Carolyn Khor's blog

It must have come as a pleasant surprise that three women from PKR were selected to be Selangor executive council members together with three others from DAP and four from PAS. Dr. Daroyah joins rank with Elizabeth Wong and Rodziah Ismail in an all-women three-member team after being sworn-in at the palace today. PKR Selangor had fielded six women candidates for its state seats, out of which five won. Twelve others from PKR who won are men. In contrast, Penang has only one woman exco which is held by Chong Eng, the DAP state assemblyman for Padang Lalang. During the 13th General Elections, PKR Penang fielded a total of two women candidates for the Penang state seats, out of which only one succeeded - Dr. Norlela Ariffin from Penanti. Nine others from PKR who won are men. The vast difference in women representation within PKR is largely attributed to the role of women in politics in these two states. At the same time, it must be lauded that Tan Sri Khalid has no qualms appointin...

Dato’ Mustafa Kamal, Director of Elections for PKR Pulau Pinang successfully gathered about 500 election workers at several meeting points all around the Bayan Baru (P52) parliamentary district last Sunday. Dato’ Mansor Othman, the Deputy Chief Minister addressed the 300-strong crowd at its main site at Dewan JKKK Taman Pekaka, Batu Uban, together with several other personalities like YB Sim Tze Tzin (ADUN Pantai Jerejak), Dato’ Malik Kassim (ADUN Batu Maung) and YB Raveen (ADUN Batu Uban). The air of excitement was further enhanced when a motorcycle convoy of about 30 bikes arrived at Taman Pekaka along with a decorated trailer behind blasting the Parti Keadilan song. After a short briefing, all volunteers participated in a house-to-house exercise to meet the voters in the three state constituencies in Bayan Baru. When the crowd were asked: “Are you ready for Pakatan Rakyat?” the crowd replied in a very spirited ‘Yes!’ The overall response from the ground was very ...

Much has been said about climate changes in the last few decades with not much being done to address the escalating problem. This is especially unfortunate when the environmentalists are up against corporate giants who silence the policy makers into submission with their huge funding by reaping profits from nature. Climate changes is a term used to acknowledge weather patterns over a period of time and is commonly linked to environmental changes including global warming and the greenhouse effect, significant flooding and even storms – the most recent being Superstorm Sandy. Jeffrey Sachs, a renowned economist mentioned in his address during a recent visit to Penang that the term ‘climate change’ was not even uttered once by the re-elected President of the United States during his nationwide election campaign. This shows the severity and the clout of apprehensiveness in acknowledging what deserves to be approached in a more aggressive manner to save the environment. However, a...

Original Article in Mandarin by: Teng Kok Liang Green scenery always makes people feel refreshed. It is wrong to think that living in high rise building prohibits us from keeping plants. On the contrary, there are many indoor plants that we can grow to keep our environment green and beautiful. Penang Green Expo 2012 which was held in September 2012 displayed a variety of indoor plants. The Expo also provided an opportunity to learn more about choosing the correct species for planting and decorating the home. For clean and fresh air, the Cactus, Chlorophytum or Scindaprus tops the list as natural purifiers. These plants should not be underestimated as they can help lower the hazardous substances released from electronic appliances and at the same time help purify air pollutants. An alternate choice is the Sansevieria and Boston fern. These plants contain natural plant anion that absorbs Benzene and Trichloroethylene from the air to restore good air quality. For spa...

Green Building Index In keeping pace with the demands of modern living, designers and builders equally reflect their concerns about the environment through incorporating a voluntary green rating scheme which is managed by a board of registered architects and engineers. The Green Building Index has a total of 290 buildings as at June 2012 and nine townships registered for certification throughout the nation.  According to the Northern Chapter President of Pertubuhan Arkitek Malaysia (PAM) and also Penang Green Council committee member, Mr. Lawrence Lim, Penang currently has 30 buildings applying for certification while 10 buildings are on provisionary certification. “Penang was the first state in Malaysia to embrace the Green Building Index,” he added. Among the more notable developments that have applied for the GBI are The Light Project by IJM, The Setia Greens by SP Setia, Brooke Residence and Penaga Hotel, a heritage hotel in George Town.  “Despite the pre...

YB Chow Kon Yeow Level 52 Komtar 10503 Penang 04-2619888 chowkonyeow@penang.gov.my PRESS STATEMENT 11 October, 2012 In support of the family of the late Cheah Chin Lee (died in police custody): Police Yet to Inform Courts of Chin Lee’s Death ¬¬ It is now close to two months after Cheah Chin Lee died in the Police’s custody. I am here today with Chin Lee’s family members who are still waiting for answers. Sadly, despite numerous promises made to the family, the Police have been unable to show any progress for the family to have faith in their efforts. The family’s lawyer wrote to the Magistrates Court of George Town, Penang to enquire about initiating inquest proceedings and received a reply from the court registrar on 25 September, 2012 saying that the courts have not received a Sudden Death Report regarding Chin Lee’s death on 13 August. Section 334 of the Criminal Procedure Code requires, “when any person dies while in the custody of the police or in a mental hospita...

