Friday 29 November 2013

Tranquil suburb under threat

Tranquil suburb under threat

THE sunsets on Gurney Drive -- the island's famed seafronting promenade -- are still spectacular.

The pink and orange hues at dusk do not faze daily strollers or joggers who consider themselves blessed to live on an island which offers many Kodak moments.

The question of how much longer these stunning sunsets can be enjoyed by residents of Pulau Tikus (where Gurney Drive is located) and visitors, remains to be answered, as development threatens to claim the view of Penang's skyline soon.

A massive reclamation project on the outskirts of Pulau Tikus, has seen its developer being made to surrender part of the land it reclaimed to the state authorities. The sad part is that the reclaimed plot of choice happens to include the almost 2km stretch of Gurney Drive.

Apart from daily exercise buffs being deprived of their picture-postcard view of Penang's skyline, owners of posh, sea-fronting condominiums on the strip are also likely to end up with obscured views of blue skies, the Penang channel and Kedah Peak which they have been waking up to.

To say that the peaceful existence enjoyed previously by predominantly middle-class dwellers in the tree-lined Pulau Tikus neighbourhood has been altered, would be an understatement.

Rampant and indiscriminate development, teamed with almost daily traffic snarls have ended in an upper-class neighbourhood where peaceful drives, leisurely strolls to the market or hawker stalls are a thing of the past.

The presence of two shopping malls located almost side by side, the conversion of many residential properties into commercial ones and a handful of hotels and hospitals are now choking the roads and turning peaceful side-streets and avenues into instant racing tracks for motorists.

Property prices continue to sky-rocket and affordable housing in the area is fast becoming a figment of one's imagination.

In a bid to bring some sense of order to the traffic congestion, traffic flow has been diverted into one-way routes along certain major roads in Pulau Tikus.

This has resulted in side roads suddenly becoming thoroughfares.

Besides having to contend with increased noise levels and strangers parking almost in front of one's home on a daily basis, pedestrians have found an acute shortage of pedestrian crossings in the area a source of concern.

Picture this: a wheelchair-bound medical tourist needing to navigate her way across a four-lane road to reach a shopping mall.

Even the elderly are sometimes seen clutching to the hands of strangers to cross the road to safety, due to the absence of speed bumps and pedestrian crossings.

Some small business operators in the area have claimed that trade has been affected by the rerouting of certain roads and also the mushrooming of the malls and decreasing number of parking spaces.

An online survey seeking views on how to improve the quality of life in Pulau Tikus has been launched and appears to be a feeble attempt in trying to obtain public opinions well after major decisions have already been made and taken for the neighbourhood.

The defensive stance adopted by some quarters in relation to the state of affairs in Pulau Tikus is made up mainly of finger-pointing or staying mum by those who are in a position to make a difference.

Future generations growing up in Pulau Tikus do not deserve a legacy of not being able to wake up or end the day with great sunrises and sunsets, shady trees or peaceful strolls.

~News courtesy of New Straits Times~

Upgraded aquarium set to shine

Upgraded aquarium set to shine

The Fisheries Research Institute aquarium in Batu Maung, here, will soon reveal the results of its facelift.

The popular tourist destination that drew some 120,000 visitors a year was closed in September last year for renovation and upgrading works costing RM1.75 million.

The works are scheduled to be completed by the end of the month and the aquarium expected to be operational by early or mid-December.

Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry secretary-general Datuk Mohd Hashim

Abdullah had announced that the aquarium would be upgraded after a visit last March.

The works were supposed to have been completed before the start of school holidays this month but were delayed due to the contamination of sea water in the area.

A spokesman for the institute said the aquarium was expected to be a major tourist attraction, especially during Visit Malaysia Year 2014.

He said the most prominent change to the aquarium was the new outdoor turtle and fish ponds.

The aquarium would house more than 100 species of marine life, including various sea horse species, arowana, prawns of all sizes and other shellfish.

Some endangered marine life will also be featured in the complex, which will house more than 100 fish tanks of various sizes.

The spokesman said the complex's main tank, a huge, upgraded aquarium, would house different shark species, stingrays and other exotic fish.

The complex will also have an auditorium and mini-halls for talks, seminars and exhibitions.

Another big draw is a skeleton of a whale, which will be displayed at the entrance.

The aquarium is an effort by the institute to increase the number of tourism attractions in Penang. It was built in 1995.

It was then a basic complex to showcase the rich biodiversity of the marine life of Malaysian waters.

It also served as the institute's conservation and research centre for endangered marine life.
v Over the years, the aquarium gained popularity and became a must-visit attraction for many, including local and foreign visitors.

The good news for all prospective visitors is, the institute will retain the old admission fees, which are RM5 per adult, RM2 per child aged 7 to 12, and RM1.50 per student. Admission is free for senior citizens and disabled persons.



Renovation work is currently ongoing at the Fisheries Research Institute aquarium in Batu Maung.

~News courtesy of New Straits Times~

Parking meters to go out with 2013

Parking meters to go out with 2013

From Jan 1 next year, there will be no more parking meters on Penang island.

Instead, motorists will have to use coupons, monthly prepaid passes, and smart parking gadgets.

Penang Island Municipal Council senior assistant officer (parking) Aziah Mohd Ali said the coupons and monthly prepaid passes would be enforced from the first day of the new year.

She said the smart parking gadget would be sold from March and implemented in May.

She said with the new system, the public would be spared the hassle of looking for small change as well as the frustration of broken parking meters.

Aziah said the new parking system would also reduce the number of enforcement officers needed to check on vehicles parked within the council's jurisdiction.

"Enforcement officers will be equipped with smart devices to scan and detect discrepancies when on their rounds.

"Summonses will be issued on the spot to motorists who fail to pay their parking fees," she said during a tour to explain the new parking system to the media at the Tanjung Bungah market, here, recently.

Member of parliament for Bukit Bendera Zairil Mohd Khir Johari was also present.

Aziah said under the new parking system, the parking rates under the council's jurisdiction on the island would also be standardised at 40 sen for every half hour.

Perkhidmatan Alam Indah Sdn Bhd managing director Abdul Malik Abdul Kader, whose company would manage the new parking system, said agents had been elected to sell the coupons, monthly pass stickers and smart gadget.

"Motorists can purchase them from authorised mini-markets, petrol stations, at the council offices, 24-hour restaurants and the Alam Indah office at 20A, Lorong Seratus Tahun.

"The hand-held smart gadget comes with RM50 preloaded credit. New purchasers need only pay that amount to get the gadget free.

"A replacement gadget will cost RM140," he said.

Meanwhile, there is mixed reaction to the new parking system.

Loh Keng Kwee, wanted to know more about the new parking system, although he was in favour of it.

"This will eliminate the hassle of coins and damaged parking meters but I also hope the council will create more parking bays for motorists on the island," he said.

Retiree S. Subramaniam said the new parking system could be problematic for the elderly.

"It will be quite a hassle for the elderly to go around looking for the agents.

Learning to use the new system itself would be a challenge," he said.

For information on the new parking system, call the council at 04-261 0181 or the hotline at 04-263 7637/263 7000.

To reach Alam Indah, call 04-228 1192 or the hotline 04-261 3350, email alamindah@hotmail.com or visit www.alamindah.my.

~News courtesy of New Straits Times~

Saturday 2 November 2013