Electrified Double-Tracking Project (TransASIAN railway)

The EDTP is an project for the rakyat, it is a project for the future. Lim Guan Eng should prevent further delay!!!

The following are parts of a press comference held today:-

1. PGRM State Youth view with great concern the public rows over the Electrified Double-Tracking Project (EDTP) between Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and Gamuda Bhd.

2. At a Transparency International talk in Kuala Lumpur on 11th September 2008, titled Reinventing Penang State Administration; and at 4th Asia Economic Summit in Hong Kong on 9th December 2008; Lim Guan Eng talk about the mechanism of a public-private partnership or PPP model of a win-win formula.

3. Yet, The Penang State Government took a reactive stand on the land acquisition problems for EDTP and an offensive stand against Gamuda. This is against what he had proposed himself in term of a mechanism of public-private partnership (PPP).

4. Such public rows do not augur well for Penang especially after the Kings of Tennis debacle. The debacle had scared away Events Management companies from bringing major events to Penang. Now, these public rows, if not nip in the bud, may scare away major corporations. Lim Guan Eng enjoy claiming credit to getting this and that investment, yet, he is clearly scaring away investors.

5. Threatening, boycotting and also accusing a private company as “not reliable” or playing the fool with Penang State Govt will not resolve the problem.

6. Lim Guan Eng said that he will only want to deal with reliable investment partners. What is the definition for a reliable investment partners? Is it company that keep quiet when there is clearly a problem or a company that will kowtow to him?

7. Lim Guan Eng said compensation by Gamuda is not enough, and had requested for higher compensation in August 2008. According to him, there was no reply from Gamuda. Hence, the state government did not do the gazetting. What did the government do for the past five months? Waiting for the problem to resolve itself! Be Proactive!!!

8. Lim Guan Eng should understand that whether the compensation is reasonable or not reasonable is not determine by the government or Gamuda. It’s the valuation and the legal processes that will determine the amount of compensation.

9. If the state government will not gazette the land involved, it is near impossible to do the actual and best valuation? Therefore there will be no end.

10. Where is the PPP mechanism? The public rows with Gamuda can be resolved through proper negotiation, valuation and legal processes with all concern parties. The Penang State government should establish a new timeline with Gamuda to enable the original completion target date of January 2013 to be met.

11. It may help, if Lim Guan Eng can go to Perak,Kedah or Perlis to study why there are no major problems there for the land acquisition.

12. The EDTP is a important social and economic catalyst for the future of Penang, Malaysia, Indo China and China. The Chief Minister, Lim Guan Eng must realize this, and not sacrifice the future social and economic benefits of the rakyat for his own political agenda or ego, or Lim Guan Eng may have good intention, but this row will cause the Rakyat and those directly affected to suffer due to the uncertainty and the delay.


Brief Benefits Of The EDTP
1. This project is part of the TransAsian rail link from Beijing/Kunming to Singapore and with it completion will bring a host of social and economic benefit to the people in the whole region.
2. Upon completion of this EDTP, major stations on the railway line will received the benefits generated – social, business, tourism,cargo.
3. Upon completion of this EDTP,the improvement in speed, reliability and flexibility of railway transport will boost tremendously freight and passenger traffic. For example a Pen-KL trip will take only 3 hours.
4. Locally, the EDTP will elevate the constant traffic jams at the vicinity of railways gates.
5. The EDTP can be the backbone for future commuter services in the northern area, similar to the Klang Valley commuter services.
6. The EDTP will also increase the safety and security of the railway reserve area and prevent mishaps. Over-reliance on road transport is unsustainable, especially during congestion on expressways and festive seasons.

7. The EDTP will eventually be environmental friendly.

NO to IJN Privatization

The proposal to privatize the National Heart Institute (Institut Jantung Negara – IJN) to Sime Darby group should not be approved.

The National Heart Institute is the best in this region and had enabled the poor to affordable world class heart treatment.

Over-commercialization of the health service/sector is not beneficial to the rakyat.

The healthcare sector had become a lucrative industry; it is difficult to imagine that Sime Darby can ensure the “CURRENT” treatment rates are maintained.

Even if, Sime Darby commits to maintain a ‘regulated treatment rate” it will be still much more expensive and I suspect in the future they will push up the rate. The commitment will most probably be hollow promises or with "escape clauses".

The non-commercialization nature of IJN had enable the specialists and doctors to focus on enhancing the skills and to be the best in their profession; however, a ‘profit-oriented” healthcare organization will eventually dilute and disperse these; instead the focus will be more on $$$ and to be the best in term of $$$ for Sime Darby.

