- 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 #
Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-10-31
Rifle Range flats set for urban renewal
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.
Will land reclamation affect fisheries?
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?
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.
Polls for Penang municipal councillors
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.
Sarawak’s most peculiar ‘drought’
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.
Butterworth: Muddy waters choke fish
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 BhattPolluted 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.
Time to let your hair down
As we enter by-election mode, how about some light relief…
Live – Galas, Batu Sapi nomination day
Bringing you live updates of nomination day for the Galas and Batu Sapi by-elections.
Central govt debt balloons to RM388bn
By the end of 2009, total federal government debt had soared to RM362 billion – a leap of RM56 billion from the previous year.
Much of this was due to soaring domestic debt, which reached RM349 billion or 96 per cent of the total federal government debt, according to the national audit report for 2009. Total federal government debt to GDP ratio rose to 53.7 per cent – exceeding 50 per cent for the first time in recent years.
Bank Negara reports that central government debt (total current liabilities) reached RM378 billion in the first quarter of 2010 and RM388 billion in the second quarter.
MCMC interrogates Wong Choon Mei
1335: The MCMC concludes its questioning of Wong after over two hours. “They wanted to know about the article on Najib’s speech and who’s behind Malaysian Chronicle,” says her lawyer Latheefa.
1151: The MCMC is now interrogating Wong Choon Mei of the Malaysian Chronicle news portal. Two officers have been questioning her at the MCMC office in Cyberjaya since 11.00am.
Her lawyer, Latheefa Koya, says she was refused permission to sit with Wong in her capacity as lawyer. She is now watching from outside.