KENYATAAN AKHBAR KONGRES MELAYU PULAU PINANG, (KMPP) Tarikh: 27hb Januari 2012 Kepada: PIHAK MEDIA TEMPATAN. Tajuk: ISU TANAH TANG HAK JU, “Barisan Nasional Berhutang kepada Rakyat Pulau Pinang”. Kenyataan akhbar ini dibuat oleh pihak KMPP adalah mewakili rakyat Pulau Pinang yang terpaksa menanggung wang pampasan RM500,000.00 akibat daripada kecuaian sehingga menyebabkan penipuan keatas seorang individu yang dikenali sebagai Tan Hak Ju. Keputusan oleh Mahkamah Rayuan pada 10/1/2012 tersebut jelas bahawa Kerajaan Negeri sekarang terpaksa menanggung liabiliti yang ditinggalkan oleh kerajaan terdahulu (Barisan Nasional) dimana rakyat negeri ini harus membuka mata bagaimana rakusnya dan licik pentadbiran Kerajaan sebelum ini sehingga mengheret rakyat negeri ini bersama menyelami kemelut kes ini. Walaupun pampasan telah dikurangkan dan sekalipun ianya bernilai RM1.00, ianya tetap wang rakyat yang menjadi pembayar cukai. Janganlah pula Pimpinan Barisan Nasional negeri ini c...

Cubaan Membunuh Presiden KEADILAN 8 Januari 2012 Angkatan Muda KEADILAN Pulau Pinang (AMKPP) hari ini mengecam sekeras-kerasnya terhadap insiden cubaan membunuh Presiden KEADILAN, Dato’ Seri Dr. Wan Azizah Wan Ismail pada malam tadi. Serangan itu walaupun dapat dielak oleh Saudara Fayyad al-Bakri, pengawal keselamatan Keluarga Anwar Ibrahim, ia tetap diklasifikasikan sebagai cubaan membunuh! Pihak Hospital Seberang Jaya telah mengesahkan serangan itu berpunca dari tusukan jarum yang menyuntik kandungan morfein berlebihan ke tapak tangan Fayyad. Suntikan beracun itu telah menghentikan nadi Fayyad buat seketika. Allah Maha Besar, terkini setakat 10.00 pagi, Fayyad sudah sedar dan dilaporkan stabil. AMKPP memandang serius akan isu ini, kerana cubaan membunuh Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim dan keluarganya seakan sudah diatur sekian lama sejak penglibatan Anwar Ibrahim di dalam politik tanahair. Kita masih ingat akan insiden helikopter terhempas pada tahun 1994, rempuhan ala gestapo di ruma...

Boxing Day was just going to be another usual day if not for an unscheduled visit with a friend to a newly opened restaurant at Cintra Street – The Malabar Restaurant, Dine and Chill. Occupying two of the corner lots of the heritage building in Georgetown, the new kid on the block looks chic with its designer look and matching colours. The wallpaper and overall interior decoration adds to its charm and ambience of a comfortable dining experience. The original timber which can now only be found in heritage buildings can still be seen in parts where they are not covered by the lowered plaster ceiling. “We want to make people feel at home. One part of the shop is for dining and the other is the bar,” says the petite and pretty restaurateur Tracy Yeoh, adding that she designed the shop herself. Eager to impress us with their food, we were first served with a starter – Lobak, the chef’s personal favourite. This was followed by the Braised Garlic Pepper Pork Ribs, Rendang Chicken, Otak...

100 children were presented with RM100 vouchers last Sunday at BJ Kompleks to help families prepare for the new school term. S.Raveentharan had set aside RM10,000 from his allocation to lighten the burden of parents with school-going children. This is a yearly event that has drawn much support from the community. All recipients were from the Batu Uban constituency. The vouchers were obtained from the Kamdar store in BJ Kompleks. Families with the voucher may exchange the voucher for apparels needed for school.Apart from the 100 children, some 40 other children also received RM100 vouchers from Pusat Urus Zakat, which is also meant for school uniforms. “This is the people’s money. It is only right that we redistribute it to deserving parties and will continue to do so in the future,” said S.Raveentharan, the state assemblyman for Batu Uban. S.Raveentharan thanked the management of Bukit Jambul Kompleks and Kamdar for their cooperation in helping making the event a success. “Bu...

Press Statement by Raveentharan ADUN Batu Uban on the Flash Flood and Landslide near Bukit Gambir Date: 19 October 2011 The approval of plan by the previous regime is very much suspicious because the developer can build a 3 feet wall and divert the river flow into a drain. This is tantamount to going against nature. After 40 minutes of downpour, a beautiful but life threatening waterfall appears from nowhere and this has also caused erosion of the rocks and soil. I think the only solution to arrest this problem is to provide several catchment areas and to build retention ponds at the top of Bukit Gambir. I have already proposed and expressed to the Dewan Undangan Negeri the need to turn this area into an ecopark to preserve the environment as a water catchment area and to build mini reservoir to stop the sudden flash floods. This will also help alleviate the flash flood problems at Jalan Satu and Jalan Enam at Changkat Minden and Sungai Dua area. I feel very sorry and sympat...

KENYATAAN AKHBAR KONGRES MELAYU PULAU PINANG, (KMPP) BELANJAWAN KALI KE 54 BAGI TAHUN 2011 Lanjutan dari belanjawan kali ke 54 bagi tahun 2012 yang diumumkan oleh Y.A.B Perdana Menteri pada 6hb Oktober 2011 secara keseluruhannya membabitkan sejumlah RM232.8 Billion. Perdana Menteri turut mengumumkan Dasar Transformasi Nasional (DTN) bagi menaungi program-program transformasi yang telah dan akan dilaksanakan oleh kearah menjayakan cita–cita mewujudkan bangsa Malaysia yang bersatu dan maju menjelang tahun 2020. Justeru itu maka belanjawan tersebut bertemakan “Dasar Transformasi Nasional Yakni Bajet Membela Rakyat, Mensejahtera Negara”. Bagi lebih menyakinkan kononnya belanjawan kali ini cuba memberi keselesaan kepada setiap lapisan rakyat daripada golongan–golongan Pemandu Teksi, Nelayan, Warga Emas, Pejawat Awam, Pesara, Golongan wanita, belia hinggalah kepada kalangan Kontraktor dan pelabur serta yang terpenting Peneroka Felda. Dalam ucapannya beliau memaklumkan bahawa Pelaburan S...

Devastation of the natural environment in the name of providing a Car park for Kek Lok Si. Sunday, 9 October, 2011 A. Illegal Acts 1. Done illegal construction that had intruded into public domain. All constructions are required to be set back from the legal boundaries of the property by between 2.0 – 6.0 metres. To build beyond the setbacksis illegal and plans would not be approved. Going beyond the legal boundary is a double breach of the law and illegal.If there is an Architect and Professional Engineer this could not have happened. 2. No permit given. All development and construction on site can only commence after plans have been submitted and approval given by the Local Authority. Any work done prior to permit being given is illegal. 3. No application for building submitted. If no plan application is made to the Authority for any development, work done on that site, especially if it is large scale, is extremely serious as public safety is involved and is illegal. ...

Press Statement: PSC Must Lead to Reform Political Financing. 1st October, 2011 With reference to the news reported by Malaysiakini titled “Government Shot Down Political Financing Reform Proposal” (http://malaysiakini.com/news/177299), I would like to congratulate the Bar Council for organizing the Forum on Political Financing. This is not a popular subject and many taboos exist. Most, if not all, politicians avoid addressing this subject publicly for fear of negative perception. However, this is a pressing issue among many honest politicians from both sides of the political divide. It is like an elephant in the room. Like it or not, politicians and political parties need money to run effective campaigns and serving their electorates. The more intense the political environment becomes, the more money is needed. This is especially true for Pakatan Rakyat as we have neither state-owned TVs nor Main Stream Media covering fairly for us. During the State Assembly sitting on 4th of Ma...

Statement: People Before Profit – Objection to Boustead Land Reclamation 2nd Oct 2011 I would like to extend my unequivocal support to the residents of Putra Marine, Gold Coast, Bay Garden and the surrounding communities in objecting a possible land reclamation project by Boustead. As their state assemblyman, I fully understand their anxiety and fully support their democratic rights to voice up against a greedy corporate giant that might soon affect their lives. The whole episode of this project goes back 3 years ago. Boustead Holdings Bhd is a corporate giant closely linked to UMNO. It got the approval from the previous administration to construct a high-rise hotel within the UNESCO World Heritage Zone. After Georgetown obtained its UNESCO Heritage Status, Boustead Hotel was requested to reduce the original proposed height to a max 18m in accordance with the new guidelines. As a result, the current state government under the leadership of YAB Lim Guan Eng was forced to negotia...

Two types of investment, says Heah Press Statement by Penang Gerakan Economy & SME Bureau Chairman Michael Heah Aug 24, 2011 A Penang Gerakan leader has urged InvestPenang executive committee chairman Lee Kah Choon to concentrate on his portfolio to bring investments to Penang for the benefit of the people. Penang Gerakan economy and small and medium-scale enterprises bureau chairman, Michael Heah, said Lee should spend more time improving on his network to reach to more foreign investors, with the aim of attracting them to come to Penang. “Don’t sleep on your job and wake up trying to pick up quarrels with people. You are paid with public money and you should repay your gratitude with good results and achievements,” said Heah in a statement. Heah said Lee should know that there are two types of investment, namely new and reinvestment, as far as Penang is concerned. He said for reinvestment, a firm decision can be made faster, especially when the existing company is ...