It is natural for Sime Darby, as a business entity, to target IJN for privatization; the government should put the welfare of the people ahead of privatization or commercialization.

Read also Leave IJN Alone by Marina Mahathir.

18-12-2008, The Edge Daily
Sime Darby confirms interest in IJN
by Lim Shie-Lynn


KUALA LUMPUR: Sime Darby Bhd has confirmed its interest to buy a stake in IJN Holdings Sdn Bhd, which operates the National Heart Institute, or Institut Jantung Negara (IJN).

In response to a query by Bursa Malaysia yesterday, Sime Darby said: “The company has written to the government expressing an interest in acquiring a stake in IJN Holdings. The company is awaiting an official response from the government.”

Sime Darby also said its proposed investment would be subject to due diligence and approvals from the relevant authorities.

The Edge Financial Daily reported yesterday that the Ministry of Finance (MoF), which owns IJN via its 99.99% stake in IJN Holdings, had submitted a proposal to the cabinet for the privatisation of the hospital. However, that has been met with objections from the Ministry of Health.

Met at Parliament yesterday, Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Kong Cho Ha declined to comment on the proposed IJN sale. Sources confirmed there had been talks between MoF and government-linked companies on the proposed divestment.

“No decision has been made yet,” a source said. It is understood that if Sime Darby takes over the hospital, the government will ensure that its treatment charges are regulated.

“As Sime may get to set up a private wing in the soon-to-be completed new wing in IJN, that private wing could be the cash-generating segment for IJN and Sime,” a source said.

Sime Darby has been eyeing IJN as the latter had gained recognition as the leading heart centre in the region with the number of referrals for complicated and demanding cases on the rise, sources said.

“The other part of the IJN appeal is the consistent number of patients it received because all cardio patients from government hospitals in the country are referred to IJN. As such, IJN has a captive market which has kept its bottom line high,” one of the sources said.

Nevertheless, an industry source said IJN’s monopoly over the government cardio patients referrals would gradually cease as there were plans to set up hospitals with heart centres in the country.

“There would be fewer government patients sent to IJN. The cardio patients would be sent to these hospitals instead. The Serdang Hospital and Kuching Hospital are ready to receive cardio referrals.

“There are plans for more peripheral hospitals and heart centres in Alor Star, Johor Bahru, Kuantan and Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Sabah,” the source said.

Still, Sime Darby would be able to leverage on IJN’s reputation as the leading centre for cardiac care in the region, OSK Research said in a note.

“If IJN’s privatisation were to take place, Sime Darby will be able to leverage on IJN’s strong brand and reputation, which will make it easier for Sime Darby to further grow its healthcare business.

“Sime Darby’s interest in taking over IJN is in line with the group’s mission to strengthen its private healthcare business through its newly established division, Sime Darby Healthcare.

“This jives with our view that there are enormous opportunities in Malaysia’s private healthcare sector, driven by strong demand due to the country’s growing ageing population, longer life expectancy and rising affluence,” it said. Since IJN’s establishment, it has treated over a million patients.

Sime closed 20 sen higher at RM5.50 yesterday.

New Penang Bridge Traffic Dispersion System

The DAP government had failed again.

The implementation failure of the new Penang Bridge Traffic dispersion system shows that the present DAP government do not analyse problem(s) in depth.

It is also surprising that no one advise LGE that his suggestion to have traffic policemen and other staff manning the flow of vehicles coming from more than 10 toll booths into the 2 lanes bridge will definitely failed.

LGE's idea worsen the situation - he was suggesting the creation of a new bottleneck immediately after the toll booths.

The previous BN and this DAP government both failed to understand the problem. Both failed to understand bottlenecks and the principle to solve them.

The design of the second bridge reflect this lack of understanding too!

They should read a novel by Eliyahu M. Goldratt, & Jeff Cox titled The Goal: A Process of Ongoing Improvement, easier than reading a Management Science or Operation Research book.

I-Dance, PENANG STATE STREET DANCE COMPETITION

The I-Dance Competition is going to be held for the second time this year after the success of the Penang Street Dance Competition in 2007. In 2007, the competition did not attract any major controversy. Even the "So You Think You Can Dance' nation-wide competition do not have such a controversy, Muhamad Haslam "Alam" the winner, is now a youth celebrity and a role model.

However, this year Penang PAS youth, DAP partner in Pakatan Rakyat are against it. The situation worsen until Penang Pas Commisioner have to step in, yet PAS Youth is still adamant against it.

