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Revitalising Prangin Canal

Anil Netto
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15

If Seoul can courageously dismantle a highway carrying 180,000 vehicles a day and revitalise a stream in the city centre, there is no reason why we cannot restore Prangin Canal in Penang.

Today’s guest writer is Chau Loon Wai:

A good city always provides local residents and visitors alike with quality public realms that invite people to be there – people opt to be there, instead of being there out of necessity. The Prangin Canal is one very important water body in George Town, which had unfortunately been transformed into an open sewer, then conveniently covered, which then led to it being forgotten for too long a time; perhaps many young Penangites may not even be aware of its existence.

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How to improve a city within three years

Anil Netto
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22

Jaime Lerner, the former mayor of Curitiba who transformed the Brazilian city, says budgetary constraints can force urban planners to think more creatively about sustainable development.

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Malaysia’s net FDI outflow jumps to US$6b

Anil Netto
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9

According to Unctad’s World Investment Report 2009 released last night, Malaysia experienced a net FDI outflow of US$6.0 billion in 2008, more than double the US$2.7 billion net outflow posted in the previous year.

Inward FDI fell to US$8.1 billion (18.4 per cent of GDP) in 2008 from US$8.4 billion (20.6 per cent of GDP) the previous year. Outward FDI, on the other hand, soared to US$14.1 billion from US$11.9 billion in 2007.

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Penan sexual abuse: Piling trauma upon pain?

Anil Netto
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3

In response to the official investigative report confirming the sexual abuse of Penan women and girls, the Sarawak Women and Family Council appears to be ready to take action – and carry out another probe!

This from The Borneo Post:

Council ready to probe Penan women rape claim

KUCHING: Members of the Sarawak Women and Family Council are prepared to go to the ground to investigate claims that Penan women were raped or sexually exploited following the findings of a taskforce set up by Women, Family and Community Development Ministry.

Council chairperson Datin Fatimah Abdullah said yesterday she was still waiting for the taskforce report from the government and the police.

The taskforce report has indicated that Penan women and students were indeed sexually exploited by timber workers because they are very vulnerable and also partly due to consequences of imbalanced development.

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Interview with … a cow

Anil Netto
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2

Cows have been very much in the news, from the protest in KL to the Buah Pala evictions. On a lighter note, here’s an interview with a difference.

Arrested for trying to hand over a memo?

Anil Netto
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13

The highhanded police action against the 15 activists and indigenous reps in Kuching yesterday was a waste of resources.

All they wanted to do was hand over a petition to state government leaders expressing their concern over the Murum and other dams and the displacement of natives. For that, they were arrested, reportedly for illegal assembly, and later released on police bail.

The CM and his Ministers were too arrogant to even come and accept the memo. The natives have an issue that needs resolving – not arresting. This is the prevailing feeling in town, says a Kuching-based observer.

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Porr to return, reclamation at Gurney Drive?

Anil Netto
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53

Now this is alarming: not only is the 18km tolled Penang Outer Ring Road back on the cards again, the concessionaire is reportedly seeking to reclaim 61ha of land off Gurney Drive and 142ha at Middle Bank, close to the Weld Quay jetties.

When it comes to taking a stand on Porr, is there much to separate the BN from the Pakatan state government?

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‘Anak Bangsa Malaysia’ initiative launched

Anil Netto
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7

Rakyat@work reports on the launch of the Anak Bangsa Malaysia initiative in KL while over in Penang, a smaller group met up to express solidarity:

The launch in KL – Photos by Rakyat@work

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The Penang solidary gathering at a nasi kandar restaurant – Photo by Lucia Lai

Just last month, we celebrated Merdeka Day and yesterday we had Malaysia day. Really, it was by far the most subdued and lifeless ‘celebration’ I have ever experienced. Other than uncertainty in our economic challenges, we have also inherited a degenerative political disease which inflicts daily insults and threats to the rakyat. A sense of ‘hopelessness’ is slowly creeping inside our immune system. It is like getting worse day by day. Everything seems to be going backwards.

So, what’s new? Fortunately, a small flame was flickering in the darkness: the launch of a new Anak Bangsa Malaysia initiative.

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No approval for Buah Pala road closure: MPPP

Anil Netto
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15

The Penang Municipal Council has strongly denied that approval was given to Nusmetro to block access to Jalan Kaki Bukit, the road that passes through Kampung Buah Pala. The Council refuted the claim by the firm’s director, reported in The Star, that approval had been given.

Said the council in a statement today:

The road that was closed is a public thoroughfare and any application to close it has to be referred to the Public Works Department and the Land Office for approval.

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15 arrested in Kuching over large dams memo

Anil Netto
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7

1547: 15 activists and indigenous people were arrested in Kuching at 2.30pm as they tried to submit a memorandum to Sarawak state government leaders at Wisma Bapa Malaysia.

The group included Penan, Iban, Kenyah and Kayan representatives of indigenous communities that will be displaced by the Murum and Baram dam projects.

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