Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Aru speaks about PSM detainees




S.Arutchelvan, the Secretary-General of Parti Socialis Malaysia (PSM) was at Penang High Court 3 today. An application was made for a judicial revision to the seven days remand. The decision will be announced tomorrow.

Thirty PSM members were detained on 25th June under Section 122 of the Penal Code for allegedly waging a war against the Agong. Among those arrested were the elderly, women, two seventeen year old students, a teacher and an MP.

Forum Perundingan Kerajaan Tempatan Pulau Pinang 2/2011

Kenyataan Media

Forum Perundingan Kerajaan Tempatan Pulau Pinang 2/2011


Sukacita dimaklumkan bahawa kerajaan negeri akan menganjurkan Forum Perundingan Kerajaan Tempatan yang kedua bagi tahun 2011 pada 4hb Julai 2011.

Forum ini akan diadakan di Dewan Bosch, Tingkat 1, Kompleks Mesyuarat Penyayang, Jalan Utama dan akan bermula pada jam 9.00 pagi hingga 12.30 tengahari.

Forum ini akan dipengerusikan oleh YB Chow Kon Yeow, Pengerusi Jawatankuasa MMK Kerajaan Tempatan dan Pengurusan Lalu Lintas.

Isu yang akan dibangkit dan dibincang pada forum kali ini adalah isu perumahan. Pembentangan termasuk Perumahan Mampu Milik bagi rakyat Pulau Pinang dan Pergerakan harga rumah di Pulau Pinang.

Kerajaan Negeri Pulau Pinang mengalu-alukan kehadiran stakeholders dan pihak yang berminat untuk mengambil bahagian dalam forum kali ini supaya dapat bersama-sama menyumbangkan idea-idea demi mempertingkatkan pembangunan sosio-ekonomi negeri Pulau Pinang.

29-6-2011
__________________________________________________________________

文告

檳州地方政府論壇2/2011

檳州政府將于4-7-2011,上午9時至中午12時半,在愛心大廈1樓Dewan Bosch舉行2011年第二次的地方政府論壇。

此地方政府論壇將由檳州地方政府及交通管理委員會主席曹觀友主持。這次論壇將討論的課題為檳州人民有能力購買的房屋以及檳州屋價走勢。

檳州政府歡迎對此課題有興趣的人士參與論壇,集思廣益,提升及促進檳州社會經濟發展。

29-6-2011
Chow Kon Yeow

Memorandum to Penang CPO

MEMORANDUM TO PENANG CHIEF POLICE OFFICER
29 JUNE 2011
ARBITRARY ARRESTS AND FALSE ACCUSATIONS AGAINST PSM ACTIVISTS

We the undersigned civil society groups in Penang strongly condemn the arrest of 30 PSM activists under Section 122 of the Penal Code 122 for “waging wars against the Yang DiPertuan Agong” that carries life imprisonment for a term not exceeding 20 years.

The PSM activists, including Sungai Siput MP D Jeyakumar were halted by police at the Sungai Dua toll plaza, when they were on their way to attend a ceramah dubbed ‘Udahlah tu, bersaralah BN’ at Bayan Baru. The police who found PRM leaflets and newsletter and other paraphemalia including T-Shirts bearing the images of former Communist fighters Chin Peng, Suriani Abdullah and Rashid Maidin, came to the conclusion that the group was trying to revive the communist ideology and therefore they should be investigated for “waging war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong”.

This is not the only example of abuse of power by police. Basic necessities in the lockup such as adequate washrooms, water etc do not meet basic standards of living. Human rights violation cases taken place during their detention, when a woman who suffered from diabetes was given a cup of sweet water when she asked for warm water, another one was punched and kicked by the police, while all of them were denied access to lawyers. We have also learned that the 7 detainees held at the Penang Police Headquarters are put into solitary confinement and we find this extraordinary treatment very worrying. We have no information on the condition of the other 24 detainees currently held at Kepala Batas. The extreme accusations by the police on peace-loving citizens of this country defies common sense and so we urge the police to open up their purported investigations and conduct for immediate scrutiny. The police cannot simply accuse citizens of a crime and proceed to mistreat them under detention. We reiterate the need for lawyers to be allowed routine visits to ensure the well being of people in police custody.

We are deeply shocked and disturbed by this blatant disregard to the fundamental of human rights in Malaysia as enshrined in Federal Constitution. It is a case of abuse of power by the government machinery, including the police force, the failure of police-prosecutor-judiciary collusion to protect fundamental human rights.

The arrest further illustrates the fear of the ruling party of the people power, when BERSIH 2.0 rally is just around the corner, while police has been used as a political tool by the ruling party to hit their objective. This is clearly seen when a nationwide police crackdown on pre-Bersih activities and reported ban on political events.

We are very much concerned over the continuous act of obtaining blanket unilateral restraining orders against the general public as a means to crack down any activity opposing the ruling party. We are of the view that the act of obtaining such restraining orders is a serious abuse of legal process. Once again, police is the accomplice in this matter.

We, in the light of these incidences, urge the CPO to

1. Release all the detainees immediately!

The arrest is truly an unlawful act and disregard of the Constitutional Rights. Police should release all the detainees immediately and apologise to the public.


2. Take action on police who misuse of power

Any ill-treatment received by the detainees during their detention is not tolerable. Police should be at the people’s side and not the rulling party’s. It is serious when all the injuries, physically or mentally, come from the police because it means the police themselves are the criminals.


3. Stop being used as a political tool by using arbitrary restraining orders against peaceful citizens.

Police has been used as a political tool to arrest citizens exercising their rights. Such orders are made based solely on one party’s prejudice that undermines the subjected parties’ right to be heard.


4. Respect freedom of expression and freedom of assembly.

Police should stop disrupting peaceful assemblies and any other activities, either BERSIH 2.0 or leafleting. Freedom of expression and freedom of assembly is enshrined in our Federal Constitution. Respect these freedom means respect your own freedom and vice versa.


5. Stop arresting and harassing activists.

Activists have always been exposed to arrest and detention without trial because most of their demands are away from the benefit of the ruling party. Therefore, in most time police will get order from the ruling party to crackdown their activities. Please stop arresting and harassing the activists for the sake of the society.



6. Grant access to lawyers and family members to visit

We are extremely concerned that conditions of police lockups do not meet basic living standards. Police have also been reported to be mistreating (including beating up) detainees. We demand that lawyers and family members be allowed to visit detainees immediately to ensure their well being under custody.

7. Concentrate more on catching criminals

Instead of getting their head into disrupting activities which threaten the position of ruling party, police should making more effort in catching criminals.

Endorsed by:
1. Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)


--
Ong Jing Cheng
Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)
Penang Branch Coordinator,
63B-01-07, University Heights,
Jalan Sungai Dua,
11700 Penang.
Tel / Fax: +6 04-6582285
Mobile phone: +6 012 7583 779
E-mail: suarampg@gmail.com
http://suarampg.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

EcoNoon launches newly patented LED




EcoNoon Sdn. Bhd. unveiled its best kept secret at a worldwide launch held at the Evergreen Laurel Hotel, Penang yesterday – a newly patented LED light module together with two other light products. The Chief Minister of Penang, Lim Guan Eng was present to witness the signing of the licensing agreement between the manufacturer, Econoon Sdn. Bhd. and Loh Ban Poh, the inventor.

The directors of EcoNoon presented the Chief Minister a rechargeable light bulb that consumes only 4 watts but functions like a 40 watts bulb.

“This launching will (also) help to promote Penang and Malaysia as a leading LED hub,” said Lim in his congratulatory speech, adding that the state government is willing to assist new small and medium enterprises (SME) by providing subsidized rentals for a period of up to two years.

The globe- bulb (GL series) and spotlight and floodlight (SL series) provide bulbs from between 4 and 12 watts. During the demonstration, Lim was overheard commenting that EcoNoon bulbs were less glaring than the other bulbs that were on display.

At present, EcoNoon has an assembly plant located in China, and another plant of about 2500 square feet at Permatang Pauh in Penang. The paid-up capital is 2 million, and the company is forecasting a revenue of RM40 to RM50 million in sales for the first year. The China plant has a production capacity of 100,000 bulbs per month.

Nawi bin Alias, chairman of EcoNoon says that the company is looking for a further investment of RM30 million. Its first order is from Japan and the first shipment will be ready in four months time.

Directors of EcoNoon claim that they are “selling sunlight” and that the lighting industry is a USD100 billion industry.

Marketing Director, Ooi Seoh Lin explains that since noon is the brightest time of the day, they have adopted it as the name for their company.

“Our patent doesn’t need to use the printed circuit board (PCB) and has very good heat dissipation,” he added.

Among the advantages of LED or ‘light emitting diodes’ are effective cost-savings, energy savings, environmentally friendly with small footprint, non-toxic and no maintenance required.

“We are concentrating on commercial use first like manufacturing stadium lights and street lights,” said Charlie See, the Operations Director, adding that the bulbs are able to help save energy of up to 70%.

According to a report in The Star Paper in 2009, technology and capital barriers were the main reason that hindered local participation in an otherwise lucrative and potential industry.

Lim asks Koh to clarify extraodinary investments (Mandarin)



Lim held a press conference to proof that Koh indicated an extraodinary
amount of new investments coming to Penang. Lim showed the reporters
news reports from several sources, including a video clip to back up
his claims.

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Punish Ibrahim immediately before it is too late, says Gerakan Press Statement by Dato’ Dr Teng Hock Nan

Punish Ibrahim immediately before it is too late, says Gerakan
Press Statement by Dato’ Dr Teng Hock Nan
Gerakan Vice-President and Penang Gerakan Chief


June 21, 2011

Disgusted with Perkasa president Datuk Ibrahim Ali’s threat to the Chinese community, Gerakan vice president Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan wants the government to punish Ibrahim and charge him under the Sedition Act.

Dr Teng said it has been too often that Ibrahim has been making racial statements that can
cause “tension, uneasiness and stress” amongst the people.

“It is appropriate that the government should immediately take steps, especially during this political challenging time, to stop any individual or organization from making racist statements that stoke tension and affect the peace and harmony of the nation,” said Dr Teng, who is also Penang Gerakan chief, in a statement.

