What business has a Sabah State Government car at Batu Talam by-election ?

Posted by: free&fair on Wed, 24 January 2007 17:49:32 (1515 reads)

These photos are from BERSIH sources -showing how clearly the BN is playing its habitual dirty tricks at the Batu Talam by-election. One funny thing is : when the election started the EC chief tried to play weather forecaster by ruling that they shall be no flooding at Batu Talam because Batu Talam is at higher land. However it proved to be wrong later -then it tried to do the right thing by offering to delay the polling in view of the flood. Then BN's Razak tried to play EC : he said that polling should go on irrespective because any delays will cost `the government' a lot of money ! Let see who will finally prevail ! The photo of Sabah State Government vehicle appearing at Batu Talam naturally invite quieries :

Cute FRU to stop anti-toll protestors !

Posted by: free&fair on Tue, 09 January 2007 22:37:52 (1534 reads)

A big difference from past police response to popular anti-toll protests : the police fielded young female FRU at the front rows to stop the anti-toll hike protestors in KL ! The change of tack seems to reflect the fact that the toll hike is less than convinsing compared to before -and the cronies will have a hard time to keep the government either agreeing to toll hikes or pay hefty compensations. The government is thus put on the back foot in relation to popular protests. So what should the protestors do ? May be this is the time to step up the protests so as to tap into the depth of the anti-toll hike sentiments ! Tun M's admission that the toll agreements were weak provided a huge boost to the anti-toll hike cause. The protestors must go on to squueze all advantage from these positive developments !

Penang Watch web site revived with new design !

Posted by: free&fair on Thu, 09 November 2006 14:30:59 (722 reads)

Since a few months ago when Penangwatch was notified by the web site host SEACEM that there was a security risk in the web site the updating mechanism was suspended -effectively stopping the web site. Updating of the web site continued only on its article section -the updating failure was in the picture uploading part. The waiting game went on for 1 month before Penang Watch was told that the (free)host had just looked at it and recommend a change of the web CMS from MAMBO to JOOMLA system. However Penangwatch team had contacted another local web designer to move house to another host. So the offer by SEACEM was turned down. After that it took another 1 month or more for the new design to come on stream -thus effectively suspending the Penangwatch web site -launched in April, to hybernate for over 3 months in all ! But the wait has finished now -go to www.penangwatch.net to check out the web site with a new look !

New power point for download : `Marginalise ME lah'(UPDATE)

Posted by: Anonymous on Wed, 01 November 2006 15:14:16 (2406 reads)

The UMNO Youth staged a protest on Sept 5 against the Penang's Chief Minister Dr Koh Tsu Koon for allegedly `marginalise the Penang Malays'. The rare protest by the ruling party against a component party leader shook the nation -but was finally settled with many questions unanswered. A project was started to profile the have and havenots in Penang to show its multiracial character -and to refute the relavance of UMNO's racial approach. That the President and Deputy President of UMNO weighed in against the state CM spoke negatively of any `BN spirit' or collective responsiblity among the BN parties. The presence of numerous UMNO leaders among the power holders -and even among those who occupy luxurious `palaces' -something which become controversial when the Dato Z's scandal blew up, spoke badly of the claim by UMNO. Where had these folks been when they claim that their communities had been `marginalised' under their nose? After the launch and media coverage, the power point presentation -which later was converted to a VCD, attracted such negative feedbacks from those power that be ....to get a good idea of what was presented please download the 10 min power point from
Ed: Is the `istana' above in Pak Lah's constituency, bigger than the one built by Dato Z of Klang ?
UPDATE : New and faster link has just been added for downloading the power point -enjoy it !

Gig in conjunction with Merdeka #49/43

Posted by: free&fair on Mon, 28 August 2006 20:15:52 (408 reads)

We have moved in the D'Space at 60 Weld Quay for 4 months now -yet we have not kicked off a joint activity so far! The answer to this urge is the gig cum party in conjunction with Merdeka #49/43 which will be happening on Aug 30th -this Wednesday ! Details of the gig has been finalised -as shown on the poster of the gig. Let everyone knows about it ! No need to bring a flag along even though this is in conjunction with Independence day...Gues who is the resident band:

1st Gig at D'Space is ON !

Posted by: free&fair on Sat, 12 August 2006 18:09:13 (485 reads)

The 1st gig is on -organised by my friends Ed and Khairul of Penang's Woet Scum fame! They have agreed to allow a new youth group Youth 4 Change to conduct a 1-hour workshop while the crowd build up slowly-as usual. So if you are a young one at heart -and have some anti-racism feelings the workshop is for you. Something else to note at the flier (as attached): the gig entitled `What's wrong with the kids' on Aug 19th (Sat) 3.00pm, at 60 Weld Quay, say `strictly no smoking! No racism& No Machoism ! Enq.nobeat :012-4412270. Ticket : Rm8.00 Bands are from Japan, KL, Kulim and also local ones -as local as 1 band (Hui Se Di Dai) which is actually resident in D'Space on the 3rd floor of D'Space !!!! A secret:

Protest for a better bus system this Friday Lunch !

