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Penang at a crossroads: Building more highways or a good public transport system?

Anil Netto
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Penang at a crossroads: Building more highways or a good public transport system?

MBPP councillor Dr Lim Mah Hui wrote this commentary after an exchange with Roger Teoh, a PhD student in transport engineering, who is also a DAP member:

Over the past weeks, Roger Teoh, a PhD student in transport engineering, has contributed three articles in Malaysiakini on the proposed Penang transport masterplan. Based on an analysis of an extensive database of key transport statistics from 100 cities around the world, he has come to several important conclusions, many of which are very relevant for Penang.

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It is not about ringgit and sen; Pulau Jerejak is a priceless green lung belonging to the people

Anil Netto
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34
It is not about ringgit and sen; Pulau Jerejak is a priceless green lung belonging to the people

I am sorry; this is not the point (see the statement below about who is making losses and who is making a profit re: Pulau Jerejak). Everything cannot be boiled down to ringgit and sen.

This is about the need to preserve Pulau Jerejak as a green lung for present and future generations of Penang residents. We are always complaining about a lack of open green spaces. Here we have one – and what do they do? Hive it off for high-end property development!

In the end, the federal Uda Holdings and the private property developer Ideal Property will very likely make a profit. The state PDC makes a profit. These profits are fleeting and will soon evaporate. 

The losers (in terms of loss of a large tract of precious open green space, ‘The Commons’, to private interests) are the residents of Penang. Their loss will be permanent.

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Save Pulau Jerejak from ‘redevelopment’ #SaveJerejak

Anil Netto
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Save Pulau Jerejak from ‘redevelopment’ #SaveJerejak

Penang Forum is concerned to hear about extensive ‘redevelopment’ plans for Pulau Jerejak, a prized natural asset and green lung for the state.

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The corporate ‘takeover’ of Penang Island’s eastern coastline

Anil Netto
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The corporate ‘takeover’ of Penang Island’s eastern coastline

Bit by bit, relentlessly, large stretches of the coastline of the eastern half of Penang Island have been handed over or sold to property developers, who are planning mostly higher-end projects.

The strong fencing (albeit temporary) in the photo above may be seen as a metaphor for the way coastal stretches are now being hived off to private interests.

The latest is Pulau Jerejak, part of which is now going to be closely associated with Ideal Property and Uda Holdings.

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Just tram it!

Anil Netto
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Just tram it!

Penang Forum, a civil society coalition of Penang-based NGOs and concerned individuals, has come up with a new video in its persistent campaign call for a ‘Better, Cheaper, Faster’ Penang transport masterplan as an alternative to the over-the-top RM46bn proposal put up by SRS Consortium.

The Chinese version below:

Floods, landslide, partial road collapse after latest downpour in Penang

Anil Netto
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Floods, landslide, partial road collapse after latest downpour in Penang

After a heavy downpour in Penang, more havoc. This road collaspse is around 50 metres from the back door of the Tropical Spice Garden in northern Penang Island. Stress marks were spotted in 2015 along other stretches of the road further north in nearby Batu Ferringhi.

A landslide also struck the area at 5.30am.

landslide-near-tropical-spice-garden

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MBPP continues operations to clear obstructed pavements

Anil Netto
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MBPP continues operations to clear obstructed pavements

Not long ago, while walking along a dim ‘five-foot way’ in town, my knee struck against a parked motorbike in the shadows. “Ouch! Man, that hurt,” I thought to myself, with none-too-pleasant thoughts about the person who had parked the bike there and the council for allowing such things to continue happening.

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Penang Forum launches Penang Hills Watch online crowd-sourcing mapping initiative

Anil Netto
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Penang Forum launches Penang Hills Watch online crowd-sourcing mapping initiative

Now everyone can report hill clearing activities using Whatspp or email! Penang Forum held a press conference this morning to launch the Penang Hills Watch initiative.

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Purported ‘suicide note’ that went viral reveals pressure, despair felt by some

Anil Netto
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Purported ‘suicide note’ that went viral reveals pressure, despair felt by some

This suicide at the second Penang bridge startled many not least due to the reported message purportedly left behind by the victim on Facebook. This statement by Parit Buntar MP Mujahid Yusof is worth pondering on.

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Flash floods hit Farlim, state mosque area

Anil Netto
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Flash floods hit Farlim, state mosque area

Flash floods submerged Jalan Thean Teik in Farlim in front of All Seasons after a heavy downpour this evening. The areas around the state mosque, the Turf Club area and Jalan P Ramlee were also affected.

Welcome to the new ‘Thean Teik River’.

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