Never mind that the tunnel controversy continues to rage on and the tunnel project is only expected to be completed in 2027, the relentless reclamation along the Tanjung Tokong and Gurney Drive coastline continues.
This time it is jualan murah!
During the last general election campaign in 2013, many residents of Penang Island made a beeline for free dinners, even free beer, dished out almost every night, each time at different locations on the island.
Still a lot to do to make cycling safer in Penang
Independent filmmaker Andrew Ng Yew Fan decides to cycle from Tanjung Bungah to Gurney Drive and this is what he found along the way.
He quit after arriving late at the House of Lords: Would our frequently absent MPs do likewise?
A member of the UK House of Lords sparked disbelief when he resigned after being a couple of minutes late and for not being at his place to answer a question from a peer.
International Development Minister Michael Bates began calmly enough when he said:
I want to offer my sincere apologies to Baroness Lister for my discourtesy in not being in my place to answer her question on a very important matter at the beginning of questions.
During the five years in which it’s been my privilege to answer questions from this dispatch box on behalf of the government, I’ve always believed that we should rise to the highest possible standards of courtesy and respect in responding on behalf of the government to the legitimate questions of the legislature.
Then came the shocker:
I am thoroughly ashamed at not being in my place and therefore I shall be offering my resignation to the prime minister . . . with immediate effect.
He then left the house, leaving behind stunned peers, some of whom exclaimed in disbelief, “No! No!”
A friend of mine wrote to me: “Can this (a resignation for arriving late in Parliament) happen here?”
“In your dreams,” I replied, as long as there is no change.
Rare ‘super blue blood moon’ as seen from Penang
In case you missed it. Dazzling scenes and expert photography.
Supermoon – when the moon is closest to Earth, it appears 30% bigger and 15% brighter.
Blue moon – when the full moon appears for the second time in a month. Happens once in two and a half years.
Blood moon – during a total lunar eclipse, the red light from the sun is reflected on the moon.
Above, from 8.41pm to 9.05pm – shot from the balcony of the Penang Swimming Club –
Photograph: Dr Kam Suan Pheng, Penang Forum; assisted by Dr Leong Yueh Kwong.
And below from 10.30pm to 11.05pm as seen from Hillside in Tanjung Bungah.
Housing affordability: Neither BN nor Pakatan can point to stellar record
An article in the Guardian caught my attention – Ghost Towers: Half of newly built towers fail to sell.
Kuala Lumpur’s blue bicycle lanes
What do you make of these bicycle lanes in KL?
It doesn’t look altogether safe what with cyclists having to share the path with pedestrians and all those obstructions.
But, from what I hear, the cycling network is a worthy project despite shortcomings. KL City Hall seems quite keen on it, with the help of cycling enthusiasts who are part of the KL Bike Map project.
The blue lanes apparently are just in the city centre – just a small part of the overall cycling network.
There are quite a few cycling lanes in KL by now. I understand cyclists can ride freely all the way from Jalan TAR to Midvalley, and the routes along the Klang River and Gombak River are especially pleasant.
But they have got to educate some Malaysians not to obstruct or park on cycle lanes:
What do you think of the bicycle lanes in Penang?
Somehow I am not convinced about cycle lanes having to share the same narrow paths as pedestrians. They don’t look too safe for both pedestrians and cyclists.
We would do well to try and make cycling safer instead of blowing billions on a wishful shopping list of expensive transport infrastructure.
Imagine a cable car station around already congested Penang Botanic Gardens
This is what the Penang Botanic Gardens area looked like this Sunday morning.
Unfair to remove Tanjung Bunga rep’s constituency allocation
The reported decision to remove the RM200,000 constituency allocation from the hands of the Penang State Assembly member for Tanjung Bunga, Teh Yee Cheu, is unfair to him and those who voted him in.
Celebrating Penang’s musical heritage
The Penang House of Music (Level 4, Komtar), which treasures the memory of the finest musicians to come out of the state and their music, celebrates its first anniversary. Check out the video above and the website.