What is worrisome, is that to please PAS, the competition Rule 12 state that, “only same gender teams are allowed for Muslim participants. Non-muslim participants are also encouraged to have same gender teams.”

I am not a Muslim, whether the same gender teams for Muslim participants rule is suitable or not is for the Muslims to decide.

But, adding a statement that, “Non-muslim participants are also encouraged to have same gender teams” indicated the pressure PAS is putting on the DAP-led Penang state government.....



Star online,Thursday December 11, 2008
Street dancing contest to go on
By K.KASTURI DEWI

GEORGE TOWN: The I-Dance street dancing competition will go on but Muslim male and female participants are not allowed to mingle with each other. State Youth and Sports, Women, Family and Community Development Committee chairman Lydia Ong Kok Fooi said yesterday she had agreed to the condition imposed by state PAS leaders after meeting them on Saturday.

“Our committee managed to convince the PAS leaders that the event is a healthy pastime to combat social ills and their fears that it would promote social problems among youngsters were baseless,” she said during a press conference at her office.

Ong said she also explained to them that the event was held at a public place and under the supervision of teachers, parents and dance instructors.

“Public decency is assured and we also highlighted the event’s objectives, such as introducing street dance to youths in Penang as a healthy pastime and to counter negative vices such as loafing, vandalism and illegal racing (mat rempit). It also helps to curb drug and alcohol abuse,’’ she added.

Ong was commenting on the protest by the state PAS Youth which wanted the competition to be cancelled.

Its chief Mohamed Hafiz Mohamed Nordin had urged Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng to scrap the event in line with the latter’s administrative slogan of amar ma’ruf mahi mungkar (enjoining good and preventing wrongdoing).

Ong also said the event organisers would meet with the Consumers’ Association of Penang next week to explain that the event was a non-profit youth project and a non-commercial activity for school children.

The event, supported by the state youth and sports committee, will see the preliminary round held at the New World Park from 7pm to 10pm on Dec 20. The finals will be held at the Queensbay Mall on Dec 27 and a dance jamboree will be held at the New World Park on Dec 28.

Fort Cornwallis aka Fort Construction

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.

Coward, Eunuch or Puppet

Cannon without any balls - Meriam tanpa bebola

When the Gerakan led government created the Deputy Chief Minister position for the Malay community, DAP leaders took out their spears, arrows and guns to oppose it.

Gerakan do not believe in criticizing for the sake of opposing. Therefore, when DAP created the Deputy Chief Minister II for the Indian community, Gerakan discussed it within the party and decided not to oppose the creation of this new post as it may be beneficial to the Indian community.

Lim Guan Eng choose to maintain DCM 1 which they oppose and in addition, created DCM II.

It is Lim Guan Eng responsibilities to ensure that the persons entrusted to these Deputy Chief Minister positions perform to expectation. If not, Lim Guan Eng had failed in his duties.

Instead Lim Guan Eng had look down on his own appointments. For examples, in a recent trip to Taiwan, he assigned two DAP Executive Councilors(Phee Boon Poh & Chow Kon Yeow) to look after Perai and Penang island respectively in the event of a flooding crisis. He conveniently had forgotten his own Deputy Chief Ministers. Deputy Chief Ministers are senior positions, unless for Lim Guan Eng it is interpreted as a mere showcase.

In his many trips abroad - the latest Xiamen, his Deputy Chief Minister 1 was left out in the cold by Lim Guan Eng when he should had taken on additional responsibilities.

Pushing the issue on the possible replacement of Deputy Chief Minister I to PKR highlight the weakness of Penang state government that is led by Lim Guan Eng.

Is this the signs of a coward, a eunuch or a puppet? I apologize to the readers if this question and the above picture seem harsh, yet the purpose is to jolt Lim Guan Eng from his honeymoon or slumber – if not, Penangnites will suffer under his weak leadership.

‘Special position’ instead of ‘Ketuanan’

The Star, Monday December 1, 2008
Koh: Say ‘special position’ instead of ‘ketuanan’


GEORGE TOWN: Use the term “special position” instead of ketuanan Melayu (Malay supremacy), Gerakan president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon urged.

“The term ketuanan Melayu would give rise to a tuan and hamba (master and underling) situation so let’s use the proper term as provided for in the Federal Constitution.

“Article 153 safeguards the special position of the Malays and natives, the Rulers and Islam, as well as protects the legitimate interests of non-Malays,” he said after opening the party’s life member council meeting yesterday.

“We must understand the Federal Constitution, parliamentary democracy system and constitutional monarchy in totality. The needs of rakyat Malaysia must come first, especially in light of global challenges.”........


