Carolyn Khor's blog

PROGRESSING WITH HERITAGE PUBLIC FORUM 4: Building Capacity in Heritage Asset Management Public Forum: Sat, 28 May 2011 Time: 9.00am- 5.00pm Venue: Bayview Hotel Georgetown, Penang As owners, tenants and custodians of properties within the George Town World Heritage Site, we will need correct approaches, technical know-how and appropriate materials to maintain our heritage assets for future generations. After years of neglect, there is a lot of 'catch-up' maintenance to be done. Large property owners, whether public bodies, institutions or private companies, would do well to understand what is involved in managing their heritage assets. Investments today will result in great savings tomorrow. The UNESCO listing is opening up new opportunities for the building industry, building professionals, contractors, suppliers and even training providers. All those involved need to upgrade their knowledge and skills in the service of cultural heritage management. The public fo...

Press Release for "Blending Of Blood‟, A Unity Project Date : 25th May 2O11 (Wednesday) GEORGE TOWN FESTIVAL 2O11 The George Town Festival is a month-long celebration of the inscription of George Town on UNESCO‟s World Heritage Listing on 7th July, 2OO8. Scheduled to be an annual event, the Festival opens as a feast of theatre, music, dance, film, art, opera, food, fashion, photography, and inspirational talks. The primary objective of the George Town Festival is to provide a platform to promote arts and culture to engage all stakeholders to work collectively with the common aim of increasing the multiplier effect on Penang‟s economy. The Festival acts as a catalyst to advance art and heritage education, promotes dialogue, and encourages mutual understanding between different urban communities, past and present. The 2O11 Festival will feature over 8O programmes which promote ARTS and HERITAGE in Penang, made possible with the concerted effort of the Penang State Government...

Kenyataan Media Laporan “Traumatising Sight” oleh Akhbar Star Metro pada 25 Mei 2011 Saya telah menerima laporan daripada MPPP berkenaan dengan berita “Traumatising Sight” yang dipaparkan oleh Akhbar Star Metro pada 25 Mei 2011 seperti dilampirkan: 1. Merujuk kepada tajuk berita surat khabar STAR Metro pada 25.5.2011. 2. MPPP mempunyai sebuah pasukan Pengawalan Anjing untuk mengawal seluruh Pulau Pinang. Unit ini bertanggungjawab untuk menangkap anjing liar, anjing tanpa lesen, anjing yang mengejar orang awam, dan anjing yang mengancam keselamatan orang awam berdasarkan kebanyakan aduan yang diterima oleh MPPP setiap hari. 3. Seperti yang diarahkan Unit ini tidak dibenarkan menembak anjing-anjing yang telah ditangkap di hadapan orang awam. Anjing yang ditangkap akan dibawa balik ke Pejabat MPPP untuk dimusnah. Anjing-anjing yang tidak dapat ditangkap yang berada di kawasan lapang seperti di tepi pantai, kawasan bukit hanya akan ditembak menggunaka...

Kenyataan Akhbar oleh Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang, YAB Lim Guan Eng pada 25 Mei 2011 di Komtar, George Town . Masyarakat tidak tertarik untuk mengetahui siapa wira tetapi yang nyata wira sebenar ialah seseorang yang dapat memastikan semua pelajar cemerlang menerima biasiswa JPA. UMNO dan MCA bercakaran bagi membuktikan siapa yang benar dalam isu pemberian biasiswa JPA yang dilihat seolah-olah tidak mempunyai jalan penyelasaian kerana masih terdapat pelajar cemerlang yang masih tidak menerima biasiswa. Masyarakt kini tidak tertarik untuk mengetahui siapa jadi wira tetapi yang nyata wira sebenar ialah mereka yang dapat memastikan kesemua pelajar cemerlang ini boleh menerima biasiswa JPA. Masyarakat bertambah keliru apabila kedua- dua UMNO dan MCA memberikan jawapan yang berlainan walaupun bernaung di bawah Menteri dalam Kabinet yang sama. Kekeliruan ini akan menjadi lucu jika difikirkan tetapi fakta sebenar ialah pelajar-pelajar cemerlang yang tidak bersalah akan menjadi mangsa...