Dr Teng said Gerakan lauded Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin for coming out boldly and in no
uncertain terms to protest against Ibrahim’s racist remarks.

“As Barisan Nasional Youth chief and as Umno Youth chief, Khairy represents the younger generation who is against any form of extremism. The younger generation of the BN and Umno is moving towards the right track,” Dr Teng added.

Dr Teng urged all Malaysians to support Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s approach of
moderation as the way forward and for the nation and the people to continue to progress.

In this respect, Dr Teng said, the government should take stern action against irresponsible leaders and “nip the problem in the bud” before it is too late.

Ibrahim, who recently announced that Perkasa would hold a demonstration to counter the planned
Berish 2.0 street rally on July 9, had called on the Chinese to stock up on food “as anything can happen”.

In response, Khairy urged the authorities to take action against Ibrahim for making the threat.

“It is a racist and seditious statement that is dangerous. Action should be taken against him as his statement is a clear threat,” Khairy said at Parliament lobby in Kuala Lumpur on Monday.

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Zahrain: Bersih is irrelevant



Zahrain Mohd Hashim, the Independant MP for Bayan Baru explains why
Bersih is irrelevant.

Launching of Durian Festival at Anjung Indah, Balik Pulau



In this opening speech, Abdul Halim, division head of Cabang Balik Pulau, hopes to have a durian replica as a landmark for Balik Pulau. CM Lim Guan Eng launched the event together with several other VIPs.

Friday, June 17, 2011

KENYATAAN MEDIA YB ABDUL MALIK KASSIM, EXCO HAL EHWAL AGAMA PULAU PINANG

KENYATAAN MEDIA

YB ABDUL MALIK KASSIM, EXCO HAL EHWAL AGAMA PULAU PINANG


17 JUN 2011

PEMILIHAN JAWATANKUASA KARIAH MASJID SELURUH PULAU PINANG SESI 2012-2013


Saya selaku Exco Hal Ehwal Agama Kerajaan Negeri Pulau Pinang baru di beritahu melalui telefon oleh Yang Dipertua Majlis Agama Islam Pulau Pinang, bahawa hasil daripada satu pertemuan yang telah diadakan di Istana Negara pagi ini, Duli Yang Maha Mulia Seri Paduka Baginda Yang Dipertuan Agong telah menitahkan pemilihan Jawatankuasa Kariah Masjid ditangguhkan buat sementara waktu. Oleh yang demikian pemilihan yang dijadualkan pada 18 & 19 Jun 2011 iaitu esok dan lusa ditangguhkan.

Kenyataan rasmi akan dibuat setelah Majlis Agama Islam Pulau Pinang mengadakan mesyuaratnya.

KENYATAAN MEDIA YB ABDUL MALIK KASSIM, EXCO HAL EHWAL AGAMA PULAU PINANG

KENYATAAN MEDIA

YB ABDUL MALIK KASSIM, EXCO HAL EHWAL AGAMA PULAU PINANG


16 JUN 2011

ANAK-ANAK KARIAH MAHU PERUBAHAN,

PEMILIHAN AKAN DITERUSKAN



Mesyuarat Agong Pemilihan Khariah Masjid Pulau Pinang yang akan bermula pada 18 Jun ini akan tetapkan diteruskan kerana ia menepati Seksyen 22 (4) Enakmen Majlis Agama Islam Pulau Pinang (MAINPP).

Justeru, kita tidak akan menghalang sekiranya ada mana-mana pihak yang akan mencabar keputusan ini di mahkamah. Silakan, tindakan tersebut akan dianggap cuba berkonfrantasi dengan kerajaan negeri.
Pihak-pihak yang tidak dapat menerima perubahan ke arah yang lebih baik, yang pro rakyat dan menguntungkan umat Islam pastinya tidak akan menerima perubahan ini.

Apabila MAINPP memperkenalkan pemilihan jawatankuasa masjid, pihak-pihak tertentu, khususnya Umno dan NGO yang sealiran dengannya cuba mengeksploitasi isu ini. Malah mereka cuba mengheret Yang DiPertuan Agong dalam isu ini, dengan harapan supaya orang Melayu semakin marah dengan Kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat.

Pada hal tatacara pemilihan ini sahaja yang berubah, jika dahulu dengan cara mengangkat tangan sekarang hendak dibuat ala pilihanraya. Jika dulu dibuat pelantikan tanpa mengambilkira pandangan anak-anak khariah, sekarang kita minta anak-anak khariah mencadangkan jawatankuasa masjid masing-masing kepada MAINPP untuk diperkenankan oleh Yang Dipertuan Agong.

Jelas, Umno mempolitikkan isu ini dengan menfitnah DAP, kononnya parti itu campurtangan dalam urusan pentadbiran Islam negeri ini. Saya tegaskan, ini adalah keputusan MAINPP tanpa ada walau sekelumitnya pun campurtangan oleh pemimpin DAP.

Tidak cukup dengan itu, Umno mengugut dengan mendakwa pemilihan jawatankuasa masjid akan memecahbelahkan umat Islam. Saya yakin seramai 4485 orang yang telah menawarkan diri untuk mengisi 4530 jawatan di 151 daripada 200 buah masjid di 6 daerah di Pulau Pinang bertujuan untuk bersama-sama membantu kerajaan negeri mengimarahkan masjid.

Sebanyak 151 buah masjid akan mengadakan mesyuarat Agong, manakala 34 buah lagi yang mengadakan kompromi di kalangan anak-anak kariah tidak akan mengadakan pemilihan secara mesyuarat agong. Sebanyak 59 jawatan utama tidak akan dipertandingkan. Manakala sebanyak 8 buah masjid tidak menghantar borang pencalonan.

Jelas daripada statistik tersebut terbukti bahawa anak-anak kariah telah bersedia untuk membawa perubahan ke arah yang lebih baik.

Yang enggan berubah hanya Umno. Memang Umno, khususnya pertubuhan Perkasa anti pembaharuan, kerana selama ini mereka berfikiran jumud. Sebab itu setiap pembaharuan yang dibuat oleh selain daripada Umno ia akan ditentang secara melulu, walaupun akhirnya mereka akan meniru.

Kita tentu masih ingat ketika kerajaan Kelantan memperkenalkan hari bekerja selama lima hari seminggu, pemimpin Umno menuduh kerajaan Kelantan malas dan akan merendahkan produktiviti. Namun, tidak berapa lama kemudian kerajaan pusat mengikut jejak langkah yang sama.

Sebenarnya Umno hendak melindung kerja jahat mereka terhadap institusi masjid di bawah kerajaan Barisan Nasional. Pemilihan yang tidak demokratik, ia hanya dipilih oleh pemimpin Umno bukan anak kariah. Perlantikan bukan ahli masjid, yang tidak layak dari segi peribadi untuk mengimarahkan masjid.
Insyaallah selepas ini kita boleh lihat perbezaan masjid di negeri yang ditabdir oleh Umno dan Pakatan Rakyat dari segi pengimarahannya.

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Pay attention to public safety, Gerakan tells state government

Pay attention to public safety, Gerakan tells state government

Press Statement by Penang Gerakan Youth Chief Oh Tong Keong

June 14, 2011

Penang Gerakan regrets the latest incident of a Briton who fell into an uncovered part of a drain in Batu Ferringhi on Sunday, saying the state government should pay attention to public safety.

Penang Gerakan Youth chief Oh Tong Keong said public safety was of paramount importance and
there should be concerted efforts to prevent such incidents.

“It is the state government’s duty and responsibility to see to it that public places including the beaches, pavements and walkways in the Batu Ferringhi tourism belt are safe,” said Oh in a
statement.

Oh said uncovered drain holes and uneven surfaces at pavements and walkways are potential risks
for pedestrians and road users.

Oh said this latest mishap and the incident of a five-year-old girl who was hit by a galloping horse along the beach in Batu Ferringhi on June 5, coupled with the triple breakdowns of the Penang Hill Railway service was giving Penang and its tourism industry a very bad name.

He said state authorities should take proactive action rather than delayed reaction. “State leaders should not pinpoint fingers or put blame on others when the truth is inefficiency, incompetency and lack of initiatives by all those involved,” Oh added.

Brendan Tully, 57, a retiree from England, suffered bruises to his knee and hand after falling into an uncovered part of a drain in Batu Ferringhi while trying to help his disabled friend on Sunday.

“I have seen a number of public spots in Batu Ferringh where the pedestrian walkways are blocked,” he said, adding there were also not many pedestrian walkways in Batu Ferringhi.

Tully, who lodged a police report over the incident, also urged the authorities to take immediate action to cover the hole to avoid further incidents from taking place.

Sunday, June 12, 2011

KJ: It's not possible to have one education system




Khairy Jamaluddin, Youth Chief of Barisan National was in Penang on 22 May 2011 to answer questions from the public. In this video, KJ explains why it is not possible to have a single education system.

Koh looks at members' grievances positively




Andrea Filmer, a reporter from The Star Paper asks Koh Tsu Koon to comment on the issue where some disgruntled members of Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia were said to be pushing for an EGM.

Koh: It's an uphill battle




Koh Tsu Koon answer questions on 1) the possiblity of taking Penang back 2) whether BN is prepared is the State Assembly was dissolved before GE-13 and 3) whether he is hinting that GE-13 will be held in four month's time.

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Press Statement by Chow Kon Yeow on horse riding in Batu Ferringhi

Kenyataan media

YB Chow Kon Yeow, Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Kerajaan Tempatan dan Pengurusan Lalu Lintas telah mengarahkan YDP Majlis Perbandaran Pulau Pinang membuat laporan polis terhadap kes kuda yang mencederakan seorang budak perempuan di Pantai Batu Ferringhi.

Kejadian ini telah mengakibatkan orang awam tercedera. Oleh itu, kami berharap pihak polis dapat menyiasat kes ini dan mendakwa pengusaha yang terlibat.

MPPP telah menghantar pasukan penguatkuasaan untuk meronda di sekitar Pantai Batu Ferringhi setiap hari dari 8 pagi hingga 8 malam supaya dapat membanteras aktiviti kuda di pantai. Malangnya masih terdapat pengusaha yang keluar mencari makan dan telah mencederakan orang awam.

