Penang Watch

Lingam tape report FREE? Correct, correct, correct...Someone sent a link to Lingam tapes report here. Enjoy. There is something still quite fast, free and fascinating in this country, other than rumours.

Thanks to the people who scanned the whole Rm450.00/copy report and uploaded it!

NGOs want local plans which they have been asking the past 20 years
Himanshu Bhatt

GEORGE TOWN (May 21, 2008): The spate of mega-projects in Penang is driving citizens groups here to ask the new state government for local plans that have been long awaited for more than 20 years.

Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in Penang are saying that it is not enough for the state to have just a Structure Plan; the government must go beyond enforcing the Structure Plan, and draft local plans that are overdue.

To date, Penang has only one local plan - for Penang Hill - gazetted in 1997 following the popular people’s movement to protect the hill from development.

If there were a massive hop of ruling MPs to the other sides-whether Opposition or Independant, this could trigger a general elections where there would be many uncertainties facing all sides. But at least the new majoritiy can claim to have acquired the people's mandate. Who khows Badawi may then play the Habibe role as in Indonesia's post-reformasi transition? Welcome to the `new dawn'of many exciting possibilities! At least Indonesia has fairer elections, devolution of power to local levels, freer media and overall greater democracy!

It is indeed a good idea to set up committees to oversee religious conflicts so that religious matters will not take over political attention which deal with public concerns. Similarly a inter-ethnic committee should be set up to deal with interetnic conflicts -they should not overtake political/public welfare concerns. Out these conflicts away and the new government will be able to deal with public non-religius, non-sctarian issues in more focused ways.