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14 applicants so far for 14 Nov polls

Anil Netto
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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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Dried up stretch below Bakun

Anil Netto
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Another omen for Taib Mahmud: pictured below is a dried up stretch of river below the Bakun Dam. This picture was published in the front page of a local Chinese daily in Sarawak.

A dried up stretch of river below Bakun


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Another photo can be found at the Sarawak Update website, which reports:

The 51-door longhouse in Long Mejawah consists of 300 odd Kayan inhabitants who are now literally cut off from outside world due to the sharp decline of water level in the Balui River. Their communication with outside world has been interrupted, not to say obtaining essential supplies, sending children to schools, travelling to Belaga Bazaar to work or for official matters and other unexpected problems that may arise.

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Ritual “to appease gods” in Sarawak

Anil Netto
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Sarawak Chief Minister Taib Mahmud says that the interests of natives would be protected in all future dam projects. Can they believe that after the bitter experience of Bakun and Batang Ai?

According to the Borneo Post, Taib said he was prepared to offer what the displaced natives would need – similar to what was done for the affected communities when building the Bakun and Murum dams. “We have plans to resettle our people, like the Penans, to adapt to the new way of life. Maybe the facilities given are not for them per se but will be for their generations to come.”

Taib can’t even protect the interests of the displaced natives now and he is talking about protecting their interests in the future? I thought those displaced by the Bakun Dam were not exactly thrilled with conditions in the Sungai Asap resettlement scheme.

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Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-10-31

Anil Netto
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  • Why Beng Hock's sister, 3 others arrested in Galas? For campaigning? Release now! #
  • Look Ma, no helmets! http://y.ahoo.it/jirgxY http://y.ahoo.it/qhC5RS5l #
  • WikiLeaks Iraq War Logs Expose US-Backed Iraqi Torture, 15,000 More Civilian Deaths, and Contractors Run Amok http://bit.ly/bDl1jE #
  • Live coverage of Batu Sapi and Galas nomination day has begun https: #
  • BNM reports central govt debt (total current liabilities) RM388b in 2nd qtr 2010 RT @wansaiful: @TriciaYeoh @anilnetto budget 2011 is higher #

Rifle Range flats set for urban renewal

Anil Netto
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The results of a competition to come up with the best urban renewal design for the congested and run-down Rifle Range area in Penang will be revealed on 4 November.

Rifle Range is one of the state’s oldest low-cost apartment projects, and when completed in the 1970s, the 17-18 storey blocks, were among the tallest buildings in the state. (Did you know that Rifle Range got its name because the site was originally used for target practice back in the 1950s?) The nine blocks contain one- or two-bedroom pigeon-hole apartments, measuring about 400 square feet each. Haphazard hawker stalls and parking of vehicles add to the general sense of congestion.

The design competition, which closed on 22 September, has received 57 entries (17 from overseas), of which 22 have been shortlisted.

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Will land reclamation affect fisheries?

Anil Netto
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Under the Penang Structure Plan (2005-2010), major land reclamation has been slated for Penang. But how will this affect water quality and fisheries in the state?


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Under the Plan, the following projects are slated as part of reclamation in Penang (as highlighted in a 2007 presentation by JPS):

  • artificial islands in Tanjong Tokong
  • Gurney Drive reclamation
  • an artificial island in the Middle Bank (which is an eco-sensitive fisheries area)
  • the area north and south of the Penang Bridge
  • the extension of the North Butterworth Container Terminal to Teluk Air Tawar (long stretch, that)
  • the Penang Airport expansion

Now, some of these ambitious plans were obviously planned with the controversial Penang Outer Ring Road in mind. Of late, though, talk has re-surfaced about land reclamation involving the Middle Bank, between Queensbay and the Light project.

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Polls for Penang municipal councillors

Anil Netto
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Interested in public service? Want to become a Penang Island or Seberang Perai municipal councillor? Want to participate in the voting process? It’s still not too late.

LATEST!

MPPP – Six candidates have applied to become councillors. Three more are seriously considering.

MPSP – A single candidate has applied. Two more are considering.

Extension of application dates

We are extending the closing date for candidate applications to 10 November 2010.

Application forms are available here.

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Sarawak’s most peculiar ‘drought’

Anil Netto
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10

Listen to the Sarawak government’s spin on the reasons for the drop in the water level of the Rajang River. If you believe what they are telling you, the main cause is a dry spell, El Nino, or even climate change.

Repeat after me, it’s not mainly due to the impoundment of the Dam, dummy. (See Borneo Post here.)

Dry spell? From what I hear, it has been raining bucket loads in some parts of Sarawak. The Post concedes: “There has been rain on some days in Central Sarawak but that has not been sufficient enough to raise the river water level.” Oh, maybe the rain just avoided the Rajang River and catchment areas. Or maybe the downpour is not enough to raise the water level. Things must be serious then, if rain cannot raise the river water level.

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Butterworth: Muddy waters choke fish

Anil Netto
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Muddy waters at Pantai Bersih, along the northern coast of Butterworth, have been causing concern among fisher folk.

It is not clear what is polluting these waters – not far from ports on the mainland and the island.

On a related note, Pantai Bersih is anything but – in fact, it is a haphazard eyesore of illegal and legal buildings right up to the coast line. Pity the poor residents of Butterworth as this  small stretch, as well as the Robena Park area, is their only recreational space after the Butterworth Outer Ring Road cut off access to the beach along most of the coast line.

These reports from theSun.

Sea of mud
by Himanshu Bhatt

Polluted waters off Butterworth killing marine life, say fishermen

Abdullah compares the muddy sea water to clear water.
SEBERANG PERAI (Oct 24, 2010) : The seas off Butterworth are being affected by a mysterious mud-like deluge that is killing fish and other marine life along a 5km stretch of shoreline.

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Time to let your hair down

Anil Netto
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As we enter by-election mode, how about some light relief…

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