~Photo courtesy of New Straits Times~
Thursday, 31 October 2013
Friday, 25 October 2013
All quiet on the beachfront
All quiet on the beachfront
A strange tranquility pervades the Batu Ferringhi beachfront following the suspension of water sport activities by the local council.
Conspicuously missing from the popular venue was the usual flurry of activities involving the jet-skis, motorboats and parasailing.
A Streets check at the beachfront showed that the popular tourist belt was very much deserted yesterday.
No motorised sports have taken place since the Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP) temporarily suspended water sport activities following the fatal parasailing accident on Wednesday which killed an Arab woman.
MPPP president Datuk Patahiyah Ismail said 23 water sports operators were affected after the suspension order took effect last Thursday.
A licensed water sport operator Lim Khek Cheik, 60, said he has been observing the temporary ban which has affected his business badly.
"I have been earning between RM800 and RM2,000 a day but the suspension has deprived me of my livelihood since Wednesday.
"We are having a meeting today with the Penang Water Sport Club to negotiate with MPPP to lift the ban," he said yesterday when contacted.
Lim said he had to earn at least RM1,000 a day to break even.
"We are unable to make ends meet if the ban continues indefinitely," he added.
Meanwhile, beachgoers still throng the seashore but their numbers have since dwindled.
Paul Pearce, 42, from Australia said he enjoyed parasailing very much and was disappointed that it had been suspended.
"Parasailing and related-water sports are a hit among the foreigners, including my family and friends.
"The incident was unfortunate but I hope the local authority would lift the ban soon," said Pearce.
Local tourist Mohamad Faisal Nordin, 32, however, said he was not too concerned about the suspension on water sports.
"We do not indulge in water sports, unlike overseas visitors.
"Our aim is to laze around and enjoy the scenery, instead of taking part in water sports," he said.
The Batu Ferringhi beachfront is quiet after the temporarily ban on water sport activities. Pic by Michael Ong
~News courtesy of New Straits Times~
A strange tranquility pervades the Batu Ferringhi beachfront following the suspension of water sport activities by the local council.
Conspicuously missing from the popular venue was the usual flurry of activities involving the jet-skis, motorboats and parasailing.
A Streets check at the beachfront showed that the popular tourist belt was very much deserted yesterday.
No motorised sports have taken place since the Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP) temporarily suspended water sport activities following the fatal parasailing accident on Wednesday which killed an Arab woman.
MPPP president Datuk Patahiyah Ismail said 23 water sports operators were affected after the suspension order took effect last Thursday.
A licensed water sport operator Lim Khek Cheik, 60, said he has been observing the temporary ban which has affected his business badly.
"I have been earning between RM800 and RM2,000 a day but the suspension has deprived me of my livelihood since Wednesday.
"We are having a meeting today with the Penang Water Sport Club to negotiate with MPPP to lift the ban," he said yesterday when contacted.
Lim said he had to earn at least RM1,000 a day to break even.
"We are unable to make ends meet if the ban continues indefinitely," he added.
Meanwhile, beachgoers still throng the seashore but their numbers have since dwindled.
Paul Pearce, 42, from Australia said he enjoyed parasailing very much and was disappointed that it had been suspended.
"Parasailing and related-water sports are a hit among the foreigners, including my family and friends.
"The incident was unfortunate but I hope the local authority would lift the ban soon," said Pearce.
Local tourist Mohamad Faisal Nordin, 32, however, said he was not too concerned about the suspension on water sports.
"We do not indulge in water sports, unlike overseas visitors.
"Our aim is to laze around and enjoy the scenery, instead of taking part in water sports," he said.
The Batu Ferringhi beachfront is quiet after the temporarily ban on water sport activities. Pic by Michael Ong
~News courtesy of New Straits Times~
Coupon parking system from next month
Coupon parking system from next month
Penangites on the island are bracing for a new coupon cum smart tag parking system starting on Nov 5.
The Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP) launched the system recently after a delay of more than a year after a group of disgruntled parking attendants protested against the move.
The coupon system will do away with the parking attendants and parking meters which have been widely damaged by vandalism.
The move is expected to reduce the staff deployed for daily operations.
State Local Government, Traffic Flow Management and Flood Mitigation Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said the new system would solve the problem of widespread vandalism of parking meters.
"The new system will get rid of frequent meter malfunction.
"Motorists can opt to buy the coupons or reloadable prepaid smart tags," Chow said.
Road user Rohayati Zainal, 49, said she was happy that the new parking system was implemented to replace the old metered parking system.
"I am all for the new system but I am concerned about the parking attendants' livelihood," she said.
The parking system with scanning features would start in May next year when the enforcement officers are able to detect the coupons and prepaid smart tags displayed using a smart detector.
The summonses will be printed out on-the-spot before the officers place them on the vehicle's windscreen.
The coupons will be available in MPPP offices and selected 24-hour convenient stores.
MPPP enforcement officers showing the parking coupons which will be introduced next month for motorists. Pic by Anis Nabilla Md Wazilah
~News courtesy of New Straits Times~
Penangites on the island are bracing for a new coupon cum smart tag parking system starting on Nov 5.
The Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP) launched the system recently after a delay of more than a year after a group of disgruntled parking attendants protested against the move.