I didn’t approve the Jelutong dumpsite, says Dr Teng Press Statement by Penang Barisan Nasional Working Committee Chairman Dato’ Dr Teng Hock Nan Aug 24, 2011 Former state executive councillor Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan said today that the Jelutong dumpsite has been existing for umpteen years and certainly it is not “me who approved” the site. Dr Teng, who is also Penang Barisan Nasional Working Committee chairman, said in fact when he was Exco in charge of local government, he had stopped the Jelutong dumpsite from taking in organic waste and instead had it transferred to the Pulau Burong landfill in Seberang Prai. “For Exco in charge of health, welfare, environment and caring society Phee Boon Poh to say that I had approved the Jelutong dumpsite is sheer ignorance and nonsense,” Dr Teng said in a press statement. However, Dr Teng agreed that he had advocated a Material Recovery Facility (MRF) system when he was a State Exco member. “Yes, I advocate MRF but whether it ...

KENYATAAN MEDIA 25 Julai 2011 Kerajaan Negeri Pakatan Rakyat Pulau Pinang Membela Semua Kaum, Tidak Pinggirkan India Muslim Selain memperkenal dan mengamalkan urustadbir Cekap, Akauntabiliti dan Telus (CAT), Kerajaan Negeri Pakatan Rakyat Pulau Pinang terus mendokong prinsip pentadbiran kerajaan berjiwa rakyat, adil kepada semua kaum. Demi rakyat – inilah yang membezakan pentadbiran Kerajaan Negeri Pakatan Rakyat Pulau Pinang yang baru berusia 3 tahun berbanding kerajaan negeri terdahulu yang mengutamakan kroni dan suku sakat sejak lebih 50 tahun. Sebab itu tidak menghairankan, apabila wujud kaum dan kelompok tertentu terus terpinggir. Biarpun media yang dikuasai Umno Barisan Nasional sentiasa mengelapkan kejayaan demi kejayaan kerajaan negeri, namun hakikatnya rakyat Pulau Pinang khususnya, dapat mengecapi kejayaan dan menghadam manfaat ini bersama-sama. Kenyataan Presiden KIMMA Kebangsaan, Senator Datuk Syed Ibrahim Kader dalam akhbar Sinar Harian bertarikh 25...

Kenyataan Media Oleh Pengerusi DAP Pulau Pinang Dan Ahli Exco Kerajaan Tempatan Dan Pengurusan Lalu Lintas Chow Kon Yeow Selepas Melawat Projek Perumahan Vista Mutiara Di Jalan Jelutong, Pulau Pinang Pada 19 Julai 2011 Dakwaan SPNB Bahawa Kerajaan PR Sengaja Ubah Syarat Untuk Lengah CF Adalah Tidak Berasas. Syarikat Perumahan Negara Berhad (SPNB) mendakwa bahawa Kerajaan PR sengaja ubah syarat untuk lengah CF adalah tidak berasas. Saya telah mengarah Majlis Perbandaran Pulau Pinang (MPPP) dan Majlis Perbandaran Seberang Perai (MPSP) untuk menyiasat dakwaan tersebut dan mendapati ianya merupakan tohmahan sahaja. MPSP telah melaporkan bahawa ia tidak mengenakan sebarang syarat tambahan yang baru semasa CF dipohon. Permohonan diproses mengikut syarat yang telah diluluskan dalam Pelan Bangunan. Pada masa kini, MPSP sedang memproses permohonan CF daripada SPNB untuk 1 blok rumah pangsa kos rendah 4 tingkat (82 unit) di Taman Sejahtera Indah, Telok Ayer Tawar dan permohonan t...

Press Statement: Response to MP’s call for halt in Balik Pulau projects Jul 19, 2011 I refer to Balik Pulau MP Yusmadi Yusoff’s comments, published in FreeMalaysiaToday.com yesterday, calling for a blanket halt on all development projects in his constituency. The state government cannot arbitrarily halt projects that have been approved unless they are found to violate the conditions set on its approval. Stop-work orders can be issued in the event projects do not comply with the many conditions such projects need to adhere to. These conditions include environmental, traffic, as well as social impact concerns. In this regard, I welcome MP Yusmadi’s concern for Balik Pulau and await his official input on the matter. Indeed, the State Government refers project applications to local representatives for their comments before approvals are decided upon. We have rejected applications before, especially those involving hill slope development and active agricultural land. As for squatters,...