Oleh yang demikian, kerajaan negeri berharap pihak polis dapat mengcampur tangan untuk menyiasat kejadian ini serta mendakwa pengusaha terbabit.


Chow Kon Yeow

Ensure public safety on beaches, says Gerakan

Ensure public safety on beaches, says Gerakan

Press Statement by Teh Leong Meng
Penang Gerakan Local Government Bureau Chief


June 8, 2011


Penang Gerakan has urged the state government to carry out strict enforcement in controlling sports activities along the Batu Ferringhi tourist belt.

The party’s head of Local Government Bureau, Teh Leong Meng, said protection of public safety, particularly beach users, should not be compromised.

“We may have laws and by-laws which will not work when there is no strict enforcement and proper control,” Teh said in a statement.

Commenting on Tuesday’s accident on Batu Ferringhi beach, Teh said the tourism industry in Penang would also be seriously affected if such incidents were allowed to be repeated.

He said the beaches on Batu Ferringhi were popular with people, especially during the current school holidays, and enforcement should have been stepped up.

On Tuesday, a five-year-old girl was building sandcastles on the beach when she was hit by a horse. Arina Kirana Azrin, who was warded at the Penang Hospital, was with her 12-year-old sister when a horse, ridden by a beach boy, came their way.

The two were too surprised to run away and one of the horse’s hooves hit Arina.

Teh recalled that in February this year, the authorities had temporarily banned horse riding and water sports activities in Batu Ferringhi following an accident involving a Chinese tourist.

Zhu Li, 47, broke both her legs when a water scooter rammed into her on the beach while she was taking a walk.

Following the incident, the Penang Municipal Council introduced some new guidelines aimed at making water sports at the beach safer.

Among the guidelines are that only those who are 16 years of age and above can take part in water sports and the water sport operators can only operate from 7am to 7pm.

Council president Patahiyah Ismail said the licensing process for beach operators started on Feb 12 and 31 and the operators had been identified.

Patahiyah said the licences’ requirements included a public liability insurance amounting to RM50, 000, proof that the operators had undergone a first aid course and copies of the operator’s company registration.


# Ends

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

PROGRESSING WITH HERITAGE PUBLIC FORUM 4

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 forum will address issues in common with the conservation of heritage places in George Town, Penang. These include issues such as care and maintenance of traditional porous brick structures with stucco and plaster finishes, timber framed floors and roofs, roofed with terra cotta tiles. The issues to be covered include:-

- How to care for a traditional building.
- How to recover the significance of a building that has been abandoned and neglected for many years.
- How to protect the significant fabric and finishes when adapting traditional buildings for new uses.
- How to plan for future contingencies, including threats and risks.
- Traditional materials and finishes versus modern materials and finishes
- What effects do changes cause? What can be done to counteract the impacts of change.

Main speakers:
Ian Cook - Deputy Chair, AusHeritage, principal of 3CS AsiaPacific consultancy
Dr Donald Ellsmore - principal of Donald Ellsmore heritage consultancy
Barrie Cooper - Director, Westox building products


Registration: George Town World Heritage Incorporated,
Tel: 04-261 6606,
email: info@gtwhi.com.my .

Advance registration PER FORUM (F): RM20 includes printed materials of the forum, lunch and 2 teas.
On the spot or late registration: RM40 for forum
(There will also be a workshop on 29-30 May which is open to 30 participants on a first come, first serve basis.)

Press Release for Blending of Blood, A Unity Project

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, Municipal Council of Penang Island, George Town World Heritage Incorporated, Penang Global Tourism and the various communities of Penang.

UNITY PROJECT

Penang has 1.6 million people, more on the island. The population is largely composed of Chinese, Malays and Indians. This diversity of different ethnic backgrounds in Penang has contributed to various types of ethnic mixes which exists now. Penang also has a sizeable expatriate population, many of whom who has decided to call Penang home. Blending of Blood is part of an ongoing Unity project started in 2OO9 by Shahram Entekhabi, Joe Sidek and WL Project in collaboration with Museum & Gallery Tuanku Fauzan, USM, George Town Penang.
The Photographic Society of Penang has previously collaborated with us on the Blending of Blood project. For George Town Festival 2O11, we are honoured to have onboard with us the internationally renowned art and museum curator Marina Betist (Blending of Blood) and internationally acclaimed visual artist/ art director Drew Harris (Characters). Both of them are continuing the effort to showcase the uniqueness of our complex diversity in our ethnic backgrounds of Penang by exhibiting a images of these individuals.

9O, Armenian Street, 1O2OO George Town, Penang
Tel No: +6O4-261 63O8 ∙ Fax No: +6O4-261 63O5 ∙ Email: info@georgetownfestival.com

Kenyataan Media oleh Chow Kon Yeow menjawab laporan akhbar Star Metro

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 menggunakan senjata “shot gun” selepas memastikan kawasan tersebut selamat. Penembak kami tidak pernah menembak di kawasan perumahan seperti yang dilaporkan dalam akhbar berkenaan kerana peluru ‘shot gun’ mengandungi antara 150-155 kacang-kacang timah dan kacang-kacang ini boleh melantun balik dan berbahaya kepada orang awam dan harta benda. Anjing yang ditangkap akan dimusnahkan menggunakan “humane stunner” yang diimport dari England. Senjata ini digunakan untuk memusnah anjing tanpa menyiksa haiwan tersebut, dimana senjata ini menggunakan peluru kosong yang terus menembusi sistem saraf otak haiwan tersebut yang menyebabkan haiwan mati dengan serta-merta.

4. Berdasarkan gambar foto yang disiarkan dalam akhbar berkenaan, MPPP ingin menegaskan bahawa gambar foto itu diambil sekitar tahun 2006 semasa operasi yang dianjur oleh SPCA Pulau Pinang yang turut dihadiri oleh UK Animal Solution yang dianggotai dengan pasukan penangkap anjing yang membuat demonstrasi penggunaan kaedah jaring untuk menangkap anjing. Kaedah yang ditunjukkan adalah oleh UK Solution. Demonstrasi ini turut dihadiri oleh banyak media masa. UK Animal Solution mengakui kaedah penangkapan anjing menggunakan jaring didapati tidak sesuai kerana berat dan tidak berkesan dan sebaliknya mengesahkan, kaedah yang dilaksanakan oleh MPPP adalah lebih sesuai. Kaedah inilah yang digunakan oleh MPPP sehingga sekarang. Selepas demonstrasi, Pasukan UK Animal Solution menyokong dan mengakui bahawa kaedah Majlis menjalankan operasi penangkapan dan pemusnahan anjing adalah yang terbaik.

5. Gambar foto yang ditunjukkan dalam surat khabar The Star pada 25.5.2011 adalah dari gambar fail yang diadakan demo dalam tahun 2006 dan MPPP menyangkal sepenuhnya kenyataan ini. Perkara ini boleh disahkan dengan pihak SPCA sendiri. Untuk makluman, kakitangan yang memakai T-shirt hijau adalah kakitangan dari UK Animal Solution.


Chow Kon Yeow
25 Mei 2011

Kenyataan Akhbar oleh Lim Guan Eng mengenai biasiswa JPA

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 atas pertelingkahan di antara UMNO dan MCA.

Sekiranya MCA benar, mengapa tiada tindakan diambil ke atas pegawai kerajaan yang gagal memberikan biasiswa kepada pelajar cemerlang dan memperbaiki kesilapan dan memberikan biasiswa kepada pelajar yang layak dengan segera? Namun jika UMNO benar, MCA kemudiannya harus meminta maaf kepada pelajar dan mendesak UMNO untuk mengubah polisi bagi memastikan biasiswa JPA diberikan kepada semua pelajar cemerlang tanpa mengira agama atau pun bangsa.

Permasalah tentang pelajar- pelajar cemerlang yang tidak menerima biasiswa JPA tetapi sebaliknya memberikan kepada pelajar yang mendapat keputusan lebih kurang cemerlang langsung menjadi ejekan kepada BN yang seolah- olah menegaskan sistem pendidikan Negara adalah berdasarkan merit dan prestasi. Kegagalan untuk memberikan penghargaan kepada pelajar cemerlang hanya akan mendorong perpindahan pelajar (brain drain) dan menyebabkan kekurangan tarikan dan mengekalkan bakat sedia ada.

Pelajar- pelajar Malaysia yang telah berusaha keras untuk mencapai impian mereka kini berdepan dengan kemungkinan impian yang mereka bina hancur disebabkan oleh sistem birokrasi yang tidak cekap dan tidak menghargai. Bagaimana ibu bapa harus menjelaskan kepada anak- anak mereka bahawa selain melakukan yang terbaik dan menjadi yang terbaik, mereka juga akan dinafikan hak dan peluang disebabkan oleh kegagalan kerena birokrasi yang harus mereka tanggung kini?


Bagaimana Kerajaan Persekutuan harus lakukan kepada para pelajar untuk sesuatu yang mereka layak dan harus terima? Untuk melakukannya adalah sama seperti menghukum untuk sesuatu kesalahan yang bukan milik mereka. DAP berharap BN dapat memberhentikan permainan politik antara UMNO dan MCA tetapi sebaliknya memastikan bahawa semua pelajar cemerlang tidak menjadi mangsa keadaan seperti mana pepatah Melayu “Gajah dengan gajah bertembung, pelanduk mati di tengah-tengah.”


LIM GUAN ENG

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Memorandum to Australian High Comm on LYNAS

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 its presence here in this country.

We are not convinced by the assurances of LAMP, (and others allied to their cause), that the LAMP is safe. If it truly were so, surely then your country should readily keep that industry within its borders, or at the very least, be prepared to take back the waste ( which contains the deadly thorium). But your country has flatly refused to take back their own waste.
Source The Star: 12/04/2011, Pg. N.23

Malaysians have had experience with Thorium, in the Bukit Merah plant in Ipoh, Perak. The consequences of that fiasco are still continuing. Children born deformed or retarded are still alive but unable to articulate their plight while some have lost their lives to cancer.

LAMP claims that their plant is totally different from that of Bukit Merah facility and that the levels of radioactivity is very low. But we remain unconvinced, nor are we prepared to experiment with our health and lives and those of our future generations.

We the residents of Kuantan, appeal to your higher values and call upon you , to do all that you can, to stop the shipment of this Thorium containing material from your country.

Surely, your country being a respectable member of the international community would not allow an International Convention to be flouted or circumvented.

Your Excellency, we the people of Kuantan do not want, in our midst LAMP and for that matter any other company that produces any form of radioactive material.
Your Excellency, does it not seem unconscionable to you that ore containing this radioactive material should be shipped 4000km from your country to Malaysia for the monetary gain of LAMP while the people of Kuantan are left to face the long term effects of the obnoxious waste?
This Thorium waste, as your Excellency would already know, is radioactive and has a ½ life of 14 billion years. Thus, for generations to come , we the people of Malaysia will be exposed to the risks of radioactive contaminations.

Your Excellency, this Movement, is inspired by the most lofty ideals- that of human lives and health. We are resolved to continue our struggle to safeguard our air, water and soil from LAMP’s (and others’) deadly wastes. The vast majority of Malaysians share our mission. We again exhort you, to do all that you can, within your power to stop the dangerous ore from leaving your own shores.

We trust you understand and share our concerns. Many Australians in fact, already do, as the Internet reveals.

Mr Robin Chapple, MLC, Member for the Mining and Pastoral Region is “deeply worried” as expressed in his media release dated 13/04/2011.

I annex a copy of the release downloaded from the internet, for your further reading.

I trust that you will act as a good citizen of the world, and of Australia in particular.


Yours sincerely,


…………………………………………………………………
Vincent Jiam (Hand phone: 016 931 8081)
Chairperson, Save Malaysia Committee

Friday, May 20, 2011

Rev Thomas hopes every state has a non-Islamic portfolio



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.

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Sim reassures residents of Lengkok Mahsuri



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.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Press Statement by Teng on Tang Hak Ju being labled as 'Land Scam'



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 ownership which he did not disclose to the previous state government. Hence the State Assembly decided to re-file the case to set aside the High Court award which amounts to RM40mil including interest. We urge the state government to collect more information and do whatever is necessary,” said Dr Teng at a press conference at the Penang Gerakan Headquarters. With him were acting state opposition leader and Teluk Bahang Assemblyman Datuk Dr Hilmi Yahya, Penang MIC chief, Senator Dato P. K. Subbaiyah, Penang Wanita Gerakan chief Ng Siew Lai, Penang Gerakan Youth chief Oh Tong Keong, and other BN state leaders.

Dr Teng also said that as Tang’s case was still pending in the Appeals’ Court, there should be more efforts to fortify the state’s case so as to protect the people’s interest.

Dr Hilmi said it was unfair of Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng to mislead the people by continuing to term the case as a “scam.”

On being asked by a reporter whether BN will take legal action against the Chief Minister, Dr Teng said “we have been under great pressure by our colleagues. However we want the CM to be more constructive and productive in his office rather than to focus on legal tussle. We believe we can win and compensation will come from the state’s coffer which belongs to the people. At this stage we put aside this idea but don’t push us too far.”

Dr Teng also said the Barisan Nasional had not used the term “scam” or “scandal” on the award of 1,500 housing units to the developer of sPice project and of the failed “King of Tennis” tournament.

Monday, May 16, 2011

Press Statement on Repainting of Mahsuri Flats replying Sim by Wong Mun Hoe

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 the Penang State Government for making the move to repaint them.

If YB Sim wants a copy of all my previous press statement on this matter, all he has to do is to make a polite request and I will certainly give it to him. But for him to quote me as saying “They do not qualify to get repaint. How could they get to be the first to repaint?” is therefore a blatant lie. This is despicable and typical of YB Sim’s style of politicking which has caused many of Keadilan’s leaders and members to desert the Party since March 2008.

YB Sim may not realise it but he has actually lost a golden opportunity to fight for this issue on behalf of all low-cost and low-medium cost flats and apartments when he failed to bring the matter up during the recent State Assembly. My advice to YB Sim is to play less politics and do more real work.

The rakyat staying in low-cost and low-medium cost may not be rich but they are certainly smart and intelligent enough to differentiate between what is sincerity and what is an act of show, between truth and lies, and between promises and real work. Continuously politicking and condemning Parti Gerakan and me is definitely not productive and not going to help resolve the problem faced by the rakyat.

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Bayan Baru market gets a visit from Sim




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 hopes to help instill the love of reading in youngsters, emphasizing on internet literacy and the importance of having access to computers and the internet.

“These books will be redistributed to four other reading corners within the Bayan Baru area,” said Sim.

The four areas are at the JKKK Sg. Nibong Kecil Kawasan D, Sg. Nibong Besar, Kampung Jawa and Sg. Nibong Pantai. These reading corners are all equipped with computers and internet connection.

In closing, Sim advised the MPPP officers to make regular rounds to receive complains from the stall tenants.

VIPs celebrate Mother's Day at Rumah Seri Cahaya





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 run three homes – one for the orphans, one for the less capable and another for senior citizens.

“We open our arms to anybody and everybody who needs help,” said Kalliamah who believes and professes in the teachings of Saint Ramalingam – that God is one and God is love.

Run entirely on donations and help from volunteers, Rumah Seri Cahaya has been in operation for 14 years, and currently houses 33 children and 10 senior citizens.

“We started in 1999 with only 18 children. Initially, we opened the home to help single mothers who had to leave their children at home while they went to work. Eventually, more and more people turned to us for help,” added the former nurse.

“Our expenses run up to about RM15,000 per month,” Kalliamah revealed adding that although their premises are now all rented, they will soon have their own building.

Those who wish to donate to Rumah Seri Cahaya may contact the home at 04-6265101.

Explanation on floods in Sungai Dua, Penang



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.

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Learn English the Malaysian Way



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.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

It's a trap, says Penang UMNO Youth Chief



Click here for YouTube link

Sim donates RM2000 to Chong Cheng for repairs




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 students.

Press Statement by Teng on Utusan's Front Page News "Malaysia Negara Kristian?"

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 Utusan Malaysia is perceived as an Umno mouthpiece and thus the newspaper should be more responsible, matured and professional in its reporting.

“The newspaper will be seen to be helping to spread a rumour without prior verification and this is incorrect and dangerous. Such rumour can have detrimental effects on the peace and harmony of our nation,” he said.

Dr Teng said Utusan Malaysia should have approached the authorities concerned to take early action to nip “the problem” in the bud, instead of highlighting the matter and raising the sentiments of its readers.

“Such sensitive and negative reports can be exploited by any party, within and outside of Malaysia for their vested interest, to destroy the foundation of Malaysia’s nation-building,” he added.

Ucapan Penggulungan oleh TKM1

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 pendedahan berkenaan zon industri antara negara-negara Indochina kepada usahawan-usahawan / peniaga di Pulau Pinang tentang peluang-peluang perniagaan yang boleh diceburi.

Kerajaan Negeri melalui Invest Penang sering menggalakkan pelabur-pelabur tempatan dan luar negara untuk melabur di Pulau Pinang melalui pelbagai kaedah dan terbukti bahawa melalui usaha gigih Kerajaan Negeri, Kerajaan Persekutuan dan tidak lupa juga pegawai dari Invest Penang telah berjaya meletakkan Pulau Pinang sebagai jaguh pelaburan 2010 dengan jumlah pelaburan sebanyak RM 12.24 Billion. Pada masa yang sama, Pulau Pinang telah pada tahun 2010 mencatatkan jumlah export sebanyak RM162.8657 Billion, dimana jumlah ini menyumbang sebanyak 25.469 % kepada jumlah export Malaysia pada tahun 2010 sebanyak RM 639.428 Billion. Sebagai sebuah negeri dengan penduduk hanya 5.8 % daripada jumlah penduduk Malaysia tetapi menyumbang sebanyak 25.469 % kepada jumlah export negara pada tahun 2010 merupakan satu kebangaan negeri ini. Oleh yang demikian Kerajaan Negeri akan lebih menitik beratkan sector pelaburan dan, juga pada masa yang sama mencari jalan untuk mengukuhkan sector perdagangan melalui pelbagai kaedah seperti :-

i. Mensasarkan dan menarik minat industri strategik negara luar supaya mengembangkan serta menempatkan operasi mereka di Pulau Pinang melalui misi pelaburan ke Luar Negara seperti Singapura, Taiwan, Amerika Syarikat, Hong Kong dan Korea untuk menerokai peluang usaha sama dan potensi pelaburan;

ii. Mempromosikan aktiviti-aktiviti yang bernilai tambah lebih tinggi (high value added activities) serta membantu syarikat-syarikat yang sedia ada di Pulau Pinang untuk melabur dalam aktiviti tambah nilai berteknologi tinggi dengan menyediakan infrastruktur serta tenaga kerja yang diperlukan dan berkemahiran; dan

iii. Mengambil bahagian dalam pameran antarabangsa melalui penyewaan ruang pameran sebagai salah satu usaha untuk mencari pelaburan baru serta peluang-peluang perniagaan.

Namun begitu, untuk makluman Y.B. Adun Tanjong Bunga, Kerajaan Negeri akan mempertimbangkan cadangan bagi mewujudkan mekanisme serta memberi pendedahan kepada usahawan-usahawan tempatan untuk meneroka pasaran baru di luar negara yang dapat meningkatkan eksport Pulau Pinang. Ini juga akan meningkatkan pengaliran masuk matawang asing dan sekaligus dapat membangunkan ekonomi serta memperkukuhkan daya saing syarikat tempatan / IKS.

Yang Berhormat Dato’ Speaker,

Seterusnya, Yang Berhormat ADUN Sungai Acheh telah membangkitkan mengenai pelantikan ahli JKKK samada berlandaskan latar belakang politik.