MEMORANDUM Save Malaysia Committee B-6 Taman Tunas Manja, Jalan Air Putih, 25300 Kuantan. Pahang Darul Makmur. Date: 20/05/2011 HIS EXCELLENCY AUSTRALIAN HIGH COMMISSIONER TO MALAYSIA KUALA LUMPUR Your Excellency RE: LYNAS ADVANCED MATERIAL PLANT (LAMP) NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION IN GEBENG, KUANTAN , MALAYSIA. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We the residents of Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia are extremely concerned over the proposed construction and operation of the above plant. It is common knowledge that : 1) LAMP will be processing rare earths oxide which contains Thorium 2) Thorium is a known radioactive material. 3) The mineral monazite which contains the Thorium is mined at Mount Weld in Western Australia and will be shipped to Kuantan, through Freemantle Port for processing at LAMP. As your country is the originator of this dangerous material it is only right that your country must take responsibility for ...

Reverend Dr. Thomas Phillips, the President of Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism Christianity Hinduism Sikhism and Taoism (MBCCBCHST) met with CM Lim Guan Eng at Komtar today. The consultative council was formed 30 years ago. To date, only two states in Malaysia, Penang and Perak, have the non-Islamic portfolio. Reverend Thomas hopes that every state in Malaysia could have a non-Islamic portfolio.

Sim Tze Tzin, ADUN Pantai Jerejak visited the Lengkok Mahsuri flats today with PDC engineers and officers to inspect the slant as claimed in Bernama News yesterday. During the inspection, it was found that the apron in the corridor had cracks in them as the building was built over what used to be a padi field, and has underground stream running below the ground, causing certain parts of the ground to sink. However, Sim reassures the residents that the building was structurally safe.The sinking involved three units in that apartment block. The sinking involved three units in that apartment block. Sim directed PDC personnels to engage the engineering unit of JKR to do further inspection.

Press conference by Penang Barisan Nasional Working Committee chairman and Penang Gerakan chief Dato Dr Teng Hock Nan May 16, 2011 Penang Barisan Nasional working committee chairman Dato Dr Teng Hock Nan today urged the state government to focus on collecting more information and evidence to set aside a High Court award to Tang Hak Ju over a land case. Dr Teng said instead of continuing to label the case as a “scam” when “there is no scam” as explicitly stated in the contents of the White Paper, the state government should take appropriate action to set aside the case or to reduce the award’s amount. Dr Teng, who is also Penang Gerakan chief, said the White Paper, which was tabled and adopted in the State Assembly sitting last week, had stated that there was a technical mistake and negligence or an irresponsible action on the part of two government officers. “According to the White Paper, new evidence has also been found to show that Tang could have prior knowledge of land ...

PRESS STATEMENT BY MR. WONG MUN HOE VICE CHAIRMAN OF PENANG GERAKAN I refer to YB Sim Tze Tsin’s press statement on 11th May 2011 regarding the issue of repainting of flats. YB Sim’s statement clearly and distinctly reflects the 3 main differences between where he and Parti Keadilan’s stand and where I and my party’s stand in the issue. (1) YB Sim confines himself to only State, PDC, MPPP and MPSP housing. We do not. We want the benefits to be extended to all other flats and apartments that deserve the same benefits. We do not want discriminatory policies. (2) YB Sim is selfish and do not seem to want others to benefit. We want ALL to benefit. (3) YB Sim is satisfied with the 80:20 formula for low-cost and low-medium cost. We do not. We want the State to waive this condition. Not only have I been consistently saying that I have never once objected to the repainting of M3, 4 and 5 apartments but on the contrary, I have congratulated and even expressed my full support to th...

Sim Tze Tzin visited the Bayan Baru market with Mohd Rashid bin Hasnon, the Penang Municipal Council officers and JKR personnels on a walkabout to receive complains from the hawkers at the market complex. “The state government is applying for funds from Kementrian Perumahan dan Kerajaan Tempatan (KPKT) for upgrades to make the market more disabled friendly,” Mohd Rashid said. Sim also revealed that some hawkers had requested for lower stall rental and that Mohd Rashid will raise this issue in the next council meeting. Sim said that the cleanliness level has improved, but encourages the public to cooperate and take care of public facilities, referring especially to blockages in the drainage. “This will help keep the costs down,” he said. He also proposed that the hawkers start selling organic food as those who lived or shopped in the vicinity have better income now. After the walkabout, Sim donated 3000 books to the library situated at the top floor of the building. He ...

Pertubuhan Wanita Mutiara and Sim Tze Tzin, the state assemblyman for Pantai Jerejak celebrated Mother’s Day with single mothers and orphans at a home in Permatang Damar Laut yesterday. Although some of the children are orphaned, celebrating Mother’s Day with them made sense as the volunteers were already very much like mothers to these children, explained both Dr. Sim Joo Seng and Chew Lay Kean, the organizers of the event. Betty Chew, president of Pertubuhan Wanita Mutiara, together with Noorazlena Mat Kharsa and Lee Seok Looi, presented toys, clothing and books to the home, and was greeted with smiles and cheers all around. Sim Tze Tzin pledged RM3000 to the home. During the event, the children gave a well-rehearsed performance of song and dance to the VIPs and the evening ended with a cake-cutting ceremony. Home with a heart Rumah Seri Cahaya is an organization founded by two good women who believed in helping the needy. T.Kalliamah and Linda Gregory currently ru...

14 May 2011 Sim Tze Tzin, state assemblyman for Pantai Jerejak and S. Raveentharan, state assemblyman for Batu Uban, together with officers from JPS (Jabatan Pengaliran Sungai) visited Sungai Dua to access the damage and give explanation for the floods which happened after a sudden downpour today. According to JPS, this was because the drainage culverts were unable to handle the volume of water and this in turn caused the retention pond in USM to breach.

Is it broken, swollen, overflowed, or breached? Robert Oon, chairman of Sri Saujana Apartments in Sungai Dua, Penang attempts to teach two state assemblymen English. It is rare that light-hearted moments get captured on videos. This is one of them.

Click here for YouTube link

Sim Tze Tzin, the state assemblyman for Pantai Jerejak handed over a cheque amounting to RM2000 to SRJK (C) Chong Cheng Sungai Ara to help with the repairs of a classroom which was damaged when a fire broke out on Monday night. “We do not know the cause yet and it is still under investigation,” said Yeoh Soon Kheng, the principal of the primary school. Fire broke out at the Year 1 classroom at around 10 p.m. two days ago. The bookshelf, books, notice board, ceiling fan and some classroom furniture were destroyed and the estimated cost of damage was around RM3000. Yeoh said that he will seek to get the rest of the funds needed from the Education Ministry. The students are currently using other spare classrooms. “The children's studies are not affected at all. “In fact, being children, they do not realise the severity of what just happened,” added Yeoh. Yeoh also said that the damaged classroom would be ready for use by next week. Chong Cheng has a total of 1700 st...

Teng: Stop it Press Statement by Gerakan vice-president and Penang Gerakan State Chairman Dato’ Dr Teng Hock Nan May 09, 2011 Gerakan vice-president Dato’ Dr Teng Hock Nan has urged all media including newspapers to stop speculating and exploiting on issue of religion that can stoke tension. Dr Teng also urged the police, especially the Special Branch, to conduct an immediate and thorough investigation into a report by Utusan Malaysia and two bloggers which claimed that a meeting had taken place in Penang, attended by Christian leaders who want Christianity to be the official religion in Malaysia. “If there was no basis to the reports, appropriate serious action according to the laws of our country should be taken against Utusan Malaysia and the two bloggers. Similarly, appropriate serious action should also be taken against those who flout the law if there was a basis to the reports,” said Dr Teng in a press statement. Dr Teng, who is also Penang Gerakan chief, said Utus...

UCAPAN PENGGULUNGAN TIMBALAN KETUA MENTERI 1 MERANGKAP PENGERUSI JAWATANKUASA MMK PERDAGANGAN ANTARABANGSA & PEMBANGUNAN INDUSTRI, KOPERASI DAN PERHUBUNGAN MASYARAKAT Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh dan Salam Sejahtera, Yang Berhormat Dato’ Speaker, Ahli-ahli Yang Berhormat, Izinkan saya untuk mengambil kesempatan ini untuk mengucapkan berbanyak terima kasih kepada semua Ahli-ahli Yang Berhormat yang telah mengambil bahagian dalam perbahasan ke atas Ucapan Tuan Yang Terutama Yang Di Pertua Negeri Pulau Pinang yang melibatkan portfolio saya. Saya selaku Pengerusi Jawatankuasa MMK Perdagangan Antarabangsa & Pembangunan Industri, Koperasi dan Perhubungan Masyarakat akan menggulung persoalan-persoalan yang ditimbulkan oleh Ahli-Ahli Yang Berhormat berkaitan portfolio ini. Pertama, izinkan saya menjawab soalan yang dibangkitkan oleh Yang Berhormat ADUN Tanjong Bunga yang membangkitkan mengenai cadangan supaya Kerajaan Negeri mewujudkan mekanisme bagi memberi p...

UCAPAN PENGGULUNGAN PORTFOLIO BELIA DAN SUKAN, WANITA, KELUARGA DAN KOMUNITI UCAPAN PENGGULUNGAN OLEH Y.B. PUAN ONG KOK FOOI SEMPENA MESYUARAT YANG PERTAMA BAGI PENGGAL KEEMPAT DEWAN UNDANGAN NEGERI PULAU PINANG YANG KEDUA BELAS Yang Berhormat Dato’ Speaker, Ahli-ahli Yang Berhormat. Terlebih dahulu, saya ingin merakamkan setinggi-tinggi penghargaan kepada Dewan yang mulia ini kerana memberi peluang kepada saya untuk membentangkan ucapan penggulungan berkaitan isu-isu Belia dan Sukan, Wanita, Keluarga dan Komuniti yang dibangkitkan semasa Perbahasan Ucapan Terima Kasih Kepada Tuan Yang Terutama Yang Di-Pertua Negeri. Saya juga mengambil kesempatan ini untuk mengucapkan tahniah kepada Tuan Yang Terutama Yang Di-Pertua Negeri di atas perlantikan semula beliau sebagai Yang Di-Pertua Negeri Pulau Pinang. Sukan Yang Berhormat Dato’ Speaker, Sukacita saya ingin menjawab soalan tambahan daripada Yang Berhormat Dato’ Keramat berkaitan isu prestasi Pasukan Bola Sepak Pulau Pina...

Enakmen Warisan Negeri Pulau Pinang 2011 Terima kasih kerana memberi peluang kepada saya untuk mengambil bahagian dalam sesi penggulungan enakmen ini. Sejak George Town diiktiraf sebagai tapak warisan dunia Unesco, telah banyak merangsang kepada kegiatan ekonomi di dalan kawasan Georgetown dan menarik ramai pelancong melawat ke sini. Sebagai penduduk Pulau Pinang, saya berasa amat gembira dengan sambutan baik ini. Geoegetown berjaya diiktiraf sebagai Tapak Warisan Dunia Unesco berdasarkan 3 Outstanding Universal Value iaitu criteria sejarah perkembangan Geoegetown, keunikan tradisi kebudayaan pelbagai kaum serta seni bina bangunan di Georgetown. Bangunan-bangunan di Geogetown, kebanyakan sudah hampir seratus tahun dan ada juga yang melebihi seratus tahun. Bangunan dan kedai rumah yang istimewa ini mempunyai unsur-unsur bersejarah yang amat bernilai dan unik perlu kita memelihara dengan baiknya. Malangnya apa yang kita lihat pada hari ini, adalah terdapat banyak ...