NST, 2008/12/01
Koh: Malay supremacy not in Constitution

GEORGE TOWN: The constitutional reference to the kedudukan istimewa (special position) of the Malays must be respected in the same way as the rights and interests of other races, Gerakan president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon said yesterday.

He said the question of ketuanan Melayu (Malay supremacy) did not arise as it was not contained in the Federal Constitution.

Dr Koh said the right term to be used in relation to the special position of the Malays was kedudukan istimewa as contained in Article 153 and not ketuanan Melayu.

He said this when asked to comment on MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek's remark that the concept of Malay supremacy was no longer relevant.

Koh said ketuanan Melayu carried the connotation of a tuan (master) and hamba (slave) relationship.

"Article 153 of the Federal Constitution talks about the special position of the Malays, as well as the valid rights and interests of other races," he said, adding that it must be read in totality.


Utusan, 1/12/08
Tsu Koon: PULAU PINANG

30 Nov. – Istilah ketuanan Melayu di negara ini tidak sesuai digunakan kerana ia menggambarkan seolah-olah seperti hubungan ‘tuan dengan hamba’, kata Presiden Gerakan, Tan Sri Dr. Koh Tsu Koon.

Dalam senario politik tanah air ujarnya, istilah tersebut boleh menimbulkan pelbagai tafsiran kepada semua pihak.

‘‘Kita perlu merujuk kepada Perlembagaan Malaysia di bawah Artikel 153 mengenai kedudukan istimewa orang Melayu serta kaum bumiputera Sabah dan Sarawak.

‘‘Ia turut menyatakan sekali hak-hak kepentingan sah kaum-kaum lain mengikut peruntukan perkara ini,” katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian pada sidang akhbar selepas merasmikan Mesyuarat Majlis Ahli Seumur Hidup Gerakan di sini hari ini. Ia dipengerusikan oleh Penasihat Gerakan, Tun Dr. Lim Keng Yaik.

Beliau mengulas kenyataan Timbalan Presiden MCA, Datuk Seri Dr. Chua Soi Lek yang mendakwa ketuanan Melayu tidak relevan lagi hari ini serta disokong oleh Ketua Wanita MCA, Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun, kelmarin.

Sementara itu, Tsu Koon meminta semua pihak menjadikan Perlembagaan negara sebagai asas rujukan kerana segala perkara berkaitan dengan rakyat dan negara terkandung di dalamnya.

Katanya, kaum lain di negara ini sememangnya menghormati dan tidak menyangkal apa-apa yang terkandung dalam Perlembagaan negara itu.

‘‘Kita ikut apa yang terkandung di dalam Perlembagaan dan menerimanya sebagai dokumen rasmi yang diterima oleh semua pihak.

‘‘Sehubungan itu, lebih baik kita jangan guna perkataan ‘ketuanan Melayu’ kerana dikhuatiri ia mampu mencetuskan pertikaian. Tak perlulah kita gaduh-gaduh,” jelasnya.

Pada sidang akhbar yang sama, beliau menyuarakan pendapat agar isu tersebut tidak lagi digembar-gemburkan dan memberi tumpuan sepenuhnya kepada perkara lain terutamanya mengenai krisis ekonomi.

Beliau turut mengajak rakyat merujuk kepada Perlembagaan negara kerana di dalamnya terkandung semangat prinsip Rukun Negara dan peristilahan Perlembagaan yang tidak perlu dipertikaikan lagi.

‘‘Saya merayu kepada semua agar tidak mempertikaikan lagi mengenai perkara ini dan menumpukan sepenuhnya kepada isu-isu lain seperti bagaimana untuk memantapkan ekonomi negara.

‘‘Apa-apa pun, jika timbul sebarang permasalahan, kita rujuk sahaja kepada Rukun Negara serta Perlembagaan,” tambahnya.Istilah ketuanan Melayu tak sesuai

Ungkapan Ketuanan Melayu: Sesuai atau Tidak

Below is my opinion that was emailed to Utusan Malaysia on 29 November, 2008 regarding the issue of "Ketuanan Melayu".

Saya setuju dengan gesaan Presiden GPMS, Datuk Reezal Merican supaya semua pihak lebih rasional dalam isu penggunaan ungkapan "Ketuanan Melayu".

Ungkapan ini bertujuan untuk mengangkat mertabat dan darjat perjuangan orang Melayu tanpa memperhambakan kaum lain dalam proses pembangunan negara dan proses penggemilangan bangsa Melayu. Tujuan ini bukanlah sesuatu yang ganjil, setiap kaum atau bangsa turut mahu mengangkat mertabat dan darjat perjuangan mereka.