Posted by: free&fair on Mon, 07 August 2006 19:16:49 (553 reads)

There has been too much talk over the last 10 years about the malfunctioning bus `system' in Penang -and media reports on Penang's bus `system' is occuring in mainstream media on almost daily basis. Yet the Minister for `Entrepreneur' choose to go against the tide of public opinions and allow the bus operators another `2nd chance' to operate with buses which cannot get clearance from the PUSPAKOM, putting the life of passengers in harms' way. A time to say `STOP' !!!!!!! Let's do it together on this Friday lunchtime at Penang Road, below KOMTAR, at the Pedestrian crossing....

Look out of the window weather report : haze back in Penang !

Posted by: free&fair on Sun, 06 August 2006 19:27:48 (782 reads)

Despite a heavy rain in Air Itam in the afternoon by 7.30pm the haze is truly back in Penang -with the Penang Bridge totally lost in view from the Ferry-while Seberang Prai is barely visible.....The haze this time has lost its `newsworthiness', but how about its health impacts ?

How Miami Green Resort Condo Owners Organize

Posted by: Kah Seng on Fri, 14 July 2006 00:51:18 (540 reads)

Residents of Miami Green Resort Condos have organized a useful Web page at http://www.miami-green.info. This is a good model for other apartment and residential owners in Penang. The Website includes answers to frequently asked questions about Strata Title, and displays the house rules, committee contacts, the minutes of meetings in PDF format, and letters sent to the not-so-responsive developer of the condo.

Residents of CM's constituency on the march against dangerous developments

Posted by: free&fair on Mon, 03 July 2006 17:59:13 (1093 reads)

Recruitment, petition, talk of picketing

Last night July 2, the Tanjong Bunga Residents' Association (TBRA) held a public forum on the issue of "40+ storeys, beach encroachment, and hill-cutting." The TBR Association also recruited members and collected signatures on a petition for transparency and accountability in property developments. There were enthusiastic participants, a slide show, four respected panelists, and even a challenge to picket the CM's house which is located in Tanjong Bunga itself.

(See the petition text here)

Once well known rental decontrol victims died (UPDATE)

Posted by: free&fair on Sat, 01 July 2006 21:38:09 (434 reads)

SOS(Save Ourselves) Tel./Fax.04-2617585
Press Release (30-06-06)

Madam Loo Siew Kee, aged 87, and her blind adopted son Tan Cheng Hua, aged 47, who were well known as victims of rental decontrol in 2000,had both passed away today (30-06-06) at their flat at 13-03-A River
Road. Since they have no close relatives SOS(Save Ourselves) –a housing rights group in Penang, is helping out to organise their cremation –to be held on coming Sunday at 2.00pm, at Batu Gantung
Crematorium.

UPDATE : SOS had received such an outpouring of donations from Penang & KL readers of papers which carried the news here that we had reached the target in good time. A full account of the donations will be out soon. Thanks to everyone who care./Ong

Tanjung Bungah Residents Association hold forum this Sunday evening

Posted by: free&fair on Wed, 28 June 2006 13:52:53 (632 reads)

When Tanjung Bungah Assemblyperson and Penang's Chief Minister contemplate his career move the people of Tanjung Bungah are worried about something more down to earth : their community, their hills and their sea shore. So they will hold a forum this coming Sunday (July 2nd) at 8.00pm, at a community hall above the market. Some come one come all to this important forum :

Bloggers for better bus services !

Posted by: free&fair on Thu, 15 June 2006 01:07:16 (497 reads)

Did you miss this bloggers meet with the shortest ever notice (less than 24 hours) ? Well most likely you did -in fact only bloggers who went to the meeting between CEPAT/BUG and Dr Teng in Pulau Tikus were around (see them in the picture) this evening (Lucia, Jasdev, Kris, Yeap, Ong and a couple of BUG's friends) -who met briefly after the meeting-taking advantage of the food and the space allowed by the host-SERI(Socio-Economic REasearch Institute-a State Government think tank). Long lost friend Jasdev questioned if the words should read `better bus services for bloggers'. Funny it -the words could also read `Bus services for better bloggers' or even ` Better bus bloggers for services (of their brain?)' , `bloggers' services for better bus' , `bloggers' bus for better services', `better services bloggers' bus'....WOW -what combo's !