Press Statement by Penang Gerakan State Chairman Dato’ Dr Teng Hock Nan May 11, 2011 Penang Gerakan chief Dato’ Dr Teng Hock Nan pointed out today that the then State Exco did not at all offer compensation of RM1.8mil to Tang Hak Ju as compensation over a land case in Bukit Mertajam in 2004. “In fact, it was Tang who had demanded the sum from the previous state government. The State Exco decided that the amount he wanted should be justified with supporting documents including receipts on the amount of money he had spent in relation to the case. The decision was conveyed to Tang who could not produce the documents and did not come back to us. He then went to Court to seek redress,” said Dr Teng in a statement. Dr Teng, who was then a State Exco member, said the matter was clearly stated in the White Paper which was tabled at the State Assembly yesterday. “According to the White Paper, it was a technical mistake and negligence on the part of two government officers and there...

Press Statement in response to Mr. Wong Mun Hoe’s Press Conference 11 May 2011 Mr Wong Could Not Deliver Promises, Now He Must Stop Politicking. Yesterday, Mr Wong Mun Hoe and his Gerakan party leaders held a press conference to condemn the State Government regarding repainting of PDC and State Government built flats. He was quoted in Chinese Press as saying “Mahsuri Apartment (M3-M5) is privately managed and not under the management of PDC or State Government. They do not qualify to get repaint. How could they get to be the first to repaint?” His statement has angered many of the residents of the Mahsuri Apartment. Mr. Wong has politicized the issue and made the innocent residents as scapegoats. I would like to response to this matter by giving facts nothing but the facts. In March 2004, Mahsuri Apartment 3, 4 and 5 was approached by PDC to set up Management Corporation. During the formation meeting in August 2004, pro-tem committee requested to repaint the buildings, as par...

PRESS STATEMENT BY MR WONG MUN HOE, VICE CHAIRMAN OF PENANG STATE GERAKAN, ON BEHALF OF BARISAN NASIONAL PENANG On 3rd May, 2011 after the memorandum to appeal to the Penang State Government for the repainting of 53 blocks of flats and apartments was submitted to the Chief Minister, two important points were immediately made by the Political Secretary to the Chief Minister, YB Ng Wei Aik 1. Private high rise management including repainting is the responsibility of the developer or the management committee. 2. The State Government will only consider the repainting for PDC, MPPP, MPSP and State Government low cost flats. Following his response, I have 3 questions for YB Ng Wei Aik to answer. 1. Is YB Ng Wei Aik aware that the first apartment to be announced to be given this repainting ‘grant’ is the M3,4 and 5 apartments in Mahsuri, Bayan Baru and that this announcement is made by his boss, the Chief Minister himself? 2. Is YB Ng Wei Aik aware that the M3, 4 and 5 apartments...

Efforts are underway to shut down a childcare centre in Bukit Dumbar due to its non-compliance in obtaining proper operating licenses, says Phee Boon Poh. The Sungai Puyu state assemblyman who is also in charge of Welfare and Caring Society also revealed that the said childcare centre is still unregistered as it has yet to get approval from the Penang Municipal Council (MPPP). According to Section 16A(1) of Child Care Act 1993 (Amended) 2007, the welfare department may prohibit the operations of unregistered centres. “However, we need time to process the enforcement after the notice of closure has been sent,”said Phee adding that the MPPP too has the authority to order the closure. Taska Little Pearl came into limelight in 2008 when a four year girl was allegedly raped by the owner of the childcare centre. Ewe Peng Lip, currently on bail was found guilty but has filed an appeal with the Appeals Court. The Welfare Department has advised parents of 31 children to change childca...

