Have bicycle will travel on Penang island

Have bicycle will travel on Penang island

CYCLING is fast becoming a favourite mode of touring the state capital of Penang.

Tourists, domestic and foreign, as well as local residents have taken up cycling to visit the many tourist attractions around town.

The craze for cycling has also spurred the setting up of many bicycle-for-rent outlets.

Rental rates are also affordable. Depending on the type of bicycle, it is usually between RM10 and RM30 per three or four hours.

The bicycles come in various types like the tandem bike, classic bicycle, city bicycle and mountain bike.

The tandems come with two seats, while the classic types are those considered as vintage two-wheelers and the city types are the regular bicycles.

One enterprising bicycle-for-rent operator is H.A. Malik Al-Habsy.

The 19-year-old started with a modest fleet of five city bicycles three years ago.

Today, Malik has 29 bicycles of various types to suit the needs of his clients.

“I got the idea of starting the bicycle rental service after I found many tourists flocking to the numerous street art spots in town.

“Then, most visitors would walk to these places.

“With a little bit of publicity, many tourists came to rent my bicycles to get around town,” he said.

Malik said tandem bikes were popular, especially among couples.

He has big plans to expand his fleet of bicycles to cater to rising demand from tourists.

Another bicycle-for-rent operator, Khairudin Mustafa, 65, said mountain bikes were popular with clients at his outlet in Lebuh Acheh.

He said these bicycles used for sport are considered more powerful than the regular bicycles, and were much sought-after by foreign tourists.

“Besides visiting the various tourist spots here, these tourists would often cycle all the way to Batu Ferringhi.

“Sometimes, they would leave the bicycles there. That’s why I charge them slightly higher,” he said.

Khairudin, a pensioner, said business had been good, especially on weekends when there were fewer motorists on the road.

Tourist Ada Ingenerf said she preferred cycling to getting around on foot while touring the many tourist spots here.

“I use this mode of transport back home and I am glad that there are many bicycle-rental shops here.

“Cycling is a convenient way to get around. It’s cheap and healthy too,” said the 25-year-old German lass.

Another bicycle enthusiast, Nor Zulaikha Abu Hassan, 19, said she and her friends from Perak enjoyed their urban tour on the non-motorised two-wheelers.

“It is enjoyable and fun getting around town on bicycles.

“However, I wish there were more bicycle lanes for cyclists here,” she said.


Teenagers enjoying the sights and sounds on Lebuh Armenian in the heritage enclave of George Town.

~News courtesy of New Straits Times~

No smoking at heritage site

No smoking at heritage site

FROM Aug 1, the George Town Unesco World Heritage Site here will be gazetted as a smoke-free zone.

State Environment, Health, Welfare and Caring Society Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh said a working paper on the matter would be sent to the Health Ministry before the end of the month.

Phee, who is also Cigarette Smoke-Free Penang (Penbar) chairman, said if all goes according to plan, the no-smoking zone for George Town Unesco World Heritage Site would be enforced from Aug 1.

He said after it is gazetted, the various authorities, including the State Health Department, would conduct campaigns to create greater awareness on the smoke-free zone for the heritage site.

“Penbar has also formed a task force comprising the various authorities, including the police, state Islamic Religious Department and Health Department, to carry out enforcement work,” he said yesterday.

Phee also said Penbar would introduce new signages for smoke-free zones soon.

The signages would include the amount for compounds, fines and jail term besides the no-smoking reminder.

Offenders face the maximum compound of RM5,000. They could also be liable to a maximum fine of RM10,000 or two years’ jail.

The latest setting up of a smoke-free zone in the heritage site will bring to seven the total number of no-smoking areas in the state capital.

The other areas are Botanical Garden, Youth Park, Air Itam dam, Mengkuang and Teluk Bahang dams and Ampang Jajar Municipal Park.

They were gazetted as smoke-free zones on Oct 2, 2012.