Seperti yang sedia maklum, JKKK merupakan badan perantaraan antara Kerajaan Negeri dan rakyat di peringkat masyarakat setempat yang bertindak sebagai pelaksana pelan strategik untuk mencapai wawasan komuniti masing masing-masing. Kerajaan negeri berpandangan JKKK merupakan mekanisme penting dalam menjadi penghubung antara kerajaan dan rakyat. Justeru, kerajaan negeri telah menambah bilangan JKKK kepada 289 unit. Ini adalah bagi memastikan agar perkhidmatan JKKK akan lebih berkesan dan mampu memberikan perkhidmatan yang lebih baik kepada rakyat. Dalam masa yang sama JKKK juga diberikan pelbagai latihan dan kursus untuk melengkapkan JKKK dengan pelbagai kemahiran bagi menyediakan mereka untuk berkhidmat kepada rakyat.

Keanggotaan ahli JKKK adalah dihadkan kepada 15 orang ahli yang termasuk pengerusi dan setiausaha. Pencalonan keahlian JKKK dilakukan berdasarkan Garis Panduan Manual Gerak Kerja JKKK Negeri Pulau Pinang yang telah menetapkan pencalonan haruslah merangkumi wanita, belia dan masyarakat berbilang kaum serta terdiri daripada pemimpin-pemimpin masyarakat. Sebagai contoh pencalonan haruslah dari kalangan persatuan penduduk, rukun tetangga dan jawatankuasa masjid. Ahli JKKK juga perlu dipilih daripada penduduk yang bermastautin tetap di kawasan JKKK berkenaan.

Proses pencalonan pada peringkat awal mengambil kira cadangan daripada YB ADUN kawasan, Penyelaras KADUN atau Pengerusi JKKK yang kebiasaannya calon tersebut terdiri daripada wakil parti politik, badan pertubuhan sukarela, badan bukan kerajaan (NGO) dan orang perseorangan yang dihormati dalam sesebuah kelompok masyarakat. Keutamaan diberikan berdasarkan calon yang dicadangkan oleh YB ADUN kawasan dan Penyelaras KADUN bagi JKKK berkenaan.

Pemilihan ahli JKKK juga menekankan aspek “cross section” atau kepelbagaian lapisan masyarakat yang tinggal di kawasan tersebut.

Tempoh perkhidmatan bagi seseorang ahli JKKK maksimum selama 2 tahun. Tempoh ini boleh dilanjutkan dengan perakuan daripada Jawatankuasa Pemilihan JKKK Peringkat Daerah. Perkhidmatan ahli JKKK ini adalah secara sukarela dan akan dibayar elaun berdasarkan kedatangan ke mesyuarat bulanan JKKK.

Yang Berhormat Dato’ Speaker,

Ketiga, Yang Berhormat ADUN Bertam telah memohon perjelasan mengenai perkembangan cadangan pelaburan oleh syarikat dari Korea sebanyak RM100 juta bagi pembinaan Padang Golf di Batu Kawan.

Setelah membuat kajian bisnes ekoran krisis ekonomi awal 2009, pelabur daripada syarikat Korea tersebut telah memutuskan untuk menangguhkan cadangan ini.



Yang Berhormat Dato’ Speaker,

Keempat, izinkan saya menjawab soalan daripada Yang Berhormat ADUN Pulau Tikus yang telah mencadangkan agar PITO Office ditubuhkan di beberapa negara lain antaranya di China, India & Vietnam bagi meningkatkan jumlah pelaburan ke Pulau Pinang.

Kerajaan Negeri melalui InvestPenang akan mengambil perhatian terhadap cadangan penubuhan Pejabat PITO di negara-negara lain selain daripada Singapura. Mengikut data Provisional yang diperolehi oleh Unit Perancang Ekonomi Negeri (UPEN). export Pulau Pinang ke China pada tahun 2010 berjumlah sebanyak RM34.793 Billion manakala export Pulau Pinang ke India pada tahun 2010 berjumlah RM 2.706 Billion dan export Pulau Pinang ke Vietnam pada tahun 2010 berjumlah RM1.675Billion. Ini jelas menunjukkan bahawa antara tiga buah negara yang dicadangkan oleh Yang Berhormat Pulau Tikus, negara China berpotensi untuk penubuhan Pejabat PITO.

Yang Berhormat ADUN Pulau Tikus juga turut mencadangkan agar KOMTAR dijadikan sebagai pusat pelaburan asing di Pulau Pinang.

Pusat pelaburan asing perlu ditubuhkan berdekatan dengan kawasan perkilangan dan perindustrian. Ini adalah untuk memudahkan pelabur-pelabur untuk memperolehi maklumat-maklumat berkaitan dengan perkilangan dan perindustrian, serta memudahkan rantaian bekalan (supply chain) bagi pelabur tersebut. Oleh itu buat masa ini, mengikut pandangan Invest Penang belum ada cadangan untuk menjadikan KOMTAR sebagai pusat pelaburan asing di Pulau Pinang.

Ucapan Penggulungan oleh Lydia Ong Kok Fooi

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 Pinang yang kurang memuaskan sejak kebelakangan ini. Sebagai makluman, pengurusan Pasukan Bola Sepak negeri terletak di bawah bidang kuasa Persatuan Bola Sepak Pulau Pinang (FAP). Walau bagaimanapun, Kerajaan Negeri sentiasa membantu FAP sebagai usaha meningkatkan semula prestasi pasukan bola sepak. Antara bantuan yang telah disalurkan ialah membenarkan pihak FAP menggunakan kemudahan gimnasium dan mendapat khidmat Jurulatih Kecergasan di bawah Majlis Sukan Negeri Pulau Pinang (MSNPP). Kerajaan Negeri juga menggalakkan jurulatih-jurulatih FAP mengikuti kursus Skim Pensijilan Kejurulatihan Kebangsaan, Tahap 1 dan 2 yang dikendalikan oleh MSNPP untuk meningkatkan kualiti kejurulatihan dari segi sains sukan. MSNPP pula sentiasa membantu serta melaksanakan Program Penyediaan Atlet pada setiap Kejohanan Sukan Malaysia termasuk pasukan bola sepak. Pemain-pemain yang berpotensi di peringkat Sukan Malaysia, berpeluang diserapkan ke dalam pasukan bola sepak negeri. Untuk membantu pihak FAP dari segi kewangan pula, penyewaan Stadium Negeri Batu Kawan Pulau Pinang dikenakan pada kadar yang minimum untuk setiap perlawanan iaitu pada kadar RM825.00 untuk penggunaan stadium pada waktu petang dan RM3,000.00 untuk penggunaan pada waktu malam. Saya berharap kepada sesiapa yang memegang jawatan tinggi di dalam persatuan-persatuan sukan mestilah menjalankan tugas dengan dedikasi dan menjalankan tindakan proaktif untuk memartabatkan mutu sukan persatuan masing-masing.

Kerajaan Negeri melalui MMK Belia dan Sukan menekankan dasar pembangunan sukan yang berteraskan “Healthy Active Lifestyle Towards Harmonious Community” – Dengan izin YB Dato Speaker. Melalui dasar ini, boleh dilihat bahawa usaha Kerajaan Negeri untuk mengurangkan “Carbon Footprint” amatlah berjaya dengan kejayaan perlaksanaan pelbagai program basikal bermula dari Disember 2008 untuk Sukan Berbentuk Participatif. Masyarakat Pulau Pinang kini mula melibatkan diri dengan aktiviti sukan berbasikal yang sihat melalui pelbagai program-program berbasikal yang dilaksanakan sepanjang tahun. Salah satu program yang berjaya mendapat sambutan memberansangkan adalah Malakoff Interstate Fellowship Ride yang membolehkan penunggang basikal merentasi 3 buah negeri di Utara Semenanjung Malaysia iaitu Pulau Pinang, Kedah dan Perak. Selain itu, ekonomi dan perniagaan basikal juga berkembang pesat melalui usaha-usaha pengurangan “Carbon Footprint” yang dilaksanakan dan juga pengenalan kepada Penang Kalender of Events yang dikeluarkan oleh MMK Belia dan Sukan bersama dengan Majlis Sukan Negeri Pulau Pinang. Melalui sukan berbentuk participative sports ini, masyarakat dari pelbagai lapisan kaum dan bangsa telah berpeluang untuk bersama-sama menjalani kehidupan yang sihat dan aktif setiap masa.

Yang Berhormat Dato’ Speaker,

Belia

Yang Berhormat Dato’ Speaker,

Saya ingin mengucapkan ribuan terima kasih kepada Yang Berhormat Bertam kerana memberi cadangan positif kepada saya untuk pembangunan belia. Saya akan memberikan senarai aktiviti yang dikelolakan di bawah Majlis Belia Negeri Pulau Pinang terutamanya di kawasan SPU kepada Yang Berhormat untuk diwar-warkan kepada belia di Seberang Perai Utara. Bagi memantapkan pembangunan belia di negeri ini, pelbagai program dan initiatif telah dilaksanakan oleh Kerajaan Negeri. Kerajaan Negeri telah mengorak langkah untuk bekerjasama dengan Majlis Belia Negeri Pulau Pinang (MBNPP) dan semua pertubuhan belia tanpa mengambilkira fahaman politik. Di bawah MNBPP sahaja terdapat sebanyak 23 buah badan gabungan yang aktif dengan pelbagai program-program belia. Justeru, bantuan kewangan daripada Kerajaan Negeri kepada MBNPP sebanyak RM150,000.00 setahun pada tahun 2008 telah dinaikkan kepada RM300,000.00 pada mulai tahun 2010 sehingga kini bagi tujuan menjalankan program-program pembangunan belia termasuk program-program berteraskan pembangunan sahsiah dan kerohanian.

Antara program-program belia yang telah dianjurkan oleh Kerajaan Negeri dengan kerjasama pertubuhan belia ialah Karnival Hari Belia, Kempen Belia Anti Jenayah, Program Khidmat Masyarakat dan Program Motivasi yang menggalakkan pembangunan modal insan, semangat muhibbah dan perpaduan kaum di kalangan belia. Kerajaan Negeri juga telah mewujudkan platform kepada belia untuk mengenengahkan bakat mereka seperti penganjuran I-Dance International Street Dance Championship dan pertandingan Battle of The Bands.

