Carolyn Khor's blog

GEORGETOWN: A rectangular-shaped road divider at the junction of Jalan Pisang Rastali and Jalan Pisang Embun in Kampung Pisang, Air Itam, has raised safety concerns among road users. Many drivers ignore traffic rules to avoid taking a detour and reach their destinations more quickly. A driver who declined to be named, said, “The corner is extremely dangerous for road users, especially when cars suddenly rush across the road at the bend and cannot be seen by the oncoming drivers from the opposite side of the road. Air Itam state assemblyman, Joseph Ng Soon Siang acknowledges that complaints have been received regarding the divider and that the matter has been brought up to Majlis Bandaraya Pulau Pinang (MBPP) already. “Although the area is under the jurisdiction of Jabatan Kerja Raya (JKR), we always forward our complaints to MBPP so that they can liaise with JKR. “Actually, road users should adhere to the traffic rules. Before Sunshine Central was completed, it was a triangul...

Lim Teck Ghee, Murray Hunter and Carolyn Khor As the nation battles insufficient tax revenue, growing government debt and GLC inability to provide the catalyst of dynamism and change to the economy, young Malaysians are increasingly unable to find rewarding employment and losing hope that their future in Malaysia will be promising and secure.  The writing was on the wall from a long time ago with worker out migration to Singapore and elsewhere increasing with arithmetic progression since the launch of the NEP. According to Human Resources Minister V. Sivakumar some 1.13 million out of 1.86 million Malaysians who have migrated overseas resided in Singapore. Two Malaysian diaspora studies conducted in 2022 and the findings of which were recently announced found that 39 per cent of the diaspora working in Singapore are skilled workers and 35 per cent are semi-skilled workers, while in Brunei, 68 per cent of the working diaspora are skilled workers and 24.1 per cent a...

C arolyn Khor, Murray Hunter and Lim Teck Ghee   Amongst the advantages of an East Malaysian-led or influenced government is its potential to reject pressure from racial and religious extremism. Unlike the Peninsula, Sabah and Sarawak have historically been more tolerant and diverse in their religious and secular practices. By promoting inclusivity and pluralism, an East Malaysian bloc can mitigate the influence of extremist ideologies in politics and the civil service.   Another is the much more multiracial and polyglot communities in the two states and the absence of the traumatic May 13 racial chapter of history which not only transformed Peninsula politics and society.  Its  dark shadow is repeatedly raised by Peninsula politicians to stifle the nation’s progress to a psychologically and mentally liberated society.   To address the challenge of political transformation effectively, we have compiled a list of  issues and assesse...

Murray Hunter, Lim Teck Ghee and Carolyn Khor Two recent news items reveal the enormity of the policy challenges that the country faces in dealing with not only domestic issues but also in keeping up with a rapidly transforming region and world.  The first is the disclosure by PMX of our education. According to Anwar, “If we look at the bare facts, some of these are concerning. Let us refer to the latest Pisa report, which is a compelling case (of the country's) level of success. "Out of 81 countries selected in the analysis, we are number 51 particularly in Science, Mathematics and English language. Even among seven Asean countries,we are the worst of all." The second is by the World Bank which, in its most recent report, stated what has been evident but which the politically correct institution for the longest time ever has refrained from emphasising in its reports during the previous decades. "Malaysia is another country which has underachieved. It has tre...

  Lim Teck Ghee, Murray Hunter and Carolyn Khor For years there has been talk of a ‘third force’ to radically change the nature of politics and government in Malaysia. The noble objectives included unity, opportunity and socio - economic growth, while avoiding race, religious, and geographical divisions. Although these principles have some general support, attempts of launching new parties have come and gone, leaving the race-based Semenanjung dominant party status quo intact and unchallenged. Malaysia is losing its competitive position in the region. The economy is not evolving in a way to structurally prepare for the future, and the wellbeing of the Rakyat is deteriorating. These are undeniable truths which the great majority of Malaysians from all races and sides of the political divide are in agreement. The government needs to be run by people, with a clear intent of being for the people, and driven by a vision of a Malaysia that can evolve and cement an i...

GEORGETOWN: In an inspiring display of compassion and dedication, medical specialists and hospital staff generously volunteer their expertise and time to provide essential healthcare services to the underprivileged at the Sivasanta Medical Camp, located at 11 River Road, adjacent to the Tamil school. The free medical camp, established by the welfare subcommittee of the Temple of Fine Arts (TFA) at the request of Swami Shantanand Saraswathi, TFA's founder and advisor, embodies the organisation's motto ‘Love for God and Service for Fellow Beings.’ TFA, a non-profit organisation, nurtures young artistes in performing traditional Indian dances and musical instruments such as the harmonium and sitar. It also demonstrates its commitment to serving others through its charitable initiatives. In the spirit of this motto, the medical camp operates with a sense of servitude, offering essential healthcare services to those in need without expectation of anything in return. ...

  GEORGETOWN: Underprivileged children in Penang now have the opportunity to learn tennis from qualified coaches with at least an International Tennis Federation (ITF) Level 2 Certification and assisted by a group of senior and experienced coaches. “The entire training programme will take six months to complete, and it is open for students aged between 7 and 14 years old,” said K. Manimaran, 56, the founder and head coach of Proace Tennis Academy, which operates from two tennis courts at the St. Xavier’s Institution at Lebuh Farquhar. “Tennis, like many other sports, is not just about the sport itself. It is about character building and integrating life’s lessons such as discipline, integrity, and ethics into the sport itself. In the past two years, we have had students participating in Penang School Sports Council (MSSPP) and Malaysian School Sports Council (MSSM) with a few medals won,” he said. Last year, sisters Agasini, 18, and Agilasini Chandramogan, 17, represented th...

Penang Port Charterd Ferry for Penang Bridfe Sunset Cruise https://thesun.my/spotlight/penang-port-charters-ferry-for-penang-bridge-sunset-cruise-HP11870513

Link to article on Community Farming in Penang https://thesun.my/local_news/community-farms-start-to-flourish-in-penang-DO11860210

Julian Kam, better known as ‘Lefty’, takes storytelling to the next level and breathes life into every stroke of his pen – his graphic narratives transcend mere ink on paper, portraying real-life scenes, people, experiences and authentic moments. This art form, called ‘documentary comics’ combines journalism and biography, presented through sequential art, or comics. Lefty employs the use of sensory ethnography to capture the essence and vibrance of the themes or geographical locations within the projects he undertakes. “What I do is fully immerse myself by relocating to the vicinity of the project I’m involved in. I observe, indulge in local cuisine, get to know the people, gather data, conduct research, and then integrate these facts and experiences into the storyline,” elucidated Lefty, who is left-handed, just like his namesake. The 'Ferry Tales’ from the Sama-Sama: George Town series depicts Penang’s iconic ferry services that traverse the 11-kilometre-wide Penang Strait...