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More on the Penang Hill Railway

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After I highlighted Ric Francis’ and Dr Choong Sim Poey’s letters to the press on the Penang Hill Railway issue, a reader, Garth Johnson, sent in this comment:

I was very interested to read this. The railway was designed by my great uncle Arnold R Johnson and opened in 1923. His very clever design involved carving the hillside taking into account the weight of the cable. That was why he divided the track into two sections with a central station. Maybe modern cables can be thinner and lighter than the old ones making it possible to use a single stretch of track without a central station?

When it was first opened, the Penang Hill Railway was described as “one of the finest hill railways in the world”.

Forest Explorers provides some brief background:

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Perak Speaker fails in injunction bid

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Sivakumar giving a press statement after the decision by JC Tarmizi Abd Rahman

Sivakumar (left) speaking to the press after the court decision this afternoon. His lawyer, Mohd Asri Osman, is in the centre and on the right is lead counsel Chan Kok Keong. – Photo by Kinta Kid

1949: Sivakumar’s counsel had objected to the state legal advisor’s request for 14 days adjournment to file affidavits to oppose the Speaker’s application for an injunction. The Speaker’s argument was simple: does the State Secretary, who is the head of the civil service and not of the State Assembly, have the power to interfere in the affairs of the State Assembly?

Although the court dismissed the injunction with respect to tomorrow’s sitting of the State Assembly, the judicial commissioner fixed 1 Oct for the application for the injunction to be heard.

1632: The Pakatan side has failed to get the injunction they were seeking on the grounds that the application was made too late, according to another contact at the scene.

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Zunar refutes Home Ministry’s allegations

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Just after our Merdeka celebrations, it’s back to reality. Cartoonist Zunar, who could be jailed for up to three years if he is convicted under the Printing Presses and Publications Act, feels he has been unfairly treated. “If drawing cartoons results in three years imprisonment, imagine the state of media freedom and freedom of expression in Malaysia,” he laments.

Referring to the news article in Malaysian dated 29 August 2009 which quotes the Home Minstry’s Corporate Communication Unit’s Head, Jamilah Taib that Sepakat Efektif Sdn Bhd, a company that I own will be charged for publishing material without a publishing license. According to Jamilah, Sepakat Efektif will be charged under Section 5(2) (b) of the Printing Presses and Publication Act 1984 for distribution unlicensed publications. If convicted, the penalties are not more than three years prison or a fine not exceeding RM20,000 or both. The statement by Jamilah refers to the publication of a cartoon magazine titled ‘Gedung Kartun’.

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Hill railway: Safer, cost-effective option

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Here are a couple of letters to theSun on the federally funded project to upgrade the Penang Hill Railway written by tram engineer Ric Francis and heritage activist Dr Choong Sim Poey.

Ric has his say here:

As an experienced engineer who was responsible for the alternative proposal for the up-grading of the Penang Hill railway, that the NGOs presented to the Ministry of Tourism, I am insulted by the accusation that my system will be a clone. It is obvious that the JKR has neither learnt from the 1905 failure of the first Penang Hill railway which was a one-stage system similar to what is being proposed nor studied the original report prepared by the engineer who built the existing railway.

I have the support of several Japanese and American railway experts who say that my proposal is far superior to that of the JKR as it will result in a system that will be cheaper, safer, as efficient and preserves one of the world’s heritage railways.

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Japan’s LDP dumped in massive opposition win

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This Merdeka brings news that Japan’s LDP has been dumped after virtually unbroken rule since 1955.

The new Democratic Party-led government, which is expected to adopt a less subservient relationship with the United States and to expand the welfare state, is forecasted to win 308 of the 480 seats in the lower house.

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Higher density, more congestion for Penang?

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Great, more high-rise buildings, concrete and congestion…

Why is Hunza announcing changes in property development density and not the local government via a press conference? Was there any public consultation before coming up with such a decision?

This from The Star.

Wednesday August 26, 2009
Penang raises density for property development
By DAVID TAN

GEORGE TOWN: The state government has raised the density for property development in Penang, which will bring down land cost and stabilise property prices, said Hunza Properties Bhd executive chairman Datuk Khor Teng Tong.

“The state government recently decided to increase the density to 280,000 sq ft in built-up area from 90,000 sq ft per 100,000 sq ft of land.The decision to increase density will allow developers to build more, hence giving consumers more choices.

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Could Penang be like this some day?

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If Vauban in Germany could be like this…

why not Penang? What is stopping us from becoming more sustainable?

ASM shares for hardcore poor: What criteria?

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Najib has announced a RM100 million government allocation in the form of ASM trust fund shares to assist the urban poor. The government is reportedly now compiling data on the urban poor and hardcore poor to determine who is eligible to receive the aid.

Several questions spring to mind:

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Shah Alam temple demo: Voices of sanity

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In the midst of this craziness, Dr Rafick provides a reassuring voice of sanity here.

Mustafa K Anuar has released a press statement on behalf of Aliran here while Haris Ibrahim has his take here.

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A different sort of CSI?

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Could this be classified as CSI – Corporate Social Irresponsibility?

You be the judge.

Efforts to send food aid to Penan natives in Central Sarawak are now stalled after a timber giant dismantled an iron bridge that provided critical access to 3,000 people living deep in remote areas. Full report here.

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