Penang Watch

Many questions marks over the island's future-good ideas in short supply?
Many people have noticed the paucity of good ideas for developing Penang-so it is not new to observe that Penang lacks good ideas for future development. It is not just lack of ideas per se-because there are plenty of 2nd rate, repeat ideas which fail, and tried and tested failed ideas. So what is a good idea for developing Penang? One `idea' is to offer the entire 5th floor of KOMTAR(Currently consisting of an abandoned food court and plenty of open air spaces) to entrepreneural youth to organise events there for free ie the venue, approvals and perhaps some equipments/facilities are offered free.

Penang Watch was told about this `idea' recently and according to reliable sources, the `idea' will need to take off very soon-even before the National Day on Aug 31st. The Initiative will be funded from 3 sources ie the Youth n Culture Dept, the Finance dept and also the Tourism Dept. ANy ideas on how to take advantage of this offer?

Monday July 14, 2008(Star)
Penang’s potential
By TUNKU SHAHARIAH and pix by H.N.LEONG

A MARKETING guru, with over 20 years of experience in creative and lateral marketing strategies, is offering to help the state government brand Penang as the world’s first and only ‘idea island’.

Ang Teong Beng, 50, who graduated with a marketing degree from Southern Illinois University in the United States, said Penang could be labelled, positioned and promoted as an idea island.

“With concerted effort and organised activities, Penang can produce the creative ambience for idea generation that is much needed in today’s extremely competitive global economy. We all need new creative ideas to add value to our products and services in every industry and field.

“Penang has its assets – blue sea, blue sky, tourist attractions and organised activities to attract tourists, businessmen, industrialists, artists, writers and visitors from all over the world to come here in search of creative, winning ideas,” he said in a recent interview.
His vision: According to Ang, Penang has the unique combination of interesting activities and slower pace lifestyle that is conducive for creative ideas.

Branding Penang as an ‘idea island’ would complement its implementation of MICE (meeting, incentives, conference and exhibition).

He said the state government could hold a launching event to lure the world media like CNN, BBC, CNBC and Bloomberg.

“News coverage on these international channels will catapult Pe-nang to the world market.

“The proposal is feasible as Pe-nang is neither too big nor too small, nor is it as stressful as a metropolitan city. It has the unique combination of interesting activities and slower pace lifestyle, which is very conducive for creative ideas.

“As Switzerland is famed for its chocolates, Venice for its romantic city, Italy for its leather goods, Pe-nang too, can be famous for its ge-neration of ideas,” he added.

After his graduation in the 80s, Ang worked in the San Jose Silicon Valley in the AT&T Company. He was marketing manager in charge of the Asian market in the United States, overseeing long distance services.

Ang has since set up his own company which offers in-house and public training and he speaks on marketing strategies at seminars.

Ang can be contacted at 016-5126370 or email him at angteongbeng@yahoo.com.