How would you rate the performance of the Penang state government so far?
Good? Too early to tell? Could be better? Disappointing?
Here’s one assessment by Khoo Kay Peng.
Human rights youth camp in Penang
Human Rights Camp 2008
Calling all youths out there!!
Amnesty International Malaysia will be organising a 3-day human rights youth camp for the first time in Penang on 29 Nov – 1 Dec.
Come and learn about fundamental human rights, the Malaysian human rights realities. There will be a movie, games, exposure trips to see and speak to human rights victims and how they stand up for their rights, discussions, sharing session by human rights activist and many more!!
Fees: RM 30 (inclusive of meals, accommodation and transportation for the exposure trip in Penang only)
Venue: Yayasan Aman, Permatang Pauh, Penang.
Hurry, register quickly as we have limited places!!
For more information please call Yohen at 03-7955 2680 or email yohendra@aimalaysia.org
PROGRAMME
What should the petrol price be?
Okay, you tell me what the local petrol price should be now, bearing in mind that they have removed subsidies completely now.
Of course, we also need to factor in the need to conserve scarce fossil fuels.
I think RM1.80 without any subsidy would be a more acceptable price now, taking into account the need to bring down food prices and stimulate the local economy while trying to encourage fossil fuel oil conservation and prevent wastage at the same time.
Thanks to Ong Eu Soon for compiling this chart:
| Petrol price | Global crude | |
| RM/litre | US$/barrel | |
| 01/10/00 | 1.20 | 35 |
| 20/10/01 | 1.30 | 20 |
| 01/05/02 | 1.32 | 26 |
| 31/10/02 | 1.33 | 28 |
| 01/03/03 | 1.35 | 31 |
| 01/05/04 | 1.37 | 38 |
| 01/10/04 | 1.42 | 47 |
| 05/05/05 | 1.52 | 48 |
| 30/07/05 | 1.62 | 57 |
| 26/02/06 | 1.92 | 63 |
| 05/06/08 | 2.70 | 120 |
| 17/11/08 | 2.00 | 55 |
No surprise that MPSP is nearly broke
So there are questions being asked about what happened to the RM225 million in reserves held by the Seberang Prai Municipal Council (MPSP). Today, the MPSP is nearly broke as Penang Gerakan chief Teng Hock Nan and Lim Guan Eng engage in a battle of words over the media.
But it’s not a big mystery really how the MPSP blew its reserves.
Some RM65 million was splurged on a new MPSP office building in Bandar Perda near Bukit Mertajam. On whose instruction? Then, there are all the expenses related to the new (white elephant?) Batu Kawan Stadium and a sports complex near Bukit Mertajam.
Apart from this, the BN-administered MPSP indulged in all kinds of “beautification projects” costing hundreds of thousands of ringgit while the basics such as proper drains for the whole town were neglected.
Another Mass in Penang for ISA detainees
Another Mass will be held for ISA detainees at 8.00pm today at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Pulau Tikus, Penang.
RPK has his statement recorded
RPK is hauled up again for questioning today Photo by Rakyat@work
A cigar-puffing RPK at the Sentul police station this afternoon Photo by Rakyat@work
About 50 people, including the press, gathered outside the Sentul police station after 3.00pm today, as they waited for Raja Petra to have his statement recorded.
Time to slash the petrol price
I think it’s about time we slashed the petrol price, don’t you think?
When the price of petrol was increased from RM1.92 to RM2.70 – a hike of 41 per cent – on 5 June, the price of Nymex Light Sweet Crude was around US$125 per barrel (on 4-5 June).
The current oil price is around US$56/barrel, which is less than half of what it was at the time.
And yet, after three four reductions, our petrol price is still RM2.30 2.15 – nowhere near the RM1.92/litre of 5 June, when the price was US$125.
Even if we take the price of RM2.70 at 5 June, a 50 per cent reduction in line with global prices would be RM1.35/litre – certainly not more than RM1.90. It’s time for a sharp drop in pump prices.
But the most we can expect from this government is a 15-sen reduction to RM2.15 2.00/litre, which will not have much impact on overall domestic demand/consumer spending unlike the sharp rise earlier. Neither will it be able to reverse the rise in food prices as a result of the sharp hike earlier.
Images from the PJ vigil last night
Videos courtesy of Sivin Kit, who was at the vigil last night. He says, “After reading the rules for the gathering, I realised by lighting the candle I was in fact breaking the rule as I spoke. But then I did come later, so I missed the briefing! haha”
Standing up to be counted Photo by Rakyat@work
Restrictive conditions of the police permit Photo by Rakyat@work
LIVE: Restrictive permit fails to spoil “best vigil so far”
Updates from ‘citizen journalists’ reporting ‘live’ from outside the MBPJ building in PJ:
2316: “Hahaha… the conditions seem to be like saying you can have a birthday party but no cake and no birthday song.” – kimsng via comments
2225: “What a beautiful day in PJ… We proved to them we are peace-loving anak Bangsa Malaysia.” – Dave via text
2130: Mission accomplished… for tonight at least. The day draws to a close – taking us another step closer to the day when the ISA is finally repealed. Oh, what a joyous day that will be!
2121: The last speaker Edward Ling, 26, has given an outstanding speech. “Everything has to do with politics including daily stuff like the price of petrol,” he says. “They are applying scare tactics – don’t talk politics; don’t light candles. It’s a mockery.”
The crowd of about 300 have just sung the national anthem and are now dispersing.
“The mood is patriotic.” – Participant via text, who is relieved the event has ended without any incident.
2110: Haris is speaking now.
2109: Despite the restrictions, “this is the best vigil so far,” says my contact. More than 200 people are now gathered in front of the MBPJ building, where the lighting is good and there’s plenty of space. “There is a fantastic line-up of speakers who are giving good testimony.” Among them is Din Merican.
The best part has been the sharing given by some of the ordinary people including senior citizens. One senior citizen encourages those gathered to continue doing what they are doing. He equates their struggle to that of Gandhi’s, Martin Luther King’s and other peacemakers’.
Some of those present have candles and are wearing Abolish ISA T-shirts, but a few men believed to be plainclothes security personnel are taking pictures of them, and one by one, the candles are put away…
But so many people have come up to speak and share their testimony and there is a look of happiness on their faces. Someone suggests that every Selangor state government office should have a “No to ISA” sign prominently displayed.
2104: “We are gonna have fun,” says my contact at the scene.
2100: No sign of a police presence.
2055: Teresa has just completed her speech.
2042: Among them is MP Teresa Kok.
2031: The crowd swells to 150 now.
“No kidding, wearing some T-shirts and lighting up the good old white candles have become a threat to security?” – Blog reader via comments
“Torchlights, bolehkah?” – splim via comments
Freedom Run pictures; Paula’s harrowing experience
Running towards freedom from the ISA
Reaching Tengku Kelana Pictures courtesy of a blog-reader
These are images of the ongoing two-day 350km Freedom Run from Klang to Kamunting, which began yesterday and ends this evening.
Meanwhile, Paula Khoo, blogger and emcee for last night’s Abolish ISA vigil in Penang, was released at 1.10am from the Patani Road police station. She will have to report back to police on 28 Nov to find out if she is going to be charged. Blogger Lucia Lai has the update on Paula’s release here.
Read Paula’s account below of her harrowing experience in police custody: