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Live – Protest in Oxford as Taib Mahmud arrives

Anil Netto
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1837: One eye-witness observes of the delegates: “(Almost) everyone looks Malaysian. Very odd!”

1811: The protesters are holding up placards bearing messages such as ‘Any forest left?’, ‘Stop denying Penan rape’, ‘Don’t halt EU-Malaysia anti-illegal logging deal’, and ‘Declare your wealth’.

1800: Taib Mahmud has entered the conference hall. He must have used a side-entrance and given the demonstrators the slip. The protesters are unable to enter the hall due to prohibitive conference registration fees: 1,000 pounds sterling plus VAT per person. For groups of three or more, it is 880 pounds plus VAT per person. Way too expensive for the common folks.

The protesters are from assorted groups; they are mostly individuals concerned about various issues. Says one British activist: “We want to make people in the UK and around the world aware and to let them know that there are people who care about the Penan. It is completely unacceptable that under Taib’s administration, much of the forest has been given to plantations and dams. The Penan have the right to their land.”

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Unesco listing threatens George Town’s culture

Anil Netto
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Who is moving in and who is being forced out of George Town?

What has been the impact of the Unesco world heritage site listing on the city?

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MPPP’s slow response frustrates worried TBRA

Anil Netto
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Unlike the MPPP’s prompt, decisive action in the case of an RMAF hostel following a complaint from a neighbouring resident, the council appears slow to respond in another nearby project, despite repeated reminders from a residents group.

The RMAF hostel was being constructed without the plans being approved. In the case of the Bolton Surin project on a steep hill-slope, neighbouring residents are concerned for a number of reasons.

The frustrated Tanjung Bunga Residents Association has sent yet another email to the MPPP which it says will be its final message to the council. The group wants answers to the following questions:

Yesterday, Sunday, 25 July 2010, the developer of Bolton Surin was at it again – working on so-called electrical and other construction work (which caused quite a din, by and by), when we believed that they are supposed not to be working on a rest day.

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British NGOs to hold protest at Oxford U

Anil Netto
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Oxford University is being heavily criticised for extending an invitation to Sarawak Chief Minister Taib Mahmud.

British civil society groups have announced a protest rally today in front of the Saïd Business School.

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Jho Low parties with Paris Hilton

Anil Netto
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Our ‘favourite’ millionaire, Low Taek Jho, was spotted partying with Paris Hilton in Saint-Tropez in south-eastern France.


Party time! – Photo source: Celebutopia forum

Check out a couple of pictures from the BZ Berlin website here. And have a peek at the party pictures on the Celebutopia website forum here.

The party to top most other parties has made it to the British press as well – in the Daily Telegraph of all places.

Look at those massive champagne bottles. A lot of champagne flowing there – wonder who paid for it. According to a Telegraph source, there’s another wealthy dude in tow as well: Zhen Low, who together with another billionaire, reportedly picked up a 2 million-euro booze tab. Some party, eh? (Jho Low, in a Star interview on 29 July, subsequently denied that he or his brother had paid for the drinks.)

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Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-07-25

Anil Netto
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Sleepless in Sarawak; restless in Oxford

Anil Netto
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The latest Aliran Monthly focuses on the situation in Sarawak.

The political outlook there does not look rosy for Taib Mahmud and the other BN component party leaders who are so dependent on his patronage.

For more information, go to the Aliran website here.

Why did Oxford University invite Taib as its star speaker? Sarawak Report explores the connections, if any, between Sarawak, Taib and Oxford in its latest piece here.

RMAF school: MPPP enforces stop work order

Anil Netto
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The Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP) is believed to have sent its officers out to enforce a stop work order at an RMAF school construction site in Tanjung Bunga.


These photos were taken earlier today before the MPPP took action.

The MPPP action followed a complaint by a neighbouring resident that work was still proceeding despite a stop work order.

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Taib: “Most successful CM since Independence”

Anil Netto
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I am not making it up. That’s what it says in Taib Mahmud’s biography on the Oxford University website.

And since Oxford University – that centre of academic excellence and rigorous research – says so, it has got to be true, right?

Get to know the Chief Minister of Sarawak up close and personal. Read the bio here.

Did you know that he wrote a piece titled ‘Appropriate Strategy for Developing Countries in a Period of Resource Scarcity’? No doubt leaders of other developing countries will be able to pick up many useful tips.

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Botanic Garden fiasco: Who was responsible?

Anil Netto
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The Penang Botanic Garden case is a bit complicated if you are trying to establish who exactly is responsible and who contributed to the mess.

The ill-conceived eco-stream walkway and the bambusetam projects were approved during the previous administration. So that part is clear.

Two other projects – the garden mall and the administrative and visitors’ centre – were approved during the tenure of the present administration in Penang.

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