The beauty and charm of Penang is not lost in the happy and smiling faces of these UK tourists.
Unfortunately...............
The ongoing renovation (see pix below) to further enhance the heritage area surrounding Fort Cornwalis was budgeted in 2007.
This renovation should have started earlier, instead starting it at the year end when it is the PEAK holiday season created an eyesore for the tourists and a drop of income for the hawkers at the nearby hawker centre.
The timing is way off, it shows a lack of implementation planning by the DAP state government and of course the MPPP.
The renovation and construction damaged the view of Esplanade and Fort Corwallis, instead of good lasting impression, most tourists will go home with poor memory of the Esplanade.
P.S. The hawker centre there have many good food stalls. My favorite stall is the Rojak - try it.
4 comments:
Let us give credit where it is due. If the budget is approved in 2007, why didnt the previous government start the work in Jan 2008 ? Too busy preparing for the GE2008 ?
Well, in life, there is nothing as perfect timing. Either we do it now, or miss the opportunity. I am sure Penang has more to offer than just Fort Cornwalis. As a human, those pessismistic will choose to see things that are bad but for those optimistic, they will see from a different lense.
Anyway, credit should be given to the Penang Cultural Night at Fort Cornwalis (you were there too) but didnt see you write anything on this. This is the festival where all walks of people comes together. You can see young malay boys dancing with their Indian friends when Alleycats were belting out the song. Isn't this what we want to further develop and it gives hopes to the future that there is more than Gerakan, MCA or UMNO.
Perhaps, it is time that you as the Youth Chief of Tanjung reflect on how the uneasiness feelings arise and could it be that you are part of the team that has contributed to this ?
Only when we are honest with ourselves as a leader, will we be able to come to term on where we have not done well and move forward. This is where I see Gerakan is still struggling today.
Dear Anon above:
Agree, the credit should be given to the previous BN state government as they had the foresight to budget for this.
Actually, it was the DAP who was busy preparing for GE2008, Penang BN was busy governing. Now, DAP should be in governing mode , alas it is always in publicity mode.
Budget is approved at year end, to start this renovation in January or February would be a miracle or super efficient. I don't think MPPP is that good during BN rule. Mid-year would be the most appropriate, instead we are having this renovation at year end holidays – deterioration in efficiency under the new government.
Yes in life, there is generally nothing as perfect timing. But, that do not give the state government or MPPP a license not to plan and to avert the above problem.
True, those pessimistic will choose to see things that are bad and for those optimistic the good.. I see from both perspectives.
Unfortunately for DAP, this is a Gerakan blog. All DAP blogs criticize Gerakan, while some of the Gerakan blogs which I had help to encourage its startup do a lot of self-criticism. I choose not to criticize my party in public domain.
How to give credit(for Penang Cultural Fest) to the state government when Lim Guan Eng himself is afraid to fully endorse the event – there where no state logo there,his choices of words in his speech, etc. After the failure of the Asean Culture Centre and the Kings of Tennis event it is not a surprise.
But, I must admit that having an ex-Gerakan member to ensure that the event do not fail is a good move.
At the point when I left the event, I would give it an above average pt. Dasha (Loga's daughter, spelling may be incorrect) have great potential.
Of course, as a state youth leader of a political movement I reflect on the uneasiness of the rakyat caused by both the Pakatan Rakyat and Barisan Nasional coalition parties.
I am not part of the Pakatan Rakyat or Barisan Nasional politicians that created this uneasiness. I am a new leader. I seek drastic change and reform within Gerakan especially in Penang. I had wrote many times that I do not wash dirty linen in public. Naturally, most changes and reform will face resistance.
I agreed totally with your last comment - “Only when we are honest with ourselves as a leader, will we be able to come to term on where we have not done well and move forward. This is where I see Gerakan is still struggling today”.
To give you additional inputs from an outside perspective - Your senior or top leaders are a BAGGAGE to Gerakan. Whatever that they do or say, Rakyat will have a last say as there were there together with the rest of BN component parties to make the decision and why didnt they object them during that time. The longer they stay on, they are damaging the party to longer. Young leaders like yourself who are being groomed by them are also tainted even though you may have a different set of thinking.
If you didnt create the uneasiness between the differnt race, then you should look at how to create the common goals. For example, the Malays are known for their hospitability and loyalty, the Chinese for the shrewdness in business, the Indians for turning the small business into industry through their hardwork, the Malaysian Thai for their loving kindness. Tap into each others strength and make them see the common goals or picture. Imagine, a GENERASI MALAYSIA with the quality above into individuals, don't you think that it is NOT Impossible for us to take on the world ? Which other nations have this advantage other than Malaysia ?
When you grow your economic pie, you dont even have to worry about NEP as those fundings can be channel to help all Generasi Malaysia that is below the poverty line.
Can Gerakan take this lead ? I don't know. You are their leaders who can decide.
Anon above:
Agreed near totally.
1. Not all the the senior leaders are BAGGAGE and all political parties have "BAGGAGE" leaders.
2. My opinion is that presently, Penang Gerakan Youth is grooming itself with little help from the local top leaders. It operate quite independently. We prefer no interference, however intelectual advise accepted. We do not want to be an eunuch, a coward or a puppet of any Gerakan senior leader.
The journey and the struggle will be long,and difficult.
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