Yang menjadi punca perdebatan ialah perspektif yang berbeza di pihak yang lain terhadap konotasi dari ungkapan Ketuanan Melayu ini. Di pihak yang lain, mereka berpendapat ungkapan ini membawa konotasi hubungan tuan dengan hamba - kalau ada tuan kemungkinannya ada hamba.

Jika kita memahami tujuan ungkapan, adalah tidak sesuai bagi sebarang pihak untuk mengatakan ungkapan ini tidak relevan.

Tetapi, adakah ia sesuai dalam sebuah negara pelbagai kaum? Adalah sukar untuk menerangkan tujuan ungkapan ini kepada semua kaum yang lain supaya mereka tidak terasa akan diperhambakan. Perlukah kita menunggu peredaran masa supaya akhirnya ungkapan ini boleh diterima selepas bertahun-tahun memberi penerangan?

Misalnya, di laman web wikipedia yang terkenal di seluruh dunia “Ketuanan Melayu” telah diberi konotasi yang negatif dan takrifan yang kurang tepat.

Sepanjang pengetahuan saya, sebelum tahun 1980an ungkapan ini tidak wujud. Ungkapan ini adalah suatu ungkapan yang baru.

Adakah terdapat ungkapan lain yang tetap mempunyai tujuan yang sama tetapi tidak mempunyai konotasi negatif untuk kaum-kuam yang lain. Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka boleh mengambil langkah proaktif untuk menangani isu hangat terhadap ungkapan ini dengan mencadangkan ungkapan lain.

Negara kita amnya sangat toleran, isu hangat ini perlu diselesai dengan semangat kenegaraan yang rasional

ACA Report Made Over Development In George Town World Heritage Site

I had made a report to the ACA, the Bernama report below essentially tells the story.

PENANG, Nov 27 (Bernama)

The Tanjong Division Gerakan Youth today lodged a report with the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) over what it claimed to be the Penang government's hasty approval of a high-rise project in the World Heritage Site buffer zone in George Town without the knowledge of Unesco's World Heritage Committee.

Its head, H'ng Khoon Leng, in his written report to the Penang ACA director Latifah Md Yatim, sought an investigation into whether there had been abuse of authority by certain quarters in the approval of the 23-storey condominium project of the Low Yat Group just days before George Town was declared a World Heritage Site, along with Melaka, in July.

He also expressed regret that Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng had indicated as reported according to his statement Wednesday that he was prepared to forgo three hotel projects approved earlier for the buffer zone if the condominium project, to be developed by Bintang Holdings, had to be cancelled.

H'ng said Lim said that "if the condominium project is not allowed, then all the other three projects should not be allowed either. It is all or nothing". (reported by NST, Pg 12 in a telephone interview with LGE)

The other three projects are the Rice Miller Boutique Hotel, the Boustead Royale Bintang Hotel and an extension of the Eastern & Oriental Hotel, all of which were approved by the state planning committee early last year.

The Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Ministry has given the Penang government one month from Nov 24 to review the projects in the George Town buffer zone in a move to prevent Unesco’s withdrawal of the city’s World Heritage Site status.

Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal had said that he had asked the state government to do several things in the one month, including asking the contractors to ensure that the construction did not have any adverse impact on the site.

A buffer zone of a World Heritage Site is an area around the site which has been identified to protect the visual setting of the site. Development proposals within the buffer zone will be considered for their impact upon the site.

The award of the World Heritage Site status to George Town and Melaka is inter-linked such that any action in either city which results in the withdrawal of the status would automatically affect the other as well.-- BERNAMA

Multi Language Street Name Sign?

First and foremost, the actual aim of DAP is not to promote tourism thru various languages, it was originally a Chinese chauvinistic action by them.

In DAP pre-GE12 gimmick, they hope to win the support of Chinese Penangites by proposing Chinese road signboards. In July 2008, a group of Gerakan Youth members led by Dr Thor Teong Ghee did a tit-for-tat action to redicule DAP into fulfilling their "impossible" promise - putting up additional ONLY Chinese road signboard in Penang.

Luckily, the granting of the World Heritage status by UNESCO to Penang enable a WAY OUT for DAP, by subtlely twisting their originally chauvinistic promise of only Chinese signboard, they CHANGED their proposal into having street name signs in various languages to hide their real aim, intent and proposal. DAP is actually the "leopard that had changed it spots"(refer to today Star, Sat 22, 2008 to understand what I meant).

Eventually, I believe the implementation of the multi languages street name signs may be successful due to the fear of Gerakan Youth monitoring and pressure.

