NEWS-2
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More Grandiose Dreams!
We have said in this magazine that Penang
is unthinkingly development mad; the SNOB Zone and MUSEUM may be signs
of incurability.
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Pigs
Mohd Hamdan Abd Rahman (PAS, Permatang Pasir)
in the state assembly urged the state government to identify an area for
pig rearing. Nibong Tebal had been chosen but so far he had not seen any
development. Tan Cheng Liang (BN, Jawi) pointed out that the state
had failed to draw up master plan to help the industry. Mohd Hamdan, it
will be recalled that at last year's state assembly sitting the same Mohd
Hamdan said that pig farming must be accepted by all.
The importance of pig farming was pointed
out last year by the minister of agriculture who warned that if pi g farming
was not restored the import bill would be between 2 and 3 billion ringgit
a year.
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Open
sewage
Pengkalen Kota assemblyman, Lee Hack Teik,
dramatically exhibited fish killed by untreated sewage overflow in Jelutong.
The system was deplorable and needed attention, he said. Lee Hack Teik
did not refer to it, but we wonder what happened to that Federal loan for
a new sewage system that was obtained a few years ago.
Pulau Burung Tan Cheng Liang (Jawi) continues her lone battle to save Pulau Burung from its impending fate as the island's rubbish dump A housing board Datuk Sak Cheng Lum (Bagan Jermal) wants the government to build more low cost houses instead of relying on developers and Abdul Rahman Kadir (Penanti) called for the establishment of a housing board Tourism The state spent RM2.7 million on tourism activities reported Datuk Kee Phaik Cheen (Batu Uban), state tourism committee chairman
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Lim
Boo Chang
Lim Boo Chang (Datok Keramat) said that appealing
to industrialists to retrain their workers as made by the CM is not good
enough. The state needs to draw up a comprehensive plan to rejuvenate
and to prime pump the economy. Penang cannot afford to be over dependent
on the electrical and electronic sector. There must be diversification.
We should focus on backing of industries which .utilised local raw
materials such as rubber, palm oil, coconut, cocoa, tin, marble and timber,
cultivate manufacturing industries which use plastic, .petrochemical and'
other raw materials. And there was no follow up on projects: - what has
happened to the Golden Triangle and the Northern Triangle?
On tourism Lim Boo Chang quoted Tan Poh
Wah (Gerakan leader of Balik
Pulau) who wanted Penang to attract tourists to come back for a revisit.
Penang needed new tourist spots; we should learn from Phuket. Pulau Langkawi
had been made a tourism city and Penang had been left behind
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On
cleanliness, Lim Boo Chang said his constituents complained that for the
last three years they could rarely find council workers cleaning their
drains, cutting grass and sweeping the roads. Monsoon drains and
streams were now contracted out. Council must conduct strict checks
before payment for their services.
On zoning. It was time for the two councils
to review their strict zoning policy. Many major
roads are no longer suitable for residential purpose such Jalan Masjid
Negeri, and Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah and Jalan Trengganu. The two councils
must assist local businesses to grow. So long as there is sufficient parking
and no disturbance to the neighbourhood, they should be allowed to convert
for from residential to business. Such flexibility would bring more income
to the councils.
On increased rentals. Why were council flats rents increased more than 30% during this recession? A more acceptable way was gradual increases, if needed. Maintenance services must be improved to avoid leaking roofs, damaged toilets, a dirty and smelly environment where many spaces were dark and unsafe. Rates. Are the ratepayers getting value for their money? Services were appalling. Gardens, parks and open space are not well kept, children?s' playgrounds are hazardous and playthings rusting. Public toilets had become the top complaint of the general public; public lighting was also poor. On the k-economy, nothing very significant had been done by the state government. Many optic cables have been laid, but these came from the private sector. Government to government linkages had still not been fully established. The state must refocus its efforts to promote the use of IT. # |
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Penang
branch Web site - - http://members.nbci.com/MNSpenang
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The
Penang File Issue 13
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