The Cabinet has ordered the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (SKMM) to reinstate access to all blocked websites including Malaysia Today, according to The Star online. It quoted Energy, Water and Communications Minister Shaziman Abu Mansor.
SKMM had instructed ISPs to block Malaysia Today in August.
Remember how Khairy later came out openly to oppose the ban?
Check out these links provided by Marina Mahathir. Something to think about:
I’ve been looking for a voice of reason somewhere in these awful turbulent times when people seem to spout off whatever they want off the top of their heads, and then defend it no matter how stupid.
Then a friend alerted me to this from a fellow blogger, Syed Imran. Another fellow blogger Walski wrote something similar here. So who says bloggers are unthinking people only up to no good?
And this lovely and wistful article makes you long for a different time when people were civilised.
This is a close-up of what’s happening in “Miami Bay” (why can’t they be more original in their names?) (Photo credit: Y C Sin)
Anyone know who the developer is?
Yes, the rape of the hill-slopes continues along the northern coast of Penang Island…
A sad Clearwater mourns the loss of the Penang he once knew:
I worked in Penang and stayed at Tg Bungah from 1980-83. Those were care-free times, Penang was still a paradise on earth and over-development an unimaginable event in this idyllic island. Yes, good jobs were scarce then but life was laid back and cost of living decent. My friends and I used to wind-surf weekends at Batu Ferringhi, where tourists sunbathed and waded in the sea; no problems with water quality.
Flash forward to 2008. I don’t want to return to see what greed and uncontrolled development has done to the environment on Penang Island. Each time I return, I am more appalled at the destruction that short-term policies have wrought in the name of progress on the Pearl of the Orient. It is heart-breaking. It is a complete turn-off. It is time to say good-bye.
and look at the damage done…
The Umno Supreme Council has suspended its Bukit Bendera chief Ahmad Ismail for three years over his alleged racist remarks, the Star Online has reported. The meeting chaired by Abdullah Badawi has also stripped him of all party posts.
I know a few people would have liked the ISA to be used against Ahmad. But if we are consistent about our position that the ISA is an immoral law, then to call for its use against Ahmad Ismail is not right.
Still, the party could have sacked Ahmad, but did not. (Remember Penang is Abdullah Badawi’s home-state.) Which raises the question: has the top Umno leadership lost control of its divisions – paving the way for, gulp, Mahathir and his allies to make their move? And you thought he would be contented passing his time with his carpentry hobby and looking after grandchildren, eh? He probably feels he has to save the country from Anwar!
These are a few images of the northern coast of Penang Island sent to me by a worried Claire with the following message:
I really wish these photos could be added to your site to show all how beautiful Malaysia is and can be and that it is painful to see what it is becoming!
Deforestation near “The Reef”…
...and then you get this
More pictures inside
Are you worried by what you see, each time you go past the hillslopes of Tanjung Bunga?
George, one of the flood victims in Chee Seng Gardens, says:
… in Chee Seng Gardens, Tanjong Bunga this is a hill slope. Floods do not happen on a hill slope unless something has gone wrong, seriously wrong. I have lived in this area for nearly 40 years and there has not been a flood due to water run-off from the hills in this manner until the recent hill-cutting exercise began.
… to allow hill cutting will only make worse many areas:
- landslides and hill collapse
- huge water run-off, flooding areas immediately surrounding the hill-cut area and all low lying areas below the hill
- huge amounts of siltation, drain clogging,
- (possible) loss of life, be it drowning or being buried in tons of mud slides or even hill movement as in the highland case
- sea-life destruction due to huge amounts of mud being swept into the sea (pollution) – fishermen suffer too eventually. It is a cycle of destruction.
So do realise that this is a problem and we Malaysians as a country must address it.
Residents of Chee Seng have called a meeting with their Penang State Assembly representative Teh tonight at his service centre to discuss the unending problems caused by uncontrolled hillslope development in Tg Bunga. Those of you affected by these problems and interested in participating in this meeting are thus invited to attend.