~News courtesy of New Straits Times~

Nasi Kandar Beratur is worth the queue

Nasi Kandar Beratur is worth the queue

Is Nasi Kandar Beratur, also known as Restoran Nasi Kandar Liyaqat Ali, worth the queue?

The long line of people in front of the stall would suggest that the answer is "yes".

Although wedged in the alley between Masjid Kapitan Keling and a shop, the stall is not hard to find.

A queue of customers waiting for it to open at 10pm is a common sight.

Nasi Kandar Beratur, which moved into its present premises in 1943, has long been renowned for halal Indian-Muslim food.

Its recipes have remained unchanged through the years.

For supper, the stall offers a mouth-watering array of dishes such as fish head, salted egg, deep-fried chicken, squid, fish roe, mutton, eggs, large prawns, fish, eggs in various styles and vegetables.

One popular item is the spicy beef curry, where the meat is slow cooked in a black sauce. Milder dishes are the fish curry, mutton curry and prawn curry. The mutton curry is rich and creamy while the prawn curry is light and fragrant.

The stall's version of chicken curry has the chicken marinated in spices and lightly fried before it is cooked in curry. Many like its spicy kick and aroma.

For vegetables, go for the blanched ladies' fingers, cabbage stir-fried in turmeric and brinjal cooked with chilli.

A plate of nasi kandar is traditionally served drenched with a combination of kuah, or gravy. All the flavours and aromas blended together certainly work to whet the appetite.

Be sure to get a glass of air sirap ros, or rose syrup. The ice-cold rose-flavoured drink is a good complement to the nasi kandar.

The food is enjoyed by locals and visitors to the state, all of whom are willing to stand in a long queue for the food.

The stall is open from 10pm to 9am daily.

~News courtesy of New Straits Times~

Visitors undaunted by RM3 levy

Visitors undaunted by RM3 levy

A NEWLY-introduced levy on hotel rooms in Penang aimed at improving the state's collection from the tourism industry has drawn a mixed reaction from domestic and foreign tourists.

Many hotel guests checking out were unaware of the levy, which become effective on June 1, on their hotel stays.

"There is a levy? I just booked four rooms from a booking website. The front office staff at the hotel reception did not tell me anything about it," said a hotel guest who wanted to be known only as Chong.

Chong, who arrived at the hotel in Gurney Drive from Puchong, Selangor, together with 12 family members, said she did not notice the sign put up by the hotel.

"I think RM3 levy a night is okay. However, since I booked four rooms, it is going to be a bit expensive for three nights," she said.

Mariam Abdullah Abbas, 28, said she was aware of the levy, but felt that the middle-income groups would most feel the pinch.

"It is costly to go for a vacation overseas but now travelling locally is expensive too," said the legal adviser from Ipoh.

For David Mclaurin, 36, the amount was small and he did not mind paying it for a good cause.

"RM3 is not much, it is a small price for us to pay," said the Australian. The levy is imposed on some 200 rated hotels in the state by the Penang Island Municipal Council, as announced in the state budget earlier this year.

One to three-star hotel rooms, including budget hotels, guest houses, hostels and dormitories are charged RM2 per room per night, while those rated four star and above are charged RM3 per room per night.

The council sent out circulars earlier this year warning that hotels that did not obey the rule risk having their operating licences revoked under Section 107(1) of the Local Government Act 1976.

Under the act, a local authority in the granting of any licence may set a fee for any trade, occupation or premises in respect of which the licence is granted.

Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) Penang chapter chairman Dr Mary Ann Harris said the levy collection had gone on smoothly for its member hotels.

"There has been no issue so far. Most websites, especially those under MAH and individual hotels, have put up a notice to inform about the levy and included it in the price list," she said.

Shangri-La's Rasa Sayang Resort and Spa communication director Suleiman Tunku Abdul Rahman said there had been no complaints on the levy.

"It is business as usual and there have been no complaints from guests," he said.

With Visit Malaysia Year 2014 in full swing, travel agents, tourist guides and hotels had expressed concern that the levy might discourage visitors.

The levy, originally suggested to be from RM1 to RