Dr Lim Mah Hui has stepped down as MBPP councillor representing the civil society coalition Penang Forum after serving six years. Penang Forum has nominated another individual to represent civil society in Penang for the coming year. This is Mah Hui’s resignation speech:
Ill-conceived proposal for Penang Hill cable cars over eco-sensitive areas
Penang Forum notes: “A special review panel was appointed by the state government to study the Special Area Plan (for the Botanic Garden). The cable car proposal was put in at the last stage and NOT presented to the public. The state review panel itself strongly objected to the cable car for various reasons of environment, usage and traffic.”
So whose idea was the cable cars and how was it quietly put in over the objections of the state review panel? This kind of reminds me of the way the tunnel and three highways were inserted into the Penang transport masterplan prepared by Halcrow.
This is the full Penang Forum statement:
It is with great concern and trepidation that Penang Forum wishes to issue a statement about the proposed cable car link announced in the press today.
Penang land reclamation: ‘The incompetent leading the unwilling to do the unnecessary’
Our guest writer today is Eric Britton, who discusses the land reclamation in southern Penang island, which is linked to the over-the-top SRS proposal for the Penang transport masterplan.
Step 1: Dump the land reclamation plan which has no good reason for existing. It is a rapacious, wrong-minded insult to the people of Penang, to the environment, nature, culture, wellbeing and way of life. You are being held hostage by your government for no good reason. And certainly, not that of needing more money to finance a ridiculous “transport master plan” that cannot stand independent international inspection.
Fisherfolk slam massive land reclamation plan at EIA public consultation
A large crowd has packed a hotel convention room in Teluk Kumbar for a public consultation on the environmental impact assessment study of the massive land reclamation plan off the coast of southern Penang Island.
Penang transport masterplan: A scandal in the making?
This is another piece by Roger Teoh that is worth reading. He expresses more or less the same concerns that Penang Forum has been articulating, but this time from a rigorous academic background in transport studies.
So why are the project delivery partner and the Penang state government pushing for this kind of regressive transport infrastructure proposals?
Debunking the Penang transport masterplan ‘spin’
This is an article by Roger Teoh, who debunks the rationale for building more highways in Penang:
Three tell-tale signs that Malay support for Umno could be ebbing
If we were to study the images of Umno Baru president Najib Razak and Pas president Hadi Awang together at the rally for the Rohingyas, we may discern signs of a budding alliance between their two parties.
Sia Boey: Battleground for two competing visions of Penang
Update: Now, there is talk that there is a plan for a much smaller station at Sia Boey. This could be located at the car park so the archaeological findings and the canal are not disturbed. But then this would make it difficult for the planned monorail from Tanjung Bungah (under Phase 2 of the SRS proposal) to come by. So, who knows, that monorail line could be scrapped. All the same, the people of Penang are being sold the idea that a ‘Big Bang’ approach that requires massive land reclamation is needed – which is not the only option available to us. We shall see how things pan out.
Three months after the responsibility for Sia Boey was transferred from the Penang Development Corporation to George Town World Heritage Inc, this is the derelict state of the site.
Flashback: KL Eco City – SP Setia’s deal with Umno foundation raises questions
This is something I wrote on 7 August 2011, for your information:
Cadangan S P Setia untuk mengambil-alih 40 peratus baki saham dalam KL Eco City dari Yayasan Gerakbakti Kebangsaaan (YGK) dengan nilai RM75 juta telah menimbulkan beberapa soalan.
Welcome back, Maria Chin; now everyone can be an activist!
Brilliant news about Maria Chin’s release. Take a bow all you Malaysians who campaigned hard for her release. The above award-winning song of light overcoming darkness is dedicated to all those who persisted with the campaign.