The notes below are taken from my press conference today on Multiple Language Road Signs (or Is It Dual Language Road Signs?)

• As expected the Penang Copycat government copied the previous dual language road sign standard of having English as the subsidiary or second language (see sample pix for Lorong Lumut, a side road off Acheen street). The copycat government solution to the “multiple” language road signs was to replace the smaller English road name positioning on heritage road sign with other language.




• Instead, we have the same street with various different signboards using different subsidiary language situated at different locations. For example, at Acheen Street, the street name with Arabic is at the Carnarvon St end, the Mandarin version is at the junction with Cannon St while the Tamil version is at the junction with Victoria St. Unfortunately, this is DAP level of capability and it took them many months cracking their heads to come up with their best solution.




• However, this is still a dual language road signs, it is not a multiple language road signs. It is nothing new. Dual language road signs exist in other states too.




• In order to have the other non-English subsidiary languages incorporated into this new road sign, it would have meant revising the guideline on road sign board. In revising, they should have also resize the board to enable some additional subsidiary languages to be used although with a smaller font size in respect to the font size of the National Language.




• Where is the original road sign with the English translation? For example, Lebuh Acheh is well-known as Acheen Street, it is missing from the new road sign. I search high and low for the English one, it had been removed. It shows a serious lack of incompetency, another sloppy job as the Asean Culture Centre and Kings of Tennis. Luckily, it is not yet an expensive cost.




• English should be on all the heritage road sign boards. English is one of the foremost international language.




• The peculiarities of the Penang heritage roads require special understanding and handling. The State government should ensure that this is not done half-heartedly and corrupt the localized names by over-simplifying this task. This issue started as a DAP political gimmick to get Chinese votes, Tanjong Youth hope that eventually good results will come out of this due to pressure from Gerakan Youth and others.




• The heritage road's historical information board (by PHT)also need to be improved. It is look like a temporary board and is not attractive. It is more effective in promoting and sharing the history of the heritage roads. However, content-wise it is a very good effort.




• Instead of only the relevant officers and YBs, half the Pakatan Rakyat Aduns attended yesterday GRAND OPENING CEREMONY of the “Lebuh Acheh” road signs. It is shameful that this is the best they can do and the best they can gloat about after nearly 9 months in power. There are many more important and urgent task ahead for the State Government especially maintaining and boosting the economic living of the rakyat. I hope they will not want to be called the ROAD SIGN GOVERNMENT (Kerajaan Jalanan) in the future.

Wireless@Penang - Lack of Political Will and Vision (Part 1)

The action of the Penang state government to bulldoze thru the Wireless@Penang shows a clear lack of political will and vision. Lim Guan Eng and co. had jumped in and join the wireless broadband bandwagon advocated by the Federal government.

Trying to be the leading state in Malaysia for the implementation of Wimax demostrates this lack of political will and vision - it had easily succumb to the pressure of the profiteers, etc.

This lack of political will and vision signify that the DAP government is no better that the BN government. In fact, it is weaker, while BN propose, the DAP or Pakatan Rakyat merely followed foolishly.

This government lack the ability to generate, to invent, to create and to formulate new ideas and policies.

It's political mandate will be short.....

P.S: I attended the Wireless@Penang forum, it was merely another "sandiwara". If the forum was genuine, then expert opponents to telcos and wifi should also be invited. It was a lame effort to hide the government unaccountability and lack of
transparency.

Big Bang Bomb - Kings of Tennis

On 11th of November 2008, I scheduled a press conference with the media on 12th November 2008 regarding the Kings of Tennis event. The purpose were to urge the Penang State Government to extend full support to the organizers and to urge Malaysians to come out and give this world class event its full support.

As a Penangnite (politics is secondary on this), I was concerned after reading the postings and comments in various blogs especially HC Foo's Tennis Blog and after reading an article regarding the lack of support from the Penang State Government in the Star.

Unfortunately, our original intention was not to be. It was already too late, instead it became a press conference solely to criticize the Penang State Government. The report in Sun newspaper in more accurate while Star reports of what I actually said was not accurate at all, however it is irrelevant now.

The main reason for criticizing the State Government was because its a norm to provide FULL support towards tourism event in the past. In the past, it was a usual practice to have meetings with all relevant government departments, NGOs, etc to ensure the success of tourism events. It was also a norm for the previous State Government to assist in the promotion and securing of sponsorship.

Anyway, now it became a political issue. Penang Gerakan Youth handed over a memorandum with the following questions to the political secretary of Lim Guan Eng, at the compound of the State Legislative Assembly this morning.