Kerajaan Negeri turut memberi penekanan yang seimbang untuk menggalakkan pembangunan belia melalui sukan berbentuk participative sports. Kejayaan terbesar yang telah dicapai oleh Kerajaan Negeri adalah melalui penganjuran kejohanan sukan bertaraf antarabangsa seperti Kejohanan Angkat Berat Junior Komanwel, 3 Nation Charity Rides, Pertandingan Skimboarding Antarabangsa, Pertandingan Skuash Junior Antarabangsa dan Kejohanan Jemputan Bola Keranjang Cina Dunia Yang Ke-25 (25th World Chinese Basketball Invitational Tournament) pada tahun 2009. Program kesukanan yang dibangunkan oleh Kerajaan Negeri juga mementingkan ciri-ciri pemeliharaan alam sekitar melalui program-program berbasikal antaranya Merdeka Ride 2009, Go Green and Gold Ride, Kayuh Lasak, KWYP 100 Years Round Island Cycling, Campaign For Bicycle Lane Come Ride with CM dan Malakoff Interstate Fellowship Ride.

Wanita, Keluarga dan Komuniti

Yang Berhormat Dato’ Speaker,


Bagi menjawab soalan tambahan daripada Yang Berhormat Tanjung Bunga berkaitan hak golongan transgender, Kerajaan Negeri berterima kasih dan berasa bangga atas usaha Yang Berhormat yang prihatin terhadap alam sekitar dan hak-hak asasi manusia dari segi kesaksamaan gender. Kerajaan Negeri Pulau Pinang merupakan kerajaan berjiwa rakyat dan sentiasa memperjuangkan dasar-dasar kesaksamaan gender. Kerajaan Negeri tidak mengabaikan kebajikan mana-mana golongan jantina, kaum atau individu yang mempunyai latarbelakang politik yang berbeza. Kerajaan Negeri juga sentiasa mempertahankan hak setiap individu yang tergolong dalam jantina yang diiktiraf oleh Perlembagaan Persekutuan tanpa mengira sama ada dari golongan majoriti atau minoriti. Justeru, Kerajaan Negeri memberi jaminan bahawa setiap penduduk di negeri ini tidak akan dipinggirkan dari arus pembangunan dan bebas menjalani kehidupan masing-masing selagi ianya tidak bertentangan dengan undang-undang dan budaya murni masyarakat di negara ini.

Berkenaan dengan aspek pembangunan golongan wanita, sumbangan serta peranan wanita sememangnya dititikberatkan oleh Kerajaan Negeri. Malahan MMK Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Komuniti Negeri Pulau Pinang melalui dasar-dasar yang dipegang amat menjurus kepada membela nasib wanita terutamanya ibu tunggal dan meningkatkan taraf ekonomi wanita Negeri Pulau Pinang serta menyokong kaum wanita untuk terus bekerjaya serta mencapai kegemilangan dalam profesion yang diceburi.

Ini terbukti dengan perlantikan Yang Dipertua Majlis Perbandaran Pulau Pinang, Yang Dipertua Majlis Perbandaran Seberang Perai, Pegawai Daerah dan Tanah Seberang Perai Selatan yang merupakan golongan wanita yang telah menunjukkan kegemilangan serta dedikasi yang padu dalam bidang diceburi. Tahniah dan syabas kepada kedua-dua YDP ini dan Pegawai Daerah dan Tanah SPS.

Dalam usaha untuk memajukan wanita khususnya mereka yang berada di luar bandar, Kerajaan Negeri sememangnya berusaha gigih untuk meluaskan peluang-peluang membantu golongan wanita. Seperti yang diketahui, dibawah MMK Pembangunan Wanita, saya tidak mempunyai jentera atau dengan izin YB Dato Speaker – sebuah ”Machinery Wanita” untuk membantu saya. Buat masa ini saya hanya bergantung kepada kerjasama erat bersama dengan NGO-NGO Wanita yang bersama-sama untuk berganding bahu dengan Kerajaan Negeri dalam MMK Wanita.

Sejak tahun 2008, saya tidak pernah menerima tawaran bantuan daripada machinery Kerajaan Pusat ini untuk membantu Kerajaan Negeri melaksanakan program pembangunan wanita di negeri Pulau Pinang.

Memandangkan tanpa adanya bantuan dari machinery Kerajaan Pusat ini, Kerajaan Negeri telah berjaya menubuhkan Persatuan Untuk Tadbir Urus Baik dan Kesaksamaan Gender Pulau Pinang (3Gs) dengan kerjasama NGO-NGO Wanita seperti KANITA, WCC, JAMAAH ISLAH MALAYSIA, NCWO dan seterus untuk bersama di bawah Jawatankuasa MMK Wanita, Keluarga dan Komuniti bagi melaksanakan dasar-dasar kesaksamaan gender dalam isu-isu rumahtangga, kerjaya, sosial dan sebagainya yang seterusnya akan diterapkan ke dalam program-program yang dilaksanakan. Sebagai langkah memperkasakan golongan hawa, Kerajaan Negeri melalui 3Gs telah menganjurkan Persidangan Antarabangsa Gender Mainstreaming – Justice For All untuk mewujudkan Blueprint Pembangunan Wanita sebagai panduan kepada Kerajaan Negeri. Persidangan ini telah berjaya mengundang penceramah-penceramah terkenal seperti (1) Puan Judy Cheng yang memegang jawatan Pembantu Setiausaha Agung Peace Building Support di United Nation, (2) Yang Berbahagia Dato’ Latifah Merican iaitu Penasihat Kepada Pejabat Pengarah Suruhanjaya Keselamatan Malaysia dan pernah menyandang jawatan tinggi dalam Bank Dunia di Washington, (3) Dr. Khoon Hoon Eng selaku pensyarah di National University Singapore dan pernah berkhidmat sebagai rector di Asian University untuk Wanita (AUW) di Bangladesh, (4) Puan Ramlah Bee dan Puan Lim Kah Cheng selaku Ahli Majlis dari Majlis Perbandaran Pulau Pinang, (5) Professor Rashidah Shuib selaku Pengarah Pusat Penyelidikan Pembangunan Wanita (KANITA), Universiti Sains Malaysia dan (6) Dr. Lesley Clark selaku Pengarah Equity and Diversity di Universiti James Cook.

Kerajaan Negeri melalui 3Gs juga telah mengadakan Gender Responsive Budgeting Workshop pada 21 hingga 23 Februari 2011 yang bertujuan untuk meningkatkan kesedaran agar perspektif gender diambil perhatian serius oleh Kerajaan di dalam perancangan pembangunan dan peruntukan sumber kewangan. Program ini akan diadakan buat kali kedua pada bulan Jun 2011.

Sehubungan itu, saya memohon sekiranya YB Teluk Ayer Tawar selaku Pengerusi Jabatan Pembangunan Wanita Negeri Pulau Pinang untuk bersama membangunkan golongan wanita secara bersama dengan Kerajaan Negeri Pulau Pinang tanpa mencampurkan adukkan parti politik yang berbeza ataupun perbezaan antara Jabatan Persekutuan ataupun agensi Negeri. Demi pembangunan wanita secara bersama, perlulah kita berseiringan untuk membela nasib kaum wanita di Negeri Pulau Pinang.

Untuk membantu golongan ibu tunggal dan wanita dari keluarga miskin, Kerajaan Negeri melalui kerjasama Perbadanan Pembangunan Pulau Pinang (PDC) dan Pusat Penyelidikan Pembangunan Wanita (KANITA), Universiti Sains Malaysia telah menyediakan Tabung Titian Saksama Rakyat (PTSR) yang memberi pinjaman perniagaan kecil. Ini bermakna, selain berusaha memastikan peluang pekerjaan terbuka untuk wanita, Kerajaan Negeri juga membela nasib wanita yang menyara kehidupan melalui perniagaan kecil.

Merujuk kepada persoalan YB Teluk Ayer Tawar berkenaan dengan peruntukan yang disalurkan untuk perlaksanaan dan penganjuran program-program dibawah MMK Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Komuniti. Jumlah sebanyak RM800,000 yang diperuntukan oleh Kerajaan Negeri digunakan untuk tujuan pembangunan wanita, keluarga dan komuniti di negeri Pulau Pinang secara menyeluruh.

Peruntukan ini bukan sahaja digunakan untuk menguruskan operasi dan pembayaran gaji tenaga kerja di Pusat Jagaan Kanak-kanak (PJKK) tetapi juga digunakan untuk membiayai pelbagai program-program yang dianjurkan sepanjang tahun bersama dengan NGO-NGO wanita di negeri ini.

Peruntukan tersebut turut digunakan untuk membiayai Pertubuhan Wanita Seberang Perai yang diusahakan bersama dengan Women’s Centre for Change (WCC) sebanyak RM150,000.00 dan Persatuan Tadbir Urus Baik dan Kesaksamaan Gender (3Gs) sebanyak RM200,000.00. Ia juga meliputi pelbagai program-program kewanitaan dan kekeluargaan yang dianjurkan sepanjang tahun bersama dengan NGO-NGO wanita Negeri Pulau Pinang.


Hasil daripada peruntukan yang diperolehi ini, Kerajaan telah berjaya menubuhkan 2 Pusat Jagaan Kanak-kanak iaitu di Daerah Timur Laut di Bangunan Balai Rakyat Padang Tembak, Air Itam dan Pusat Jagaan Kanak-kanak Daerah Seberang Perai Tengah di Taman Serumpun, Berapit, Bukit Mertajam.

Pusat jagaan kanak-kanak ini tidak berfungsi sebagai sebuah tadika, ia sebenarnya merupakan sebuah pusat asuhan yang didirikan untuk menjaga kanak-kanak yang berumur diantara 7 hingga 12 tahun atau dari Darjah 1 hingga Darjah 6. Yuran minima yang dikenakan adalah sebanyak RM50 sebulan dan bagi ibu-ibu tunggal ataupun keluarga yang tidak berkemampuan, kerajaan akan memberi pengecualian bayaran dan tertakluk kepada “Case-to-Case Basis”, dengan izin YB Dato Speaker.