Details are as follows:
Date: Wednesday, 10 September 2008
Time: 9.00pm
Venue: 3 Jalan Chee Swee Ee, Tanjung Bunga (DAP Service Centre)
Likely attendees: Teh and @ 20 residents of Chee Seng Gardens
Everyone seems to be worried about the way issues of race have shot to the forefront as 16 Sept nears.
Certain politicians are using the oldest trick in the book to whip up support: the manipulation of racial issues to appeal to base, primordial sentiments.
We must reject such bankrupt politicians – or better still, ignore them. When I was a kid, my mother told me if anyone calls you names or tries to rile you up, just ignore them. And you know what? It worked. Those who do that thrive on getting an angry response from you. But if you act like it doesn’t matter what they say – if you show them that it doesn’t affect you one bit – they walk away disappointed that their taunting didn’t work.
Similarly, if there is one thing a politician fears or hates more than losing public support, it is to be ignored completely by the public and by the media and to be rendered irrelevant.
Equine Capital has informed Bursa Malaysia of the following:
On 22 August, Equine’s associate company, Abad Naluri, the developer of the Penang Global City Centre, received a letter from the Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) dated 18 August 2008 advising the company that its proposed development plans for the Penang Global City Centre Project had been rejected.
Abad Naluri is currently in the process of appealing the MPPP’s decision, addressing the various points and concerns raised by the MPPP.
Gosh, they don’t give up, do they? Hello, it’s supposed to be dead and buried, remember?
Antares has this timely reminder for us:
These pictures are of the Beverly Hills project, developed by Taman Ratu, and of the Surin Apartments project, developed by Bolton Bhd – all in Tanjung Bunga, the constituency of former Chief Minister Koh Tsu Koon
Clearly, there is a need to check if the developers have complied with the conditions in the development order and to see if the retention ponds are functioning properly. If these have been flouted, the MPPP has to issue a stop-work order.
This is what Taman Ratu says about itself and its Beverly Hills project:
Welcome to Beverly Hills 11200
Your very own residential sanctuaryEvery carefully considered acquisition of an elite Beverly Hills Property speaks volumes of its proprietor. With its Mediterranean inspired resort-like architecture and landscaped surroundings, Beverly Hills 11200 is a retreat as much as it is a showpiece featuring impeccable design and development credentials.
Captivating
no single word can more appropriately describe the effervescence of our latest collection of Exclusive Residences
Nestled between a rich backdrop of Hill and Sea, our selection of distinctively tailored private residences caters towards the most discerning of tastes
Taman Ratu Sdn. Bhd. is a property developer with years of experience in Malaysia, with a perfect track record in sales, dedicated to enhance the living standards.
Building on the success of The Marina Tower, Twin Towers, Coastal Towers, and The Straits Regency, as the ultimate statement in stylish luxury living with the grand seaview of Ratu Mutiara, Tanjung Bungah, Penang.
The Pakatan state government must ban all hill-slope development from now on. It cannot afford to adopt a “business friendly” stance with such developers – not at the expense of residents and their surrounding environment. This is a clear-cut case of “business friendly” policies running counter to the people’s interest.
A clearly upset Lim sent in this comment:
Yes, all hill development should stop right now itself. The state government should not allow the Surin project or any other projects on hill slopes to be developed. This will only lead to the destruction of Penang. I appeal to PKR, don’t continue to allow what BN has allowed.
I am a victim of these two recent floods, one in July and this recent one. You cannot imagine my suffering and stress.
Han2 mourns the Penang he has lost and holds Koh Tsu Koon responsible:
I just moved back from KL to my own house in Batu Ferringhi and each time I pass those hill slope development projects, I can only think of human greed and the stupidity of the previous state government for approving these projects. I do not know what to make of these projects but the muddy sea water tells me all is not right. When I see Koh Tsu Koon in person, I will insist he explains his decisions to me to my satisfaction before I let him go. He ruined my Penang.
More pictures inside