The way it was in George Town transport wise

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 ?

It's time !

The landscaping projects had become a big money spinner in many Malaysian states -in Penang, Perak, Kedah etc. They share common features : big bills (running into hundreds of thousands each), low aesthetic value, and in many instances, non-functional. All these features are there in the Sg Petani decorative clock towers -which break down and get stolen ! So you can't even tell the time with it. But that doesn't mean time is not important : in fact it is so notorious that time has caught up with them ! The ACA finally think it is time to zero in on these `beautification' projects -so called :

Ong: Councils still have a say

From next year onwards the notoriously corrupt local councils will lose their power to issue Ocupancy Certificates to all housing projects in Malaysia ! While this may come as a great relief by those who are inconvenienced by the corrupt officials in the local councils there are concern also that the other parties who will then be entrusted to certify the houses' completion are no more trustworthy than the local councils: the building professionals who are invariably in the pay of developers are not known for their professional independence either.So from a menacing tiger the house buyers are running straight into a waiting shark ! Consumers and house buyer groups are justified in expressing their fear of the worst. Could the Government address this fear in time ahead of the implementation of the new system ? Let's see ...and think of responses as well !

RM4m job: Penang begins probe : Another `jobs for the boys' ?

The MPSP was found to have spent RM1.5 mil to order flowers to be put at its front door for 4 years -with supply coming all the ways from KL. Now it has been found to have contracted another KL agent to do a RM4mil revaluation of Seberang Prai properties which resulted in huge hike in assessment rates for many residents, and attracting an unprecedented 13 000 objections from the affected residents. Why the obsession with KL agencies ? Some serious explanations seems in place here ...we'll definitly hear more from Sebrang soon ! Watch out !

Where's the pearl? (Chart 10)

10. Penang's Sputtering Engine: Approved Manufacturing Projects In Decline

Penang's approved manufacturing project values have fallen sharply, from RM4.8 bil in 1999 to RM1.9 billion in 2003 (yellow bars). Since they are "approved" projects, some may not even be carried out, may not be fully implemented, or may be dragged out over a longer period of time than planned.

In other words, we haven't seen the full negative impact yet. If and when implemented, the approved projects of 2003 will only be ready to operate 2005 or later. The next charts will show potential job creation to decline to historical low from these projects.

Where's the pearl? (Chart 9)

9. Penang Stucked: Slow Shift To Tertiary Sector

Penang continues to rely heavily on manufacturing. It is failing to expand its low- and high-end services, such as tourism, logistics, research and development, software, and finance. Further shift to services is generally associated with more highly developed economies.

Where's the pearl? (Chart 8)

8. What Pearl? Relying On Less Lucrative Domestic Tourists

This chart shows the long-term trend that Penang increasingly relies on domestic tourists (green area). From 2000 to 2003 especially, the portion of foreign and local tourists reversed from 62%-38% to 38%-62%.

Although domestic tourists are welcomed and bring revenues too,

• Domestic tourists generally spend less, and avoid beach and luxury hotels
• Bring in more cars, traffic jams, and parking problems

Where's the pearl? (Chart 7)

7. What Pearl? International Tourists Down Sharply Before SARS

International visitor arrivals to Penang were down in 1997, and were especially negative during 2000-2003. Penang's total visitor arrival growths were negative, except during 1998-2000, the unsustainable, post-devaluation honeymoon.

• International arrivals fell sharply, by -18% in 2001, -7.3% in 2002, and a shocking and further -35% in 2003.
• Total visitor arrivals fell -8.2% in 2001, then -1.3% in 2002, then -11.6% in 2003
  
• Domestic visitor arrivals rose 2000-2003 (but generally spend less than international tourist). We stay home because the ringgit devaluation made us poorer internationally.

Where's the pearl? (Chart 6)

6. Penang's Hotel Occupancies Down

Penang hotel occupancy trends are down in the long term. The falls started before 911, and long before the SARS-hit 2003

• Overall Penang hotel occupancy rate (blue line) declined from 61.6% in 1996 to 49.8% in 2003 in a steady downtrend. Penang hotels are more than half empty in 2003
• City hotel occupancy (green line) started higher at 65% in 1996, dipped quickly to 52.4% in 1998, and remained generally flat to reach 51.9% in 2003. This line probably reflects business and domestic travelers.
• Beach hotels occupancy (pink line) went through roller coaster, but also sharply down. It went from 59.6% in 1996, seemed to enjoy some buoyancy from ringgit devaluation of 1998, reached 66.7% in 2000, and went all the way downhill to 46.7% in 2003. Between 2000 and 2003, it went from 2/3 occupied (already weak) to 46.7%, below the average.
  

Where's the pearl? (Chart 5)

5. Suffocated: Air Passengers Stagnated and Down

Penang's total air passenders in 2003 (2.43 million) was down to the lowest level since 1992 (orange lline). The upward trend in early 1990's has completely broken down. Long-term domestic arrival was flat: it declined from 1996 (green line), rebound since 2001, but remained lower than 1992, despite total economic growth. International passengers (blue line), despite a brief post-devaluation spike, by 2003 has slided to the low levels of 1991-1992.

Where's the Pearl? (Chart 4)

4. Penang Suffocated: Aircraft Arrivals Down Long-Term

There are 25% fewer airplanes arriving in Penang compared to early 1990's. Aircraft arrivals declined most sharply after 1996. A small rebound in in 2001 was followed by even lower levels by 2003.

Where's the pearl? (Chart 3)

3. Penang Choked: Car/Motorcycle Density Doubled Population Weight in Nation

In terms of vehicle density per person, Penang is 2.2 times the national average for motorcycles, 1.7x for private car, 0.8x for taxi (for a tourist, urban area).

When private cars and motorcycles are combined, Penang has twice the density of the nation (red column). That is, Penang has 0.92 private car or motorcycle per man, woman, senior citizen or baby, while Malaysia has 0.46 private car or motorcycle per person.

Where's The Pearl? (Chart 2)

2. Choked: Above-Average Car/Motorcycle per Capita, Below-Average Taxis

Penang has only 5.7% of Malaysia's population. But it has 12.6% of Malaysia's motorcycles, 9.7% of private cars, and 11.2% of private cars-plus-motorcycles (combining these two categories makes sense because car and motorcycle users are usually mutually exclusive). Yet it has only 4.4% of the taxis in Malaysia.

Where's The Pearl? (Intro)

Introduction: Penang's Problem Is Governance and Politics

The Pearl of Orient? But where's the pearl? If you think this question is unappreciative of Penang, wait till you see the facts. In a series of 13 charts on Penang, we will see general economic decline and a rather bleak outlook.

The first chart highlights Penang's relative poverty in Malaysia. Despite that poverty, Penang has double the national average for private vehicles, which explain why Penang's road and parking spaces are bursting at the seams.

Following a decade-long slump in tourism in Penang, hotels and airport will probably continue to be under-utilized even with a post-SARS rebound. Shrinking approved manufacturing projects, meanwhile, predict bleak outlooks for jobs and Penang's climb up the "value-added ladder".