The works of Ooi Cheng Ghee are truly a hidden gem for those who appreciate the value of history and culture of bygone Penang. Entitled “Portraits of Penang: Little India”, this book is printed in a beautifully designed large format and comprises of 160 black and white images taken way back in 1979. “During that time, Penang was facing an economic slump. “The urban centre was facing a downward spiral, and that was why I took to walking the streets to see for myself the extend of the decline,” explained the doctor who admitted the experience as an eye-opener. Ooi’s photos, accompanied by essays and commentaries by Gareth Richards and Himanshu Bhatt tells a soulful and heartfelt tale through the lenses of a dedicated and accomplished hobbyist who is also an Associate of the Royal Photographic Society in the UK. The images reflect a particular historical moment when the Penang free-port status had just been revoked and the Indian enclave was undergoing a difficult transition...

Press Statement by Gerakan vice-president and Penang Gerakan State Chairman Dato’ Dr Teng Hock Nan May 09, 2011 Gerakan vice-president Dato’ Dr Teng Hock Nan has urged all media including newspapers to stop speculating and exploiting on issue of religion that can stoke tension. Dr Teng also urged the police, especially the Special Branch, to conduct an immediate and thorough investigation into a report by Utusan Malaysia and two bloggers which claimed that a meeting had taken place in Penang, attended by Christian leaders who want Christianity to be the official religion in Malaysia. “If there was no basis to the reports, appropriate serious action according to the laws of our country should be taken against Utusan Malaysia and the two bloggers. Similarly, appropriate serious action should also be taken against those who flout the law if there was a basis to the reports,” said Dr Teng in a press statement. Dr Teng, who is also Penang Gerakan chief, said Utusan Malaysia is ...

The works of Ooi Cheng Ghee are truly a hidden gem for those who appreciate the value of history and culture of bygone Penang. Entitled “Portraits of Penang: Little India”, this book is printed in a beautifully designed large format and comprises of 160 black and white images taken way back in 1979. “During that time, Penang was facing an economic slump. “The urban centre was facing a downward spiral, and that was why I took to walking the streets to see for myself the extend of the decline,” explained the doctor who admitted the experience as an eye-opener. Ooi’s photos, accompanied by essays and commentaries by Gareth Richards and Himanshu Bhatt tells a soulful and heartfelt tale through the lenses of a dedicated and accomplished hobbyist who is also an Associate of the Royal Photographic Society in the UK. The images reflect a particular historical moment when the Penang free-port status had just been revoked and the Indian enclave was undergoing a difficult transition...

Perbahasan Ucapan T.Y.T Bagi Perasmian Mesyuarat Pertama Penggal Ke-4 DUN Pulau Pinang Yang Ke-12 Terima kasih Dato Speaker kerana memberi peluang kepada saya untuk memberi sedikit sebanyak ulasan dan pandangan dalam perbahasan kali ini. Kemungkinan besar perbahasan saya kali ini merupakan kali yang terakhir sebelum kita bersiap sedia untuk menghadapi pilihanraya umum yang akan datang. Saya ingin mengambil kesempatan ini untuk mengucapkan syabas dan setinggi-tinggi tahniah kepada kerajaan negeri Pakatan Rakyat (PR) atas segala usaha dan inisiatif yang diambil sejak tahun 2008 sehingga sekarang yang telah berjaya menarik pelaburan asing yang mencecah RM12.2 billion bagi tahun 2010. Ini dengan jelas sendiri menunjukkan Pulau Pinang di bawah satu pentadbiran yang cekap dan telus telah memberi keyakinan kepada para pelabur asing dan tempatan untuk terus melabur dan melabur semula di negeri ini. Ini sudah tentu akan terus memajukan negeri Pulau Pinang di mana statistik yang dikeluarka...