Pusat jagaan ini berfungsi sebagai sebuah pusat asuhan yang membantu ibu-ibu tunggal yang bekerja dengan penyediaan sebuah pusat asuhan yang dapat menjaga anak-anak mereka semasa para ibu keluarga mencari nafkah atau bekerja.

Kewujudan Tadika-Tadika seperti Kemas atau Tabika Perpaduan yang menawarkan yuran yang rendah sememangnya amat dialu-alukan. Malahan saya suka hati melihat Kerajaan Persekutuan dapat mewujudkan institusi pendidikan pra-sekolah yang membantu masyarakat di Malaysia. Ini ialah tanggungjawab sesebuah Kerajaan kepada rakyatnya.

Penubuhan pusat jagaan kanak-kanak ini tidak mengambil alih fungsi tadika Kemas dan Tabika Perpaduan ini, sebaliknya fungsi pusat jagaan kanak-kanak ini adalah berbeza dan merupakan penambahbaikkan untuk membantu golongan masyarakat terutamanya golongan ibu tunggal dan keluarga berpendapatan rendah.

Yang Berhormat Dato Speaker,

Penubuhan Pusat Perkhidmatan Wanita di Seberang Perai Tengah adalah hasil kerjasama yang dijalin oleh Kerajaan Negeri bersama dengan Women Centre for Change (WCC) untuk membantu wanita-wanita yang memerlukan bantuan baik dari segi kaunselling, khidmat nasihat perundangan ataupun perlindungan penempatan.

Sejak Pakatan Rakyat mengambilalih Kerajaan Negeri Pulau Pinang, dibawah MMK Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Komuniti, saya memberi penekanan untuk bekerja secara bersama dengan semua NGO-NGO Wanita. Persatuan-persatuan ini lah yang bersama-sama dengan saya sebagai pengerak pembangunan wanita di negeri Pulau Pinang. Saya telah menjemput ahli-ahli persatuan ini untuk bersama dengan saya di dalam jawatankuasa MMK Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Komuniti untuk bersama merancang dan melaksanakan pembangunan-pembangunan yang difikirkan sesuai dan perlu untuk golongan wanita, keluarga dan komuniti di negeri Pulau Pinang. Saya sememangnya amat berterima kasih kepada persatuan-persatuan ini kerana tanpa bantuan mereka, pembangunan yang dijalankan tidak akan berfungsi dengan sempurna.

Malahan, pintu ini turut dibukakan kepada YB Bertam dan YB Teluk Ayer Tawar untuk bersama merancang pembangunan ini secara bersama. Saya amat mengalu-alukan pendapat serta cadangan daripada semua termasuklah perancangan-perancangan yang melibatkan peruntukan Kerajaan Negeri ataupun Kerajaan Pusat demi memartabatkan pembangunan golongan wanita di negeri Pulau Pinang.


Yang Berhormat Dato Speaker,

Melihatkan kepada kekurangan kemudahan, pengerak dan tenaga manusia yang mencukupi untuk melaksanakan program pembangunan wanita dan keluarga secara besar-besaran dan menyeluruh di seluruh Negeri Pulau Pinang, MMK Pembangunan Wanita tidak pernah berputus asa atau putus harapan. Sebaliknya, Kerajaan Negeri mengambil iktibar untuk membentuk kesedaran serta memupuk kefahaman masyarakat akan pentingnya memupuk kesedaran untuk membendung gejala-gelaja negatif dan tidak sihat terutamanya yang melibatkan jenayah seksual, dan penganiayaan kanak-kanak.


Pada 19 Mac 2011 yang lalu, Kerajaan Negeri melalui kerjasama dengan pihak Kempen Rakyat Pulau Pinang iaitu sebuah gerakan untuk meningkatkan kesedaran masyarakat terhadap usaha membanteras gejala penderaan dan penganiayaan terhadap golongan wanita dan kanak-kanak. telah bekerjasama menganjurkan Program Jom Jalan Bersama : Hentikan Jenayah Seksual Kanak-Kanak. Program ini telah mendapat sambutan yang amat menggalakkan di kalangan peserta-peserta serama 1500 orang yang hadir bersama keluarga masing-masing.


Akhir kata, saya amat berterima kasih kepada semua pihak termasuk jabatan dan agensi-agensi kerajaan yang tanpa penat lelah membantu Kerajaan Negeri untuk melaksanakan program-program sukan, belia dan wanita yang sihat dan aktif kepada rakyat Negeri Pulau Pinang.

Yang Berhormat Dato Speaker,

Saya mohon menyokong.

Sekian, terima kasih.

Ucapan Perbahasan Lau Keng Ee mengenai Enakmen Warisan

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
bangunan dalam Georgetown telah diubahsuai untuk kepentingan tertentu
dan kepentingan persendirian. Bangunan-bangunan diubahsuai tanpa
kebenaran MPPP, struktur tambahan haram yang tidak berharmoni dengan
persekitaran dan juga premis burung walit yang mendatangkan kacau
ganguan kepada penduduk bersebelahan. Ini telah menjejas OUV warisan
dan mengancam kedudukan Georgetown sebagai tapak warisan dunia Unesco.

Kita tidak menafikan bahawa sesetengah kegiatan yang dijalankan
seperti budget hotel, boleh mendatangkan untung dan merangsang
kegiatan ekonomi Georgetown. Namun begitu kita masih perlu perancangan
yang sempuran supaya kegiatan-kegiatan ini tidak melampau. Kita perlu
memastikan kegiatan-kegiatan ini bukan membawa keuntungan dan kebaikan
kepada sesetengan golongan tertentu sahaja tetapi menjejaskan OUV yang
penting dan membawa impak buruk pada keseluruhannya.

Oleh itu, kita perlu mempunyai perancangan yang sempurna, pemantauan
yang kerap serta penguatkuasa yang efisen bagi melindungi tapak
warisan kita. Walaupun terdapat sesetengah pemilik rumah atau
pengusaha menekankan bahawa mereka akan mengekalkan fasad bangunan
supaya tidak mejejaskan unsur-unsur bersejarah, tetapi saya berasa
bahawa ini tidak bermakna jikalau kita hanya mengekalkan fasad
bangunan tetapi bahagian lain bangunan tersebut ubahsuai tanpa
mendapat kebenaran Pihak berkuasa tempatan sehingga kehilangan
unsur-unsur asal tersendiri. Lagipun tanpa penghuni dan
penyelenggaraan yang baik, ia akan menjejas dan merosotkan nilai
warisan serta “living cultural” di Georgetown.

Oleh yang demikian, saya amat berharap dengan melalui pewartaan
Enakmen Warisan Negeri Pulau Pinang, kita dapat merancang bagaimana
memelihara dan memulihara warisan kita, serta mengambil tindakan yang
sewajarnya bagi menangani masalah-masalah yang kita hadapi sekarang.

Yang Berhormat Dato Speaker,

Clan jeti yang terletak di Kadun saya juga merupakan satu asset
warisan unik bersejarah. Ramai pelancong melawat ke clan jeti setiap
hari. Apa yang saya ingin membangkitkan adalah di samping mengekal,
memelihara dan memulihara, saya juga amat berharap kerajaan dapat
menaiktarafkan infrastruktur asas clan jeti bagi menjamin keselamatan
penduduk dan pelancong.

Keunikan Clan jeti adalah “living cultural” yang bersejarah di sana,
penduduk tinggal di rumah yang didirikan di atas laut dan jambatan
berkayu merupakan laluan utama bagi penduduk keluar masuk.

Selain mendapat peruntukan untuk menukar papan-papan clan jeti bagi
menjamin keselamatan penduduk dan pelancong, saya juga berharap system
pembentungan dapat diwujudkan supaya meningkatkan tahap kebersihan dan
suasana hidup penduduk. Apa yang kita boleh lihat sekarang adalah
semua terus ke dalam laut. Landskap dan penanaman pokok juga boleh
diadakan di kawasan Clan jeti bagi mengindahkan kawasan tersebut.

Selain itu, system pencegah api jugalah amat penting kepada Clan jeti.
Walaupun bomba sukarela telah diadakan, tetapi saya masih berharap
satu system pencegah api yang lebih sempurna dapat diwujudkan untuk
kecemasan.

Saya amat berharap dengan enakmen ini penubuhan Majlis Warisan Negeri
Pulau Pinang, kita dapat merancang dengan rapi bagaimana kita dapat
mencapai pembangunan seimbang dalam memelihara dan memulihara warisan
dan pembangunan.

Yang Berhormat Dato Speaker,
Di sini saya ingin mendapat sedikit penjelasan terhadap fasal-fasal
dalam enakmen ini.
1) Fasal 25 memperuntukkan bahawa seseorang yang terkilan dengan
keputusan Pusuruhjaya boleh buat rayuan kepada Pihak Berkuasa Negeri.
Dalam sub seksyen (3), Pihak Berkuasa Negeri boleh merujuk kepada
Majlis Warisan sebelum membuat apa keputusan mengenai rayuan.
Saya ingin tahu mengapa perlu rujuk balik kepada Majlis, memandangkan
ini proses rayuan yang boleh diputuskan oleh Pihak Kerajaan Negeri.
Dalam subseksyen (5), keputusan Pihak Kerajaan Negeri adalah muktamad.
Saya ingin penjelasan adakah ini bermakna seseorang yang terkilan itu
tidak boleh membawa kes kepada Mahkamah untuk menolak keputusan
murtamad Pihak Berkuasa Negeri.

2) Fasal 29 mengenai perisytiharan warisan Negeri, saya ingin tahu
sama ada Pesuruhjaya juga akan mengisytiharkan tapak warisan budaya
ketara dan tidak ketara yang sudahpun diisytiharkan oleh Pesuruhjaya
Warisan Kebangsaan.

3) Fasal 32 mengenai Notis menjual tapak warisan, bolehkah seseorang
pemunya mengeluarkan Notice of Purchase kepada Pesuruhjaya, jika
hartanah mereka akan diisytiharkan sebagai tapak warisan, supaya
Pesuruhjaya Negeri boleh membeli harta itu. Hak sememangnya diberikan
oleh Akta Warisan Kebangsaan.