The coupon system will do away with the parking attendants and parking meters which have been widely damaged by vandalism.
The move is expected to reduce the staff deployed for daily operations.
State Local Government, Traffic Flow Management and Flood Mitigation Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said the new system would solve the problem of widespread vandalism of parking meters.
"The new system will get rid of frequent meter malfunction.
"Motorists can opt to buy the coupons or reloadable prepaid smart tags," Chow said.
Road user Rohayati Zainal, 49, said she was happy that the new parking system was implemented to replace the old metered parking system.
"I am all for the new system but I am concerned about the parking attendants' livelihood," she said.
The parking system with scanning features would start in May next year when the enforcement officers are able to detect the coupons and prepaid smart tags displayed using a smart detector.
The summonses will be printed out on-the-spot before the officers place them on the vehicle's windscreen.
The coupons will be available in MPPP offices and selected 24-hour convenient stores.
MPPP enforcement officers showing the parking coupons which will be introduced next month for motorists. Pic by Anis Nabilla Md Wazilah
~News courtesy of New Straits Times~
Monday, 7 October 2013
Hakka village to be built in Balik Pulau
Hakka village to be built in Balik Pulau
BALIK Pulau, the southwestern tip of the island, will soon have its very own Hakka Village.
Expected to cost some RM20 million, the new tourist attraction will sit on a 8.1ha piece of land at Kuala Sungai Pinang.
According to the deputy president of the Federation of Hakka Association of Malaysia Datuk Dr Cheah See Kian, they hope to break ground by year-end.
"This month, we will submit the layout and later, the building plan, to the Penang Island Municipal Council for approval.
"We hope that within three years, the entire village can be completed," he said on the sidelines of the Penang Hakka Association's 74th anniversary dinner held at the Han Chiang High School hall here recently.
While construction has not taken place, he announced that there will be a modern hotel-standard lodge designed according to the traditional earth building in China.
"The round building will house the Balik Pulau Cultural Museum and art gallery. The exhibits will be presented in three languages," he said.
Cheah, who is also the village committee's chief planner, said that they were collaborating with one of the Taiwanese universities' College of Hakka Studies to establish a Hakka cultural base as a resource centre for the academicians.
Other notable features of the village include a hawker centre selling local delicacies and souvenirs, Cheah said.
"We have also preserved a durian orchard with nutmeg, clove and rubber plantations to showcase the natural heritage of Balik Pulau.
"We hope the tourists can enjoy the true value of Balik Pulau's ecology and culture," he said, stating the potential for cultural and heritage tourism in Balik Pulau, aside from eco-tourism.
Cheah said he had invited the Taiwanese Hakka scholars to conduct fieldwork and research in Balik Pulau to identify the composition and ratio of the Hakka population there.
"In the end, we concluded that Balik Pulau is indeed a settlement place of the early Hakka clan," he said.
"Hakka dialect was widely used to such an extent that the Catholic church in Balik Pulau used it to recite Bible verses in its early days.
"This (village) will be a significant landmark for the Hakka on the world map.
"The Hakka village will be an ideal leisure and cultural spot, and truly a pride of the Hakka people."
An artist’s impression of the RM20 million Balik Pulau Hakka Village
~News courtesy of New Straits Times~
BALIK Pulau, the southwestern tip of the island, will soon have its very own Hakka Village.
Expected to cost some RM20 million, the new tourist attraction will sit on a 8.1ha piece of land at Kuala Sungai Pinang.
According to the deputy president of the Federation of Hakka Association of Malaysia Datuk Dr Cheah See Kian, they hope to break ground by year-end.
"This month, we will submit the layout and later, the building plan, to the Penang Island Municipal Council for approval.
"We hope that within three years, the entire village can be completed," he said on the sidelines of the Penang Hakka Association's 74th anniversary dinner held at the Han Chiang High School hall here recently.
While construction has not taken place, he announced that there will be a modern hotel-standard lodge designed according to the traditional earth building in China.
"The round building will house the Balik Pulau Cultural Museum and art gallery. The exhibits will be presented in three languages," he said.
Cheah, who is also the village committee's chief planner, said that they were collaborating with one of the Taiwanese universities' College of Hakka Studies to establish a Hakka cultural base as a resource centre for the academicians.
Other notable features of the village include a hawker centre selling local delicacies and souvenirs, Cheah said.
"We have also preserved a durian orchard with nutmeg, clove and rubber plantations to showcase the natural heritage of Balik Pulau.
"We hope the tourists can enjoy the true value of Balik Pulau's ecology and culture," he said, stating the potential for cultural and heritage tourism in Balik Pulau, aside from eco-tourism.
Cheah said he had invited the Taiwanese Hakka scholars to conduct fieldwork and research in Balik Pulau to identify the composition and ratio of the Hakka population there.
"In the end, we concluded that Balik Pulau is indeed a settlement place of the early Hakka clan," he said.
"Hakka dialect was widely used to such an extent that the Catholic church in Balik Pulau used it to recite Bible verses in its early days.
"This (village) will be a significant landmark for the Hakka on the world map.
"The Hakka village will be an ideal leisure and cultural spot, and truly a pride of the Hakka people."
An artist’s impression of the RM20 million Balik Pulau Hakka Village
~News courtesy of New Straits Times~
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