Friday, November 21, 2008

Something stinks about MPPP's approval of multi-storey hotels in the heritage areas of George Town.

The Editor
> New Straits Times
> Kuala Lumpur.
>
> Sir,
> Something stinks about MPPP's approval of multi-storey hotels in the heritage areas of George Town. While Lim Guan Eng would like to blame it on the previous government as is his habit, this time Penangites will not swallow his excuses hook line and sinker. Apparently there is a state ruling since 1996 that prohibited buildings exceeding five storeys in the inner city. And in 2003 the previous government had rejected a high rise development along the waterfront. The new regime in charge may be excused if they were ignorant of this since they are just learning the job. But to approve a 23 storey hotel in Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah just ten days before UNESCO was to decide on Penang's World Heritage Listing?? To cap it all MPPP was already drafting guidelines so that all buildings in the intended heritage area will not exceed 18m. This smacks of either stupidity or blatant disregard for UNESCO.
>
> It stands to reason that when a city is applying for World Heritage Listing and also drafting guidelines so that buildings will conform to UNESCO's requirements (for heritage listing), that all plans for developments which do not meet the intended guidelines should be rejected or at least put on hold until the matter of Penang's World Heritage Listing is decided. To approve such projects in haste exposes the government's hand in pandering to developers. It is no good hiding behind the technicalities of the law (as I am sure MPPP will do) what is important in this case is not the letter of the law but the sincerity and honesty of the Penang government in pursuing World Heritage status.
>
> The Penang Government cannot have its cake and eat it. Opting for World Heritage Listing means curbing unsuitable developments. To try to accommodate the developers while applying for heritage listing is ultimately dishonest - even if one were technically and legally within one's right to do so.
> It is easy to deal with blatant dishonesty but how does one deal with dishonesty that is devious and subtle and altogether more dangerous? Guan Eng's 'CAT' (competency, accountability, transparency) of which he is so proud, is fast using up its nine lives. The Confucius saying: "Three things cannot be hid for long: the sun, the moon and the truth" applies not only to the previous government . . .
>
> I don't blame Richard Engelhardt, the UNESCO advisor for Asia-Pacific for feeling peeved for being taken for a fool. And I don't blame him either should he recommend that Penang's World Heritage Listing be withdrawn come July next year. Should that happen it will be Penangites' loss and this time Guan Eng cannot point fingers at the previous administration.
>
> Your truly,
>
> Yin Ee Kiong

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Jalan Silibin to Jalan Patto

The Editor
> New Straits Times
> Kuala Lumpur.
>
> Sir,
> As the controversy regarding the change of Jalan Silibin to Jalan Patto continues, it is well for councillor Kulasegeran ( also MP - Ipoh Barat) to bear in mind that the DAP was vociferous in its condemnation of the very same thing that the previous BN government did.
>
> It was not that many years back when Ipoh City Council had to reverse its decision to rename Jalan Foo Chong Kong, Jalan Tabung Haji because of public protest. On that occasion at least, the government took heed of the public's feelings and left the old name intact. For the present authorities to say that they will go ahead with renaming the road despite public outcry, is arrogant in the very least and smacks of the double standards that this government is becoming known for during the short time it has been in power.
>
> I have no problem with naming a road after Patto. He deserves to be honoured, although as another writer (Mariam Mokhtar) rightly pointed out that perhaps we can name parks etc after our citizens who have rendered public service. Be that as it may, if one has to name a road after someone why not name a new road - there are new roads built everyday. This way the public will not have to bear the inconveniences and expense of a name change and the history of the existing roads will not be lost.
> Ipoh lost much of its link with the past when some of its main thoroughfares were renamed viz Brewster Road, Hugh Low Street, Thompson Road etc.
> Taiping seems to have solved the problem of renaming roads. In Taiping the public is told what the renamed road was formerly known by.
>
> It is time that guidelines be set for naming roads so that those in power do not abuse their positions to name roads after people on their party list or to name roads simply to curry favour from royalty or businessmen who have contributed to their party's coffers. And what is wrong with naming roads after trees, or flowers or animals? At least no one can complain about favouritism then.
> One guideline which we should all keep to is not to rename roads or use the Taiping solution.
>
> Politicians must not think that naming roads is a prerogative of theirs which cannot be challenged. The PR Government has sold itself as a "listening" government. It is time they start listening to the public.
>
>
> Yours truly
> Yin Ee Kiong
>
> A02-12 MarVista Resort
> Tg. Bungah
> 11200 Penang.

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Isu Pembatalan Kings Of Tennis

Isu Pembatalan Kings Of Tennis

Pada 11 Nov 2008 jam 5 petang, Ibu Pejabat "Kings of Tennis" di Sweden telah memaklumkan promoter dan penganjur tempatan mengenai pembatalan acara yang amat dinanti-nantikan "Kings of Tennis" yang dijadualkan berlangsung pada 14 hingga 16 Nov 2008 di Penang Esplanade di Georgetown atas sebab penganjur tempatan tidak menepati janji untuk menjelaskan bayaran seperti dijanjikan.

