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Lead City Status

Sira Habibu reports in the Sunday Star newspaper that George Town is among the four cities in the Asia-Pacific region which has been accorded 'lead city status' under the UN Development Programme. The other 'lead' cities are Kathmandu (South Asia) , Suva (Pacific Region), Dalian (East Asia). George Town was selected for the South East Asian region. The UNDP representative said among other things that Penang was a CityNet member, it was most progressive and innovative

But Not a City

George Town is not listed as a city in the list of cities published in 1999.  While tiny Kuchng North and Kuching South as well as Kota Kinabalu are "cities" which include Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh and Johor Baru, the proud island has been ignored and its pride severely dented. Among the protesting voices are Mr Eddie Choong, one time badminton champ and Mr Khoo Heng Choon former secretary of the Penang City Council before it merged with the Rural District Council to form the present Penang Muncipal Council.  Mr Sonny Pillai, Mr  Khoo Heng Choon's predecessor at the post, points out that the City of George Town Ordinance 1957 has never been repealed.  He points out that celebrations were held on January 1 1957 to welcome the towns status as a city. Datuk Anwar Fazal director of the Socio Economic and Environment Research Institute says that Penang had been a minicipality since 1857 and became a municipality with city status at the centenary celebrations in 1957. Mr Eddie Choong also reminded readers of the Sunday Star that  the city has conferred freeman status to eminent persons including Tunku Abdul Rahman, Crown Prince Akihito (later Emperor of Japan), Don Dunstan once prremier of South AsutraliaThe Penang branch of the Peoples Progressive Party has joined in the call to recognise Georgetown's status as a city, a status that had been recognised by the British colonial government. Penang Heritage Trust secretary Khoo Salma Nasution asks what is the point of seeking city status if the qualiity of services provided is not commensurate.  The status was of no use when the town possessed slums that could not be managed.  But there is hope yet for this city The chief minister has announced at he will ask for city status not only for Georgetown but also for Butterworth across the sea. But some think the fuss is over nothing. They point out that since the suspension of elections and the restoration of appointed presidents and councillors we are back to the old colonial system. 
 

TOWN HALL
 

It is odd that Penang does not have a town hall. While Ipoh has regained its town hall Penanng's 120 year old Town Hall, standing on the Esplanade is sadly neglected. But efforts are being made to rescue it from oblivion by the  Penang Heritage Trust (PHT). PHT's endeavours are shared by the Arts and Culture Information Centre, the Consumers Association of Penang and the Penang Tourists Guides Association. They want the old town hall to be a civic centre. But Dr Teng the former president of the Munucipality thinks that  only  a small section of society will benefit from art exhibitions, the performing arts and talks. It would be much better, he thinks,  if the premises were used by the planning department for exibitions of local and structure plans.  A counter for parking tickets would also benefit the general public. The debate continues. 

The Town Hall was formally opened in 1880 by the S.S. governor  Frederick Weld after whom Port Weld is named
 

BICYCLE SIGNS
 

Contradictions in our society remain unsolved. On the one hand is the national ambition to build and sell more cars and on the other the longing for clean air. This is reflected in the newly erected road signs bearing images of bicycles which made their appearance in the Pulau Tikus area. They puzzle. If they are meant to encourage cycling on the marked streets is it safe to do so when no bicycle lanes have been designated? Even the present bicycle lanes are so narrow as to provide no protection at all, for example the 6" lane along Tanjong Tokong now obliterated by excavators. They have been ignored by motorists as have the stop for cyclists signs for example the much neglected signs on Bagan Jermal Road. Cyclists in Penang know cycling is dangerous and the present signs are certainly not providing much encouragement

AUTOPONT
 

Autopont?  Puzzle no more, it is the newly opened flyover in Green Lane (now Jalan Masjid Negri) a present that should  gladden  travellers on our congested roads for year 2000. The single lane French designed (hence "autopont") flyover nicknamed "gostan flyover" by the opposition parties  because, they say,  stranded cars can only be dragged forwards or backwards, was built with the object of  diverting long vehicles into Jelutong Road.
 

OTHER MATTERS
 

MENGKUDU JUICE

Malaysia will export mengkudu juice (Morinda citifolia) or noni juice which is so popular The demand for noni, a cure all for a wide variety of ailments that the The Star reports that imports have reached RM150m annually. The plant is common in Penang but hardly noticed as very few housewives now iinclude the leaf in their ulam
 

The government will no longer make public the Air Pollutant Index (API) says the minister for Science Technology and Environment, reports The Star newspaper.  Overly publicising the readings, he said, would drive away the tourists
 

The Sunday Star newspaper reported that nature lovers were upset that rows of old trees along Batu Ferringhi were being felled for road widening. Malaysian Nature Society Penang Branch chairman Dr Chan Ngai Weng said the Society would be sending two experts to assess the situation
 

The Penang Scouts Council wants the government to retain the 45 year old Coronation Camp at Telock Bahang, which has been the meeting place for scouts meeting in Jamboree. The Council hopes that the Camp will be integrated with the expansion plans of the Botanical Gardens
 

The Socio-Economic and Environmental Research Insttitute (Seri) is critical of the 1999 Asiaweek Quality of Life index which has downgraded Penang from 6th position to 7th among 40 countries surveyed. In 1998 the magazine noted Penang had 40 beds per 1000 people but in 1999 the figures were 2.7 beds. For crime the figures were 3.9 cases per 10,000 and 67.  The healthcare indicator dropped Penang from No 2 to No 22 position.  Malayan Nature Society chairman Dr Chan Ngai Weng pointed out that the index was weighted heavily on material possessions Environmental quality which was worsening had been ignored