Blight on the tourist belt

Blight on the tourist belt

IF the Penang Island Municipal Council ever decides to seriously throw the book at jaywalkers in Batu Ferringhi, the fines would be a substantial source of revenue for the local authority's coffers.

Anyone familiar with the tourist belt can attest to the fact that jaywalkers rule in Batu Feringghi.

Day or night, they pose a danger to other road users, instead of the other way around and is most rampant on weekends and long holidays.

And yes, they include foreigners -- tourists who flock to the beach hotels to enjoy Penang's famous sun kissed beaches.

As a resident of Batu Ferringhi, I face the daunting task of avoiding the law-breakers when I am driving on the road.

It is prevalent along the Jalan Batu Ferringhi stretch, especially near the popular tourist night market. Personally, I have had a few near misses.

More often than not, even when the motorists honk their horns, the jaywalkers do not move to the side to let them pass. The frustrated motorists are forced to gingerly navigate around the jaywalkers to avoid hitting them.

The pedestrians lack of respect for the law is understandable because they are engrossed with the myriad of attractions around them. Topping the list of attractions are the rows and rows of stalls selling souvenirs including imitation goods. Another distraction are pirated DVDs.

The pedestrians appear to be in hurry to get the best deals from the vendors.

To be fair, they are not entirely to be blamed as the souvenir stalls have taken over the pedestrian walkway.

As if that is not bad enough, the absence of zebra crossings forces the pedestrians to risk their lives whenever they cross the road. There is also no overhead pedestrian bridges in the area.

The presence of policemen does not help either.

Fortunately, we have been spared of any tragedy involving jaywalking so far.

However, the authorities should not wait for disaster to strike before taking the matter seriously.

We also don't want to harass or inconvenient the pedestrians, especially tourists, by simply booking them for jaywalking.

That will be bad for the tourism sector. The onus is on the authorities.

They should be proactive and clear the walkway of unlicensed stalls, install a zebra crossing or even put someone to man the busy spots to help pedestrians cross the road safely.

Until these measures are taken, or tourists stop flocking Batu Ferringhi, motorists like myself pray hard that nothing untoward happens to us and the jaywalkers.

~News courtesy of New Straits Times~

Family fun park on Batu Ferringhi shores

Family fun park on Batu Ferringhi shores

Wet World Wild Adventure Park features rock climbing, running track, trampoline, swings, slides, ponds, walls and a human catapult

A WIPEOUT-LIKE open sea water adventure park is set to open later this month at the shores of Batu Ferringhi here.

The first of its kind in Asia, the Wet World Wild Adventure Park (WWW) is a family fun interactive park on water, consisting of multitudes of obstacles that include rock climbing, running track, trampoline, swings, slides, ponds, walls and a human catapult.

Theme Park Concepts & Services Bhd chief executive officer Datuk Richard Koh said the structures were engineered in Germany and are TUV Safety Standards certified.

"WWW is making safety a priority where life jackets are compulsory. Lifeguards will also be stationed around the play area.

"Building the WWW is an exciting venture for TCPS and we hope to expand further as there is a need for fun and safe open sea water activities," Koh said in a press conference here yesterday, which was also attended by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

With an initial investment of RM3 million for the first phase of the park, which measures 0.4ha, Koh said they hope to complete all five phases within a year.

"As for how big the entire park would be, this depends on how popular all the phases are.

"We will see the response to the product," he said.

When asked on the threat of jellyfish in the play area, located between Hard Rock Hotel and Parkroyal Hotel, Koh said they would be placing two or three layers of safety nets in the area.

A WWW challenge in the mould of Wipeout will also be held on a yearly basis throughout Asia, with awards being given, Koh added.

The adventure park will be operating during non-monsoon seasons with a maximum of 80 people for a session.

Entry tickets are priced at RM30 per two-hour sessions. The park will be opened from 8am to 6pm.



An example of how the Wet World Wild Adventure Park in Batu Ferringhi, Penang, will look like when it opens to the public in September.

~News courtesy of New Straits Times~

Chowrasta Market: Traders await facelift

Traders await facelift

IF there is one place where rats are aplenty in Penang, it would be at the Chowrasta market in Jalan Penang.

The market, built some 120 years ago, has the dubious distinction of housing some of the biggest rats in the country.

Abu Bakar Pakir, a butcher here, said the rodents, some as big as cats, would roam the market at night.

"The rat menace is so terrible that we have to store our goods properly.

"Otherwise, our regular customers would have fallen sick," said Abu Bakar of the market, which is now undergoing a RM12.1 million facelift.

He said other than rats, which nest under the market, shortage of parking was another major concern for both traders and patrons.

"There is limited parking for vehicles in the area.

"To worsen the situation, illegal traders sell their wares at the parking lots outside the market."

Further compounding the problem, said housewife Noraini Hussain, is the scramble for parking with patrons of the various eateries near the market.

She said market-goers have to "fight" with the restaurant patrons for parking space.

"We have no choice but to get to the market early to get a parking space," said the 35-year-old.

Despite the rat situation and parking shortage, she said many people still do their shopping at the market.

"It is close to our homes and the prices for most goods are quite reasonable."

Regular patron Tan Ley Chin, 52, described the market as "quite dirty".

He said there used to be about 10 and 12 people assigned to sweep and clean the market.

"These days, one could only find two or three people working.

"I am glad the market is undergoing a major facelift. I hope the rat problem can be eradicated and the market will be cleaner."

The market renovation works, which started early this year and expected to be completed in March 2015, would provide more room for traders.

At present, some 90 traders are selling their wares at the market. When completed, the market could take in about 170 traders.

The number of traders outside the market would be reduced by almost half, from 138 to 66.

Once ready, some 120 parking lots would also be available.



The market renovation works, which is expected to be completed in March 2015, would provide more room for traders.

~News courtesy of New Straits Times~