4) Fasal 32 juga mengenakan kewajipan kepada pemunya suatu tapak
warisan yang berhasrat untuk menjual tapak itu untuk memaklumkan
Pesuruhjaya mengenai butiran perjanjian penjualan itu dalam tempoh 28
hari dari tarikh perjanjian itu ditandatangani.

Saya ingin tahu mengapa kewajiban itu dikenakan selepas perjanjian itu
ditandatangani dan bukan sebelum perjanjian itu ditandatangani. Kalau
Pesuruhanjaya buat apa-apa keputusan yang menjejaskan kepentingan satu
atau dua pihak yang menandatangan jual-beli hartanah atau tapak
warisan, kemungkinan kerajaan negeri akan menghadapi tanggungjawab
perundangan dari pihak yang terjejas oleh keputusan Pesuruhjaya.

5) Fasal 34 (3) pemunya atau penghuni tapak itu perlu membayar balik
kos dan belanja yang ditanggung semasa menjalankan kerja pembaikan
oleh pihak Pesuruhraya, apakah akan terjadi apabila pemunya atau
penghuni tidak mampu membayar balik. Dalam kes seperti ini, apakah
pemunya boleh meminta Pesuruhjaya membeli harta mereka.

6) Fasal 35 (1) Pihak berkuasa perancang tempatan hendaklah menyelaras
dan mendapatkan nasihat daripada Pesuruhjaya sebelum meluluskan
apa-apa permohonan kebenaran merancang atau perintah pembangunan yang
melibatkan tapak warisan.
Saya ingin tahu, apabila Enakmen ini dikuatkuasakan, apakah ia ada
kesan retrospektif. Demi keadilan, apa-apa permohonan yang dibuat atau
diluluskan, tidak akan dijejaskan oleh peruntukan Fasal 35 (1).

7) Fasal 36 membenarkan pemunya atau penghuni tapak warisan untuk
memohon pemberian atau penjamin daripada Pihak Berkuasa Negeri bagi
maksud menjalankan kerja pemeliharaan dan pemuliharaan di tapak itu.
Saya ingin tahu dari mana pemberian atau pinjaman datang, mengapa
Enakmen ini tidak ada peruntukan untuk menubuhkan Tabung warisan
Negeri yang amat penting. Bolehkah beri penjelansa mengapa sekarang
tidak ditubuhkan dan bilakah ia akan ditubuhkan. Saya bercadang bahawa Kewangan Negeri memperuntukkan sekurang-kurangnya RM50 juta sebagai tabung warisan memandangkan negeri kita telah dianiayai oleh Kerajaan Pusat bahawa tidak member tabung warisan kepada kerajaan Negeri. Kita kena sendiri berdikari kerana “daddy” (tak kasi). Ini juga menunjukkan satu cabaran kepada Kerajaan Pusat bahawa kerajaan negeri mampu menubuhkan tabung warisan tersebut.

8) Fasal 52 menyatakan berkenaan kesalahan berkaitan dengan tapak
warisan, kesalahan (a) hingga (g) juga merupakan kesalahan di bawah
Akta-Akta yang disediakan seperti Akta Perancangan Bandar dan Desa dan
Akta Kerajaan Tempatan. Apabila ini berlaku, siapa yang akan menjadi
badan berdakwa? Apakah ini merupakan penindihan bidangkuasa. Apakah
satu kesalahan itu didakwa oleh dua badan berasingan.

Saya berharap bahawa kita boleh mendapat maklumat yang lebih
terperinci dan sempurna bagi mengelakkan isu-isu yang mungkin akan
timbul pada masa hadapan sebelum enakmen ini dikuatkuasakan.

Sekian, terima kasih.

Teng: It's not a scam


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 was no element of fraud and hence it is certainly very unfair that Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng keeps on calling the case a scam implying there was fraud and cheating, just for political gains,” added Dr Teng.

“I take strong exception to DCM Dr P Ramasamy’s statement at the State Assembly yesterday that I was not being “proactive” in trying to reach a compromise with Tang. Dr Ramasamy should have read the minutes of the previous Exco meetings and the sub-committee meetings thoroughly before making such a statement,” added Dr Teng.

Dr Teng explained that after discovering a mistake, the previous state government set up a subcommittee to talk to Tang on settlement including possible compensation.

Ramasamy was quoted in the newspapers as saying: “Tang was offered compensation of RM1.8 mil and an alternative plot but the deal fell through.”

According to the White Paper, new evidence has been found to show that Tang had prior knowledge of land ownership which he did not disclose to the previous state government. Hence the State Assembly had yesterday decided to re-file the case to set aside the High Court award which amounts to RM40mil.

Press Statement by Sim Tze Tzin in response to Mr. Wong Mun Hoe’s Press Conference regarding Mahsuri Flats

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 part of the exchange agreement to take over the management. The then PDC DGM En. Rosli Jaafar had agreed to consider. However, since then there had been no reply. In July 2005, the PDC rejected their request. The residents felt cheated to take over the management from PDC. This has been a major discontent among the residents.

Mahsuri Apartment Management Corporation then turned to Mr. Wong Mun Hoe to seek help. Mr. Wong is in the know in the entire episode. Now he has suffered “Selective Forgetfulness Syndrome” to make it a political issue for his political gains.

The residents later approached me to pursue their problems. After I was elected to be State Assemblyman, I continue to work towards making their (Mahsuri residents) dreams come true. I had several meetings with PDC as well as CM YAB Lim Guan Eng. In April 2011, finally Chief Minister visited Mahsuri Apartment and delivered the said promises and thus resolved all the unhappiness all these years.

I wish to remind Mr. Wong that, in his tenure as the state Assemblyman. He as a state assemblyman and his Gerakan Chief Minister Tan Sri Khor Tsu Koon, could not even deliver their own promise. It is the Pakatan Rakyat Government that delivered the promise.

Please do not confuse the Rakyat in this matter. We urge Penang Gerakan especially Mr. Wong Mun Hoe to stop politicking because this will just further anger the residents.

YB Sim Tze Tzin,
ADUN Pantai Jerejak

--
Sim Tze Tzin
ADUN Pantai Jerejak
State Assemblyman of Penang

PRESS STATEMENT BY MR WONG MUN HOE on Mahsuri Flats

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 is not low-cost or low-medium cost?

3. Is YB Ng Wei Aik aware that although M3, 4 and 5 apartments is build by PDC, that does not mean that M3,4 and 5 is State-owned and that M3,4 and 5 have been managed by their Management Committee for almost 8 years now? In other words, M3,4, 5 is a medium cost private apartment.

Subsequently, on 6th of May 2011, EXCO member for Housing, YB Wong Hon Wai in his response to the repainting issue, said the following:

1. Management Corporations of private low-cost flats should use their SINKING FUNDS to carry out repainting and repairs on these buildings and that the State Government was not obliged to carry out repainting work on these flats.

2. The State Government has for now agreed to undertake 80% of the repainting cost on low and MEDIUM-COST flats that are UNDER the State Government, PDC, MPSP and MPPP.

In response to this, I have 6 questions for YB Wong Hon Wai:

1. Is YB Wong Hon Wai aware how much sinking funds are available for each and every one of the low-cost and low-medium cost flats, both State-owned and private? I suspect that YB Wong does not have the answer but one does not need to be clever to know that the answer is either none or very little. So how if no sinking funds?
2. Is YB Wong Hon Wai aware of the present problems faced by many of these residents, who are even unable to pay for their monthly rental and maintenance fees? Again, I suspect that YB Wong also does not know but I can inform you that the sum total of those in default is probably in the millions. So if can’t even pay for rental or maintenance, how to pay for repainting?

3. Is the Penang State Government saying that they will not be responsible for the repainting and repairing of low-cost flats in the State if it is built by the private sector? If this is so, then I hope that residents of those staying in these private low-cost flats will seriously take note of this answer since it is the State requirement for all developers to build low-cost flats which are then allocated by the State Government. If Penang State Government does not bother or care for those in low-cost, then whose responsibility is that?

4. Does this now mean that the State Government will undertake 80% of repainting cost for ALL MEDIUM-COST flats UNDER the State Government? Notice that there is a difference between what is being said by YB Ng Wei Aik which never mentioned about medium-cost while the ‘clarification’ by YB Wong Hon Wai include medium-cost.

5. What is the difference between medium-cost flats that are under the State Government, PDC, MPSP and MPPP versus those that are privately built? If the Penang State Government is prepared to pay for the repainting of those flats that are under the State Government, they should also be prepared to do the same for other such flats irrespective of whether they are under the State or not. Again, I would like the owners of such private flats to take note of this discriminatory measure.

6. Can YB Wong Hon Wai clarifies if M3,4 and 5 is under PDC or PDC-built? There is a very big difference between PDC-owned and PDC-built. PDC-owned means that the building and all the units still belong to PDC and therefore PDC as the owner is certainly obliged to undertake all repainting or repair work whereas PDC-built is not the same. For example, if PDC were to build apartments costing RM250,000 per unit, does this mean that PDC will still undertake to take care of all its repainting and repair works?

So, from the responses of both the YBs, we can only conclude the following:

1. The Penang State Government seems to be in a terribly confused state of affairs as far as this repainting issue is concerned as they are not even able to differentiate between low-cost, low-medium and medium cost. They are further confused by what are State-owned and State-built flats and apartments.

2. It is very unfair of the Penang State Government to give the innocent and poor people living in low-cost and low-medium cost flats the ‘false hope’. When the Penang State Government first announced the repainting of M3,4 and 5, surely they have raised the expectations of all others who are presently living in such similar high-rise. As such, there is totally nothing wrong for residents of all low-cost and low-medium flats in Penang to expect the same benefits, failing which, we can only conclude that this is a real discriminatory and unfair policy by the Penang State Government.

Irregardless of how the Penang State Government is going to resolve this issue, we stand by and reiterate that there is totally nothing wrong in us to represent those living in low-cost and low-medium cost in making the appeal that:

1. The Penang State Government should be responsible for the repainting of all low-cost and low-medium cost flats and apartments irrespective of whether State-owned, State-built or private.

2. For those in low-cost and low-medium cost, the formula of 80:20 to repaint should be dropped and that the Penang State Government should fully undertake the cost of repainting.