Cute FRU to stop anti-toll protestors !

Posted by: free&fair on Tue, 09 January 2007 22:37:52 (1513 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 (713 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 !

Protest for a better bus system this Friday Lunch !

Posted by: free&fair on Mon, 07 August 2006 19:16:49 (542 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 (771 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 ?

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

Posted by: free&fair on Mon, 03 July 2006 17:59:13 (1081 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)

Bloggers for better bus services !

Posted by: free&fair on Thu, 15 June 2006 01:07:16 (491 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 (379 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):

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

Posted by: free&fair on Thu, 13 April 2006 21:14:46 (489 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 (401 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 (1113 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 (406 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 (509 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 ?

The workshop that drew bloggers & NGOs together

Posted by: free&fair on Tue, 28 March 2006 17:32:32 (562 reads)

The workshop on blogging, CMS and podcasting attracted 25 bloggers and NGOs and produced a first formal dialogue between the bloggers and NGOs in Penang. Concern from both sides were aired and hopefully more benefitial communications can take place to make bloggers more socially oriented while NGOs encouraged and technically empowered to use new media for their pursuit of a better world ! The workshop is the 1st function organised by Penangwatch -which was launched only the day before. As a workshop on media it was interesting that the live podcasting demo was able to capture the debate between those against oil hike and those who agree to the measure when Jerrymiah the resource persons asked attendants to speak out on their opinions on the oil hike, after demonstrating how podcasting can be utilised to give almost instant coverage to a suppressed news, incidentally the news about oil hike protests !

Lucia's interesting blog on the workshop is here. The photos inside are pinched from her site (with her knowledge) because my hands were full during the workshop)

Penangwatch web site was hacked after launch !(UPDATE)

Posted by: free&fair on Tue, 28 March 2006 16:07:27 (358 reads)

The launch of Penang Watch -a new group to monitor and help improve MPPP (the Penang island city councl) was colourful and `eventful' from the beginning to beyond the end! For a start our streamyx service was delayed till the morning itself -but still too late for use at the launch ! Then after the launch the web site was hijacked by some hacker who replaced the frontpage with a purported watch shop advertisement ! (see picture above). Later a journalist called me to asked why readers of their paper -which reported the launch, were not able to open the web site... `Hell' seems to have broken loose on the launch -but we just have to take it cooly and address each challenge one by one. By now when you are able to read this blog the streamyx is just back and the web site was back yesterday afternoon! The situation is back in control....
UPDATE : See comments section for a possible explanation for the suspected `hacking' job.

`Protes sampai turun' campaign come to Penanti tomorrow (Sat)

Posted by: free&fair on Fri, 17 March 2006 23:14:47 (424 reads)

Without the mainstream media exposing any of the actions there is a veritable groundswell and uprising against the recent drastic oil hike ! The `protes sampai turun' campaign will come to Penanti(near a Penanti school) tomorrow (Sat)-at 5.00pm, led by PKR's president & Permatang Pauh MP Wan Azizah. So when a party president can `turun padang' ( come down to the ground) who is `not jantan' enough (`daring') to join the protest ? The protests have been growing outside KL when KL protests fluctuates over the last weeks. But alternative media are keeping these protests in the discerning eyes-and MALVU will keep you informed of all protests everywhere. Watch out. Last protest was here- copied from Malaysia-today's report :

EXCLUSIVE: Motif Era sentenced to pay contractor or face closure!

Posted by: free&fair on Tue, 14 March 2006 12:32:33 (335 reads)

From a reliable informer the Motif Era developer who is involved in the issue of the demolition of a chinese school in PM's constituency has been sentenced by Penang's High Court to pay his contractor who had taken him to court for non-payments. The developer's HDA Account with Bank Islam has been frozen by the court's order this morning. A winding up action has also been filed by the lawyer representing the contractor Sonny Khoo, to be heard this coming Friday before the same judge. At the sentencing this morning by the judge somehow no reporters were there -thus making this an exclusive news! And the implications for the school issue is yet to be assessed -even though the school has started its building program after appointing a builder recently. If the developer is finally wound up the housing project will certainly be held up-and its court order to demolish the school-now pending in the high court, will be suspect. To look at the notice of the suit by the contractor this morning go to www.sinchung.wordpress.com .

George Town to have new Council chief

Posted by: free&fair on Sun, 12 March 2006 12:04:23 (421 reads)

Ahmad Phesal had been the George Town unelected `mayor' for the last 2 years when questionable landscape projects sprang up in George Town : the fake sea gulls along Jelutong Expressway; the fake hibiscus at Udini Rd roundabout; the fake Pinang fruit at Beach St roundabout; then some more fake sheels at a park nearby. Each fake landscape project cost hundreds of thousands. Yet the `mayor' won 2nd prize for his `Penang Municipal Park' project ! While the media is full of praise for the departing `mayor' it is time for residents to question to what extent the `mayor' -said to be the most `cooperative' by the State Government, had contributed to the notorious landscaping projects. As a mark for responsiveness : he never reply to any of the complaints we sent to him !

Subsidies : people or ministers get more ?

Posted by: free&fair on Sat, 11 March 2006 21:59:13 (306 reads)

When it come to cutting subsidies the politicians are fast to accuse the people of `subsidies mentality' -foretting that the ministers themselves are addicted to so much subsidies and perks that quite a few of them from both sides of the political divide had been refered to displinary board over over-charging the Parliament for their `services'-whether personal or public. So Najib want stickers of Rm14.60 subsidies to be stucked on every gas tank -but how about also RM20 000+ as average subsidies which the people pay to non-performing ministers per month ? In fairness all subsidies should be declared -fair is fair. Will the DPM be game enough to accept the challenge ?

Another sign of success for anti-oil hike campaign: PM check if his hat is still there !

Posted by: free&fair on Sat, 11 March 2006 10:44:43 (303 reads)

Keep the campaign steady and most likely some results will be on the way : the PM is seen chacking his hat when defending the oil hike recently. He tried to win friends by announcing that he will give some measures to offset the effects of oil hike to the people. But the real issue is : the oil hike is made all the more difficult to accept because the increase in oil will not go to improve public transports or other development-the RM4.4bil will simply go to cronies' big mouth! It will only touch public transport if air transport is included in the list ! The failing MAS is asking for Rm3bil from the government and Pak Lah pledge to support the `public transport' all the way !!! May be this Pak Lah need to check his hat more often if he persist in his cronyism!

Anti-oil hike protest spread-even to Sarawak !

Posted by: free&fair on Wed, 08 March 2006 20:41:45 (300 reads)

As we expected : Sarawakians will not resist using the imminent State elections to press for their interests on their oil and gas royalties, taking advantage of the record breaking oil hike. (Report & pictures appended) Actually without the help of mainstream media -which largely suppress pictures of anti-oil hike protests, following instruction from the PM Dept, the popular show of discontent had spreaded to many towns in Malaysia : Sg Petani had a large protest on a scale bigger than the one in BKE, Penang last Saturday ! And for Penang there will be another protest planned for coming Saturday at BKE, complete with street theatres, specially composed songs, even refreshments stalls ! So the official arguments are failing -no thanks to the PM's lack-lustre performance in the 1st half of his term. If you disagree with the oil hike -and worst, the massive wastage by the government in (ab)using the mammoth oil revenue over the years , come with all your friends! Following that DAP will have a forum on Sunday at 8.00pm, at Cheah Kongsi!

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