Selepas mengetahui keputusan pembatalan tersebut, Kerajaan Negeri Pulau Pinang cuba melepaskan tangan daripada tanggungjawab, supaya imej Negeri Pulau Pinang tidak terjajas. Namun acara ini acara "Kings of Tennis" yang juga dikenali sebagai "Penang's Big Bang", telah menarik perhatian seluruh dunia kerana dijangka akan menemukan bekas pemain tenis nombor satu dunia dari dua benua, Amerika dan Eropah.Pasukan Eropah dijangka diketuai Ilie Nastase dari Romania dan para pemain Sweden, Bjorn Borg, Stefan Edberg dan Mats Wilander manakala pasukan Amerika terdiri daripada John McEnroe, Pete Sampras, Roy Emerson dari Australia dan Marcelo Rios dari Chile.

“网球王者战”取消风波

“网球王者战”取消风波


总部位於瑞典的世界网球王俱乐部(King of Tennis)於本月11日下午5时许,通过其在大马的公关公司向媒体发出一则电邮,告知网球王俱乐部上周已通知大马主办单位,有关“乔治市前球星大战”网球赛已经取消的决定,原因则在於:本地的主办当局无法履行承诺,缴付所应呈上的款项。

槟州政府在得知消息后,频频现身灭火並划清界限以求自保,避免新政府的形象因此受损。第一时间站出来澄清的槟州首席部长林冠英解释说,州政府不曾承诺要赞助50万令吉给这项活动,而是豁免主办单位缴付200万令吉的抵押金,並只收取20万令吉的场地租金。

尽管林冠英尝试划清关係,可是,在这项全球瞩目、45个国家电视早已准备转播,包括欧美、中东及大马的大型活动突然胎死腹后,多多少少对槟州政府带来负面的影响。

接下来,掌管地方政府委员会的曹观友联同罗兴强行政议员一起主持新闻发布会,再次澄清州政府並非协办单位,同时更爆出惊人的內幕:原来,承办单位在未和市政局签署合约、没有缴付订金的情况下,就公然进入旧关仔角草场大兴土木、兴建上百万令吉的看台。更甚的是,主办单位连市政局和州政府都没有知会一声。


日期
标题
080812
槟岛市政局接获掌管旅游发展委员会罗兴强公函,要求允许在旧关仔角草场將于本月14日至16日举行“网球王者战。”有关节目是由一家瑞典公司与一家节目策划公司联办。
080815
节目策划公司负责张丽宝亲自电邮给槟岛市政局,有关该活动工作时间表,包括要求使用市政厅。
080910
槟岛市政局拒绝这项要求,因为市局计画在该草场的中央台进行提升计划,而草场將会暂时关闭,方便进行工作。
081017
槟岛市政局技术小组开会,考虑允许节目策划公司的要求,並列出条件,这包括草场抵押金及租金,善后工作。即200万银行抵押金,3天活动草场租金共3万令吉;使用草场准备工作需23天,1天5000令吉;善后工作需19天,1天5000令吉及其他费用,总共租共26万令1531令吉。

081021
槟岛市政局把有关公函寄给张丽宝,並列出所有条件,这包括不允许5吨的重型车辆进入草场,购买公众保险,也有关路等事项。
081024
张天宝再回函给,要求用停车场、市政厅,但对于给抵押金及租金一字不提。
081030
槟岛市政局还是没有接获回函关于钱的东西。由于旅游事项,行政议员叫市局免除200万令吉的抵押金,但还需租金。与此同时有关公司已在草场上开工。
081111
槟岛市政局再发信提醒节目策划公司,指该公司已破坏草场,该公司必须重新复原草场原来的面貌,否则將会受到法律的对付。

081111
总部位於瑞典的世界网球王俱乐部(King of Tennis)於下午5时许,通过其在大马的公关公司向媒体发出一则电邮,告知网球王俱乐部上周已通知大马主办单位,有关“乔治市前球星大战”网球赛已经取消的决定,原因则在於:本地的主办当局无法履行承诺,缴付所应呈上的款项。

081113
槟州首席部长林冠英∶州政府不曾承诺要赞助50万令吉给这项活动,而是豁免主办单位缴付200万令吉的抵押金,並只收取20万令吉的场地租金。

081114
槟州地方政府委员会主席曹观友∶旧关仔角草场搭棚设立“网球王者战”赛事场地的主办单位,是在没与市局签下任何租用合约,就先进动工。州政府已经尝试协助“网球王者战”的主办单位,甚至主办单位未取得市局批准前,先在草场动工搭建赛事场地,市局不只没有採取行动,行政议会也议决通过,豁免主办单位200万吉的草场抵押金。