1. On Sunday, 9^th November 2008 as reported in the Star, the organizers complained that there was a lack of support from the DAP State Government. Did the DAP State Government gave an endorsement of full support to the organizer?

2. Was there any written contract or verbal contract between the DAP State Government and organizers?

3. Did the State Government confirms officially that Penang is willing to be the host state and if yes, when did the government confirmed its willingness to be a host state?

4. If the DAP State Government confirmed its participation as the host state and give its full endorsement, what steps and actions were taken by the DAP Penang State Government to ensure the success of this world class event?

5. Realizing the recent failure of the ASEAN Culture Centre event, why did the DAP State Government continue to took a lackadaisical attitude towards promotion of tourism events such as the Kings of Tennis?

6. What is the estimated cost to repair all the damages to the Esplanade field and when will the repairs be completed?

7. If MPPP failed to recover compensation from the organizers for the restoration of Esplanade field, will the DAP State Government provides the necessary fund to bail out from this debacle?

8. On what ground, the DAP Government waived the full RM2000000 bank guarantee needed for the organizers to set up structures at the Esplanade?

9. Why was the RM200000 rental for the usage of Esplanade field not paid? Did the State Government waive it?

10. According to the MPPP President, YDP Dato’ Zainal Rahim, as reported in various newspapers, he is baffled and said that MPPP never approved the use of Esplanade field and the construction of the tennis stadium. If so, who gave the approval and permission to use the Esplanade field and allow the construction of the tennis stadium?

11. What are the current criteria use by the DAP State Government to consider events for endorsement? In view of these shameful failures, will the DAP State Government established new guidelines and criteria to prevent such reoccurrences?

12. What remedial and corrective actions will the DAP State Governments take to restore the damage reputation of Penang as a venue to host international events caused by the failure of The ASEAN Culture Centre and the Kings of Tennis events?

Asean Culture Centre

Recently, Sdra Oh Tong Keong, Penang Gerakan Youth Chief raised various concerns regarding the poor management of the Asean Culture Centre (see Star report below).

However, there are other curiousities that boggle the mind, such as:-

Why did Matex deny that they are the organisor(in the Chinese press) when the banners proclaiming this event hanged around the island stated that they where the organisor?

The event was not promoted on their website.

If Matex is not the organisor, who is the actual organisor?

I have seen email promoting this event, it seem quite vague.

How much public fund was  wasted in organising the flopped event?  

Someone need to be held accountable...

Note:
 MATEX (MALAYSIA TOURISM EXECUTIVE SDN. BHD) formerly known as Truly Consultancy & Development (M) Sdn. Bhd, is a joint venture company with Pembangunan Pelancongan Nasional (PEMPENA), a subsidiary of Tourism Malaysia (Ministry of Tourism).

Tuesday October 28, 2008
Hire professionals


THE state government should consider getting professional event management companies to organise the Penang Pesta Expo to prevent the annual year-end event from becoming a flop.

Penang Gerakan Youth chief Oh Tong Keong said the state government needed to be sincere about making the Pesta expo a success by not doing the job half-heartedly and end up turning it into an embarrassment.

“The Pesta Asean Culture Centre expo, which is currently ongoing, is a failure. It is poorly managed and the number of international stalls have dwindled since it opened early this month.

“Only the Indonesian and Thai stalls remain while the others from Asean countries like the Philippines, Myanmar, Vietnam and Cambodia had folded,” he told a press conference at the Pesta expo site in Sungai Nibong yesterday.

It was reported recently that the newly-introduced expo, which opens daily from 3pm to 11pm, had suffered poor visitor turnout during the non-school holiday season.

State Tourism, Development, Culture, Arts and Heritage Committee chairman Danny Law Heng Kiang had cited poor publicity on the expo by event manager Malaysia Tourism Executive Sdn Bhd (MATEX) as one of the causes.

Oh said Law was pushing the responsibility to Matex, which was said to have told a Chinese daily that it was not the orga niser of the Asean Culture Centre expo.

“The Pesta expo has been in the local scene for about four decades and it would be ashamed to see it end up like this. We do not want it to be an embarrassment to Penangites,” he said.

He hoped pulic funds were not used to organise the event in view of its failure.

Law had announced last week that the expo, scheduled for non-school holiday season, would be scrapped next year due to its poor showing now.

The expo, to be held until Oct 31, was introduced this year in addition to the one in December by the state government to fully utilise the pesta site.

LGE in Korea again?

Hooked on "hallyu"?

It's just another way of saying "Korean wave" and if it hasn't hit your hometown yet, wait.

