Anwar has decided to opt for the Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat, probably after figuring out that the delay and uncertainty in neighbouring Kulim was going to be far too long. Azizah is giving way for him, which is a pity because as president of PKR, which has the most parliamentary seats, she is the first woman Parliamentary Opposition Leader.
Speak up, engage when Penang Local Plan is displayed
All Penangites should look out for the draft Penang Local Plan when it is displayed before long and make their voices heard.
The Local Plan will eventually govern the use of land in the state and determine what kind of development is allowed in your neighbourhood. The Plan is almost ready now though it may be slightly delayed, from what I hear.
Penangites – especially residents associations – must ask their State Assembly members and city councillors to brief them about the Plan once it is released. Residents associations must use magnifying glasses to thoroughly pore over the Plan for their respective areas. Don’t let them slip anything past you.
The public also needs to demand an extension in the duration of time that the Plan is publicly displayed to allow more time for study, briefings and feedback. Usually, the plans are displayed for a month – but more time is required.
Anyone know a sodomy specialist?
We learn something new everyday.
Today’s lesson is that a qualified, experienced GP cannot detect if a patient has been sodomised.
Apparently, if the Hospital Pusrawi folk are to be believed, that requires a sodomy specialist… err, I mean a gut specialist. This from the Malaysiakini interview:
What led the doctor TRO (to rule out) sodomy? Why?
Because Saiful mentioned that he was sodomised. Sodomy check-up has to be done by a specialist not a medical officer. You need a gut specialist. We don’t have one in Pusrawi.
At the rate we are being enlightened on this err, delicate issue, Malaysians are going to be sodomy experts in no time. Maybe we could be a world leader in sodomy medical research – you know, sort of carve out a specialist niche in sodomy detection and patient therapy. After all, it appears to have become a national obsession.
Pas unhappy over Selangor but vows loyalty to Pakatan
Pas-Umno talks a bargaining ploy to strengthen Pas’ hand in Pakatan?
Going by the reports in the mainstream media, you would think that Umno and Pas are on the verge of merging. Mustafa Anuar has a round-up of the coverage.
The latest is a Star report:
PAS proposes hudud laws if it merges with Umno
KOTA BARU: PAS will propose the implementation of hudud and qisas laws, among other things, if the proposed PAS-Umno merger becomes a reality.
PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat said the proposal was in line with Islamic principles and could be implemented if both parties, which were now having ongoing discussions on Malay and Muslim issues, agreed to it towards forming a new political entity.
But hang on a minute. Here’s the main story in Harakah Daily:
Cabaran perkongsian kuasa dalam pembentukan kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat
Mohd Rashidi Hassan
Wed | Jul 30, 08 | 12:54:03 pm MYTPAS tetap komited dengan Pakatan Rakyat. Itulah jaminan pemimpin-pemimpin PAS dan kehendak ahli serta penyokong PAS keseluruhannya.
Harus diingatkan, bahawa pemimpin, ahli dan penyokong PAS memberikan kerjasama yang tidak berbelah bahagi sejak penubuhan Barisan Alternatif (BA) yang menggabungkan PAS, KeADILan, PRM dan DAP semasa al-Marhum Dato’ Fadzil Mohd Noor menjadi Presiden PAS lagi.
In other words, Pas leaders have guaranteed their commitment to Pakatan in accordance with the will of Pas members. They will not join the BN. But from the same Harakah report it appears they are unhappy over a string of issues, especially in relation to power-sharing in Selangor.
Book on Gerakan stirs controversy – even before launch
A book on Gerakan by Neil Khor and Khoo Kay Peng has stirred controversy – even before it can be launched.
“Non-sectarian politics in Malaysia: The case of Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia” has already ruffled the feathers of certain quarters.
Respected Gerakan stalwart Toh Kin Woon, a life member of the party and currently director of Seri, penned the foreword to the book.
Writes Kin Woon:
…the authors of the book, explain how since joining the Barisan Nasional (BN), Gerakan has increasingly lost its multi-ethnic character. It is increasingly perceived by many outside the party to be just another Chinese-based party. This book describes that slow but near fatal process both for the party and for non-sectarian politics in the country.
The grave-vine has it that the book has already upset certain quarters within Gerakan, which is due to hold party elections in October. From what I hear, there have been attempts to throw a spanner in the works ahead of the book launch.
“Oil Palm World Music Festival”: What rainforest?
Those of you who checked out the Rainforest World Music Festival in Sarawak on 13 July 2008 may have noticed a protest by about 60 indigenous people. They staged a peaceful 30-minute candle-light vigil demanding recognition of their land rights.
Plainclothes police quickly moved in….
Click here to read more at the What Rainforest blog.
The encroachment into native customary lands by oil palm plantation firms is a huge problem in Sarawak. This is after the lands have been logged. The displacement of natives deprives them of their livelihoods in the forests besides threatening the natural habitat.
If you were there at the music festival, share with us what you saw of the protest.
Anwar to contest in Kulim: Pas assures full backing
Anwar enters the hall in Kulim to a hero’s welcome
- Anwar publicly announces he will contest in Kulim “barring obstacles”
- 8,000-strong multi-ethnic crowd greets his announcement with thunderous applause
- Hadi assures Anwar of Kedah Pas’ full backing
- DAP to assist in campaign as well
Anwar Ibrahim was given a hero’s reception in Kulim, Kedah during an emotional night when he announced that he would contest a by-election here barring obstacles. In doing so, he has raised the stakes considerably.
“Someone” is dam upset in Sarawak
“Someone” appears to have had his feathers ruffled in Sarawak. Apparently, this “someone” in Sarawak is upset with “someone” in Penang – apparently an activist who has hit out at the 12 more dams in the pipeline in Sarawak. (Hmm, I wonder who that could be…)
See: It’s madness: nuclear plan, 12 dams, undersea cables
Anyway, this “someone” in Sarawak should be interested to know that it is not just one or two “someones” over here who think his dam-building frenzy sounds cuckoo. Only 2 per cent of you in a poll on this site (to which over 500 of you have responded so far) think that the plan for 12 more dams in Sarawak is just what Malaysia needs right now. In other words, 98 per cent of you seem to think the plan to increase capacity by 600 per cent “tak masuk akal” (doesn’t make sense).
Speaker praises PKR back-bencher Sim’s speech
PKR back-bencher Sim Tze Tzin (Batu Uban Pantai Jerejak) has delivered a visionary speech in the Penang State Assembly that received praise from the Speaker.
Speaker Abdul Halim Hussain described Sim’s speech as people-centric, reports theSun today.
Sim made several suggestions to promote sustainable urban development including those which this blog has been advocating:
Floods in July: Ecological disaster in Sibu?
Sarawak Voice sent in this comment which I thought I should highlight:
Talk about the dams in Sarawak? Hmm, apparently it seems that the government created an ecological disaster! My hometown is in Sibu, Sarawak (at the delta of the Mighty Rejang River) (and you) can clearly see the effects (of) logging, jungle clearing and hydro dam development up river.
Once a clean river now muddy and the river is getting shallow due to the mud that was washed from upriver. Even now at this moment, as I am typing this, we are experiencing floods! Yeap, floods in the month of July….
Read the details in this piece from The Borneo Post:
Troubled waters
Numerous efforts have been made to implement a flood mitigation plan for Sibu town but without any concrete follow-up action to date, residents complain they have been living in fear of floods whenever it rains for too long