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“Big-spending” Malaysian in New York?

Anil Netto
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19

Interesting story here from the gossip pages of the New York Post.

The Post links Low Taek Jho, a Penang boy who studied in Wharton, to UBG Bhd, a listed firm.

Curious, I looked up the UBG Annual Report for 2008 and found that there is a 27-year-old group advisor/non-independent non-executive director by that name. “He currently serves as group advisor of several international corporations, involved in global private equity, mergers and acquisitions, buyout, government-togovernment offset structured investments and financing, networking and financial aid, amongst others.”

Must be some 27-year-old. Check out his ‘stock pick’ from 2000.

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Contractor demolishes structures on govt land?

Anil Netto
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13

A cowshed located on what is believed to be government land next to the site of the flattened Kg Buah Pala was demolished by private contractors this afternoon.

The contractors are believed to be linked to the developer of the Buah Pala land, Nusmetro.

A journalist and another eye-witness contacted me and raised the question: why is a private contractor demolishing structures believed to be standing on government land (state or federal?), when government officials are nowhere to be seen?

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Problems at the Penang Botanic Garden

Anil Netto
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3

The Penang Botanic Garden is close to the heart of many Penangites. But the following photos suggest that its maintenance leaves something to be desired.


Photos by a regular Botanic Garden visitor – Click icon at bottom right to expand to full-page slideshow

I just hope whoever is responsible for the upkeep of the Garden will look into this.

In particular the dead trees or branches need to be removed before any passers-by get hurt. (Two people were killed some time ago from falling branches.)

Until this trees is felled, the nearby walkway needs to be barricaded. Is the tree dying because of improper pruning (or hacking?) or maintenance?

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Developer threatens to sue Penang govt?

Anil Netto
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35

A developer is threatening to sue the Penang state government for tens of millions of ringgit.

The developer is one of four that was compelled to scale down its project to abide by Unesco guidelines for the preservation of George Town’s world heritage site listing.

Instead of timidly conceding the possibility of paying compensation (as it has in the past, thus possibly having the opposite effect of emboldening developers to sue the government), the Penang state government should publicly name the developer concerned and challenge it all the way.

A few Penangites already know who the developer is, but I will leave it to the Penang state government to come out and formally identify the developer.

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Commercial property glut in Penang

Anil Netto
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22

While more property development projects are in the pipeline, the research unit of a local bank, CIMB Research, has reportedly warned of a “significant” commercial property glut in Penang. From an Edge report:

Occupancy rates:

  • Office space: 76% (the lowest in Malaysia)
  • Retail space: <70% (second lowest in Malaysia)

“There appears to be a significant glut in Penang, which would worsen if more office and retail space were built.”

  • Beach hotels: 63% (3rd quarter, 2009)
  • George Town hotels: 68%
  • Hotels outside city: 37%
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Closed-door meetings between CM and PCCC

Anil Netto
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51

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has had a couple of “closed-door meetings” with the Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce (PCCC) during which issues close to the heart of developers and the housing industry were raised.

“The meetings have brought fruitful result to both party and it has achieved a win-win situation,” remarked the PCCC on its website.

Really? Read through the minutes of these two closed-door meetings carefully and draw your own conclusions. Pay close attention to the discussion on the threshold for the provision of low-cost housing, back-lanes, building setback minimum distances and major house renovations. You will get an indication of what the developers are seeking and what could be in store for the rest of us.

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Tg Bunga hill-slope project problems unresolved

Anil Netto
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52

Tanjung Bunga residents have been urging the MPPP to closely monitor what is going on in the Surin property development project on the steep hill-slopes facing Chee Seng Gardens.


Photos by Tanjung Bunga residents – Click icon on bottom right to expand to full-screen slideshow

After much effort by the residents in highlighting the issue of uncovered hill-slopes, the MPPP has taken some action and the contractor has now partially covered the slopes, more so on the higher slopes. But many patches remain uncovered.

The residents have also complained that work is being carried out at night, sometimes past 8.00pm. They want the Council to confirm if the developer is allowed to carry on work beyond 6.00pm.

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How effective are flu vaccines?

Anil Netto
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8

Some flu experts are now challenging conventional medical thinking and arguing that flu vaccines and antiviral drugs may provide little or no protection for those most in need of such protection.

If you have ever wondered how effective flu vaccines really are, then take the time to read this excellent article in the Atlantic: Does the vaccine matter?

The writer, Shannon Brownlee, is the author of the acclaimed book, Overtreated: Why Too Much Medicine Is Making Us Sicker and Poorer, which was named the best economics book of 2007 by a New York Times economics correspondent.

Blogger Zorro questioned by police

Anil Netto
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13

Blogger Zorro has been questioned by police who are investigating what they perceive to be a possible offence under the Sedition Act in his postings. See here and here.

The questioning was carried out this afternoon at the Commercial Crimes Investigation Department headquarters at Bukit Perdana in KL. (‘Sedition’ and blogging fall under ‘commercial crimes’ jurisdiction?) Zorro was accompanied by fellow blogger Haris Ibrahim, a lawyer.

Meanwhile, Aliran president P Ramakrishnan has called for a full panel of 11  Federal Court judges to hear Nizar’s appeal tomorrow on the issue of who is the rightful Perak Mentri Besar. See Rama’s statement here.

“Mess” in Botanic Gardens raises concern

Anil Netto
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24

Of late, I have heard a number of people expressing their unease about the “mess” in the Penang Botanic Gardens.

A RM5 million federal project to expand the Gardens is underway, but concern has been expressed that it has already deviated from the original plan drafted four years ago. Initial work has reportedly uprooted about 30 trees.

Kanda Kumar of the Malaysian Nature Society adds civil society’s voice to the disquiet over what is going on there.

Concern over slope stability at the site of the proposed Penang Botanic Gardens Visitors’ Centre

We, group of NGOs, stake holders and concerned citizens, are calling for this press conference as we are concerned over slope stability at the site of the proposed Penang Botanic Gardens Visitors’ Centre.

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