Korean TV dramas have managed to rope in audiences from New York to Hawaii to Egypt and turn them into raving, loyal fans.

What's the attraction?

Much like American soap operas Korean TV dramas feature forbidden love, meddling relatives, and thieving business partners. The major difference is that plot lines end usually after 16 to 20 hour-long episodes no matter how popular they have become........(excerpt from Pop Culture - Korean Drama)


LGE in Korea again within six months!!!  

LGE and Co. could be loyal fans or they are on the verge of successfully getting Korean investments.   Which is true?  Fans or investments? Soon, he will have to answer in the State Assembly.


The Star, Friday October 31, 2008
Gerakan hits out at Penang govt’s S. Korea trade visit


GEORGE TOWN: The Pakatan Rakyat state government has come under fire for sending a 52-member trade delegation to South Korea during the global economic crisis.

Gerakan vice-president Huan Cheng Guan questioned the effectiveness of the trip, saying the state government could not even solve the financial crisis faced by the Football Association of Penang or hold a successful cultural expo at the Penang Pesta site.

“The Koreans are now busy rescuing their own companies; do you think they have time for us? (Chief Minister) Lim Guan Eng should take care of his own backyard and ensure that everything is in order before leaving the country,” he added.

Huan pointed out that Lim had yet to reveal the outcome of his trip to South Korea in May.

“Now, he is going there again. Why must he bring his deputy (Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin) along with his wife (Betty Chew) and two DAP MPs (Jeff Ooi and Liew Chin Tong)?” Huan asked, adding that he had never followed former chief minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon on trade missions when he was the Batu Kawan MP.

Lim is on a trade and investment promotion mission to Seoul until tomorrow.

He is scheduled to have business meetings with several South Korean companies and potential investors in various sectors like electronics, health care, education and travel as well as with the South Korean Deputy Minister of Tourism, Sports and Culture.

The delegation includes Penang Development Corporation general manager Datuk Rosli Jaafar, investPenang executive committee chairman Datuk Lee Kah Choon and three officials as well as private sector participants.

Penang Umno liaison committee deputy chairman Datuk Seri Abdul Rashid Abdullah questioned the need for such a big delegation, saying the largest entourage the previous state administration had ever handled was only 25 people.

“The DAP criticised the previous Barisan Nasional administration for allegedly not doing anything right but now they are keeping quiet when spending taxpayers’ money.

“What has happened to their much talked about Competency, Accountability and Transparency (CAT) system? Has Guan Eng ever told the people that he travelled Business Class or First Class whenever he goes on official overseas trips?” he asked.

Penang Gerakan chairman Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan said the Pakatan state government should look after the existing investors and provide a conducive environment for them to stay on in light of the current world economic situation instead of wooing new ones.

SMJK Phor Tay: Mixing Partisan Politics with Buddhism

Yesterday when I read in the newspapers that Venerable Wei Wu - a revered Buddhist monk in Malaysia - had to answered allegations of impropriety by Lim Guan Eng's proxy, it dawn upon me the extreme politiking that Pakatan Rakyat politicians and cronies are willing to execute in order to control most if not all organisations in Penang.

It pains me to see a revered Buddhist monk having to defend himself against trump up allegations.

Lim Guan Eng who recently became the Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Silver Jubilee Home of the Aged, through his proxy is trying to create chaos in the SMJK Phor Tay (a Buddhist Secondary school) board. This new SMJK Phor Tay is built on the Silver Jubilee Home's land on a 60 years lease.

Chaos is opportunity - an opportunity to seize control of Phor Tay and make it into another Han Chiang. Another great bastion for DAP.

In the worst case scenerio for the DAP, make the new SMJK Phor Tay building project a failure or saddled it with numerous problems and blame it on the previous government.

This is in stark contrast to Sdra Koh Tsu Koon who I remember requested members not to involved societies and organisations with partisan politics. I disagreed with him on this point except for charitable & religious societies and organisations.

What is the used of a political movement if it is not involved with the general societies and organisations. But, there most be a limit, the limit should for be charitable and religious societies and organisations.

Unfortunately, Lim Guan Eng, a non-Buddhist do not comprehend practising Buddhists psyche - WE DO NOT MIX PARTISAN POLITICS WITH RELIGION.  He should ask his father LKS to explain to him.

Ultimately, Lim Guan Eng probably want to be in control of Phor Tay directly or thru a proxy.

The battles to seize and control societies and organisations by the DAP have started in earnest...............

Read also Buddhism & Politics by Venerable K. Sri Dhammananda Maha Thera