What Sarawakian Bloggers said about Sarawak elections

Posted by: free&fair on Fri, 09 June 2006 15:09:39 (386 reads)

Bloggers are apolitical ? Well the Sarawak elections proved this wrong : many usually `apolitical' bloggers felt quite free to make their political preferences known in their blogs -and offered intelligent reasons for that too ! This is a small survey of the bloggers and blogs which generously offered their opinions about on the elections -which go to prove the power of politics in general and elections in particular -and rightly so too ! Breaking the `political' taboo is big name blagger Kennysia (close to 100 responses to each of his popular posts):

Min force according to IGP is this bloody-how about 1 more up his scale ?

Posted by: free&fair on Thu, 01 June 2006 15:34:30 (410 reads)

The `Bloody Sunday' protest against oil and electric hikes will go down the history of civil protest as perhaps a birth pang in Malaysia's democratisation! The Beseiged IGP insist that his men were using minimum force -and already the victims need to get 5 stitches in the head. So when he increase his force level -say to `moderate' level, what will happen to the victims ? The bloddthirsty police has emerged as the cause of violence in civil protests in Malaysia -and their claim to safeguard `security' also discredited by the police's web site's self-exposure that the police will stay loyal to the ruling party ! So they are doing all this to get a `1-eye closed' status from the politicians. And who is the Minister overseeing these brutal `law enforcers' -in case you foregt ?

Teng driven by CEPAT to bang table to defend his bus revamp

Posted by: free&fair on Thu, 13 April 2006 21:14:46 (497 reads)

In a hastily convened meeting Teng Hock Nan -the State Exco in charge of bus revamp was driven to banging the table to defend his much criticised bus management. He was criticised for not allowing users representation in his small bus revamp committee -probably consisting less than half a doz staff from the City Council. He only offer to meet CEPAT members to answer questions once in 1-2 weeks. He was criticised for not making the 15 monitoring teams members from various departments (CVLB, MPPP, JPJ, Police etc) identifiable to the public -thus disallowing bullied bus users to run for help. (Many complained of being charged exorbitantly). He said that uniform attires do not allow any additions -to which CEPAT members were `cepat'(quick) to counter that the police are adding `Saya anti-Rasuah' badge to their uniform. Full recording of the hour long hotly debated briefing is available for download here (Part 1-26min)and here (Part 2-29min).

PPTW#4: Bus loads of discontent in Penang

Posted by: free&fair on Tue, 04 April 2006 15:28:15 (406 reads)

The picture above was taken from Weld Quay -near the bus terminal. Obviously from some discontented souls or interested parties. Today when I cycled down the Weld Quay bus terminal & later KOMTAR bus terminal I found many areas where positive changes can be made -and even where costs can be saved : eg there are half a dozen of new notice boards erected next to the existing notice boards -same design and almost indistinguishable from the old ones. This happen when the MPPP hike assessment rates for the last 2 years on account of cash shortage, and when the Council has been running ever higher deficits in its budgets....

KOMTAR to Become Swiftlet Housing Instead of Low-Income Housing

Posted by: Anonymous on Sat, 01 April 2006 09:22:28 (1126 reads)

Komplex Tun Abdul Razak will be turned into a 65-storey swiftlet housing to produce RM18 million worth of bird nests a year, the Penang Legislative Council and City Council voted unanimously behind closed door in a joint session to approve the project. Fewer than a handful of legislators walked out in protest.

SB podcast station have a date with you this Friday evening!

Posted by: free&fair on Thu, 30 March 2006 10:34:48 (411 reads)

The SB (Secrets' Broadcaster) station -a podcast station in beta stage, want to have a date with you : we will have a live podcast recording session on this Friday evening at 8.00pm. We will be recording a debate over the oil hike -with an articulate speaker each to speak for and against. Audience do have chance to pose questions to each speaker-so you are not passive. Even people who are far away can speak to us through Yahoo messenger -in fact you can watch us thru a web cam ! (You just need to get invited into our Yahoo Messenger conference -my username there is ong327). Tremendous potentials:

The way it was in George Town transport wise

Posted by: free&fair on Wed, 29 March 2006 12:31:14 (518 reads)

Penang had a history of experimentations in modes of transports -we had horse drawn trams, electric trams, trolley buses, steam engine driven buses etc, before diesel buses took over under Lim Kean Siew's directive. The story by STAR should inspire Penangites to think boldly about reforming and updating our transport system. The change currently embarked upon is too little too late: complaints come from overly `manja' bus operators -who complained of having to follow same vehicles regulations as all others,and the public who are not fully informed of where the improvements are eg are there more routes coverage compared to before? Would there be timetables ? Would the buses be refurbished ? It does not look like the State Government is fully prepared -as are the bus operators, to push through the revamp of the bus system. Then how could it succeed after the oil hike protests are bulldozed off the streets by the State apparatus @police@FRU ?

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