netto
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10

Some folks have struck jackpot over in Galas. Seems like it’s raining money over there. (Ho hum, so what else is new in such ‘buy’ elections.) 

Check out this Merdeka Review piece. Before that, we read reports of Pas allegedly offering RM200-RM250 in transport costs to out-of-town voters and Umno allegedly handing out cash to party ‘election workers’.

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Council polls: Meet the applicants

Anil Netto
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9

As of today, 16 applicants have submitted forms to contest in elections to determine civil society’s nominees to serve as MPPP and MPSP councillors.

The Penang Forum folks have put up the list of names, which are linked to some basic information about the candidates, here.

Remember, you can contest too, if you meet the criteria set out on the Penang Forum website. Closing date for applications is 10 Nov.

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RFPs to benefit moneyed class?

Anil Netto
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10

The state government has issued a flurry of requests for proposals to develop certain sites – but would this mean surrendering to the whims of high-end developers and pandering to the life-style of the moneyed class?

The Bayan Mutiara site - Photo by Anil


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Requests for proposals have been issued for the following:

  • 62-acre reclaimed site (with another 35 acres in the future) in Bayan Mutiara, comprising prestigious offices, specialist medical facilities (private hospitals?), commercial blocks, residential enclaves, retail and public spaces. This was supposed to be Gerakan’s mini-Putrajaya site in the days when it was dreaming and had illusions of grandeur. Is medical tourism really a priority for the people? Who benefits? Don’t we have enough private hospitals? What about decent low-income housing here? We always claim there is not enough land for affordable housing. What about this space? What about a large public park and more green spaces?
  • the controversial Penang International Convention Centre – a lot has been said about this already.
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Protest outside Penang State Assembly

Anil Netto
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25

Some 70 people staged a noisy protest outside the Penang State Assembly at about 11.00am.

They were protesting about the Komtar traders’ complaints and the state’ government’s acquisition of land in Balik Pulau. 

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14 applicants so far for 14 Nov polls

Anil Netto
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11

While most eyes are on the Galas and Batu Sapi by-elections on 4 November, a couple of fascinating tests in the quest to deepen democracy in Malaysia have been scheduled for 14 November.

That’s when the Penang Forum is holding elections to determine its nominees to serve as MPPP and MPSP councillors. This pilot experiment is a prelude to the full restoration of local council elections some day in the future. The 13-14 November weekend is also when the PKR elections will move to Selangor, which will provide the biggest test for the party’s direct electoral process.

In Penang, so far 14 applicants have submitted their forms to be considered as candidates to contest in local council civil society nominees election. At least five of them are from the mainland (MPSP).

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