Penang Watch

Films with negative elements have been censored -so said the minister in charge Tan Chai Ho. Unfortunately there is no mention of what are the `negative elements'! Are they violence? Can't be-there are pleny of gores and blood in the average films. Sex-there are clear suggestions of these human activities from the P Ramlee days. Or `unislamic' ? There are plenty of smoking, gambling, mini-skirts etc which are all banned in Islam, but shown in the state owned and private TVs. If these are not the elements mentioned -what are they? If we look at the films banned -including   local makes, they are mainly banned/censred on political grounds. So the perception that the censorship board is trying to impose their views on the viewers is pretty established!

Monday November 5, 2007(Star)

Using jetties to fish for tourists

By ONG YEE TING

PENANG: The seven-clan jetties here will be transformed into a tourist enclave complete with boat rowing facilities, floating seafood restaurant and activities such as fishing excursions.

Also in the pipeline at the jetties, which are more than a century old, are cruise expeditions and sampan rowing courses.

The project is the brainchild of Chinese medicine practitioner Chew Hock Eam, who said he had roped in about 50 residents from the seven jetties – Ong, Chew, Lim, Lee, Tan, Yeoh and Chap Seh Keo – to draw up a comprehensive plan to woo tourists.

“We will chip in some money for the project and hopefully the state will also give us some funding to get the tourism project going,” he said.

A novelty for many: Tourists taking a stroll down one of the jetties in Penang.
He said tourists who visited the jetties now could only walk around the neighbourhood to enjoy the sea breeze and admire the sea view.

“We want more than that for the tourists. We want them to know about the history of the place and participate in activities,” said Chew, who is also a jetty resident.

The 55-year-old said the project would be similar to waterfront tourism destination such as Mae-Nam River in Bangkok.

The Government will pay big time to the contractor whose approved project was aborted. So they should. But whose change of mind cost the government/tax payers so much? Whoever ordered the commencement of the project before the Government secure agreement from the Singaporeans should be made to face the music for commiting such a economic crime. But why is the Auditor General or the ACA service not utilised this time?  

2007/10/25(NST)

RM237m for scrapped bridge contractor

Datuk Hilmi Yahaya says government plans to build a link at the Causeway

THE contractor of the scrapped crooked bridge across the Johor Straits has to date been compensated RM237 million.

Finance Ministry parliamentary secretary Datuk Dr Hilmi Yahaya said the amount included RM55 million for work already carried out on the site by Gerbang Perdana Sdn Bhd.

The government has approved RM292.5 million in compensation.

The RM1.113 billion bridge project to replace the Causeway was aborted following conditions imposed by Singapore such as that Malaysia supply the republic with sand and allow it the use of Johor airspace.

Hilmi said discussions were ongoing with the state government to build a link connecting the causeway to the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex.

On another aborted project, the Broga incinerator, Hilmi said the compensation amount had not been determined.

Malaysian filmmaker won two top awards
by Angela Sargunan(Sun)
PETALING JAYA (Oct 16, 2007): Malaysian independent filmmaker Liew Seng Tat has won two top awards at the 12th Pusan International Film Festival (PITT) held in Korea for his film Flower in the Pocket.

The 98-minute fictional film about two boys growing up without parental attention, last Friday won the New Currents Award for Asia’s best new film by an Asian director, and the KNN Audience Award at a ceremony for the nine-day film festival.

He beat other contenders to be nominated as the Malaysian entry in the New Currents Award, including Malaysian notables Yasmin Ahmad (for Mukhsin), Amir Muhammad (Apa Khabar Orang Kampung), James Lee (Waiting for Love), Deepak Menon (Dancing Bells), Ho Yuhang (As I Lay Dying), Tan Chui Mui (Nobody's Girlfriend) and Woo Ming Jin (Blue Roof), and Kabir Bhatia’s Cinta.

Liew, 28, is the second Malaysian to win the New Currents Award. Last year, Tan won the award for her film Love Conquers All.

Liew received US$30,000 for the New Currents Award and US$20,000 for the KNN Audience Award from the KNN Cultural Foundation.

Liew said Tan had used her prize money to fund Flower in the Pocket, and he has pledged to now do the same for her next film.

Almost forgotten posterDate : Oct 21st (Sunday)

Time: 7.00pm

Venue: D' Space (60 Weld Quay, 4th floor, Wisma Oh)

Titles : Forgotten

30 min. Director : Ong BK

Winner of Justine Louis Award at 2007 Freedom Film Fest

Disclose the almost forgotten history of the port workers communities at the clan jetties, Weld Quay. The port workers were behind the development of Penang as an international sea-port -but the living heritage area where their descendants still live, is threatened by development pressures from all directions. See it while it last...

Limited seats: 60 max. Booking : 013-5900339

This will be followed by a free screening of Sicko by Michael Moore.

More info: http://penangfilmclub.blogspot.com 

Screening of the clan jetty film where it belongs

The chinese version of the clan jetty film `Forgotten' was screened last night at the Chew Jetty's temple at the end of the jetty. About 50 people -mostly jetty residents, turned up despite continual rain through the evening and a last minute change of venue. The original venue was at the community hall -but the Penghulu had a last minute change of mind -not sure if he received a secret phone call from some politicians or what. Anyway since many residents may want to watch the film there would be more screenings later. Lecturer Loh Cheng Sun and a Chew Jetty RA's Exco provided interesting and encouraging feedbacks at the end of the screenings. Some NGO members were among the attendance.

A rescreening of the film -the English version, would be held next Sunday(Oct 21st) at 7.00pm, at D' Space(60 Weld Quay, 4th floor of Wisma Oh). This is organised because many people missed the show at the packed screening at the Freedom Film Fest on Sept 16th. Limited seats (max 60) -first come first serve. Booking of seats can be made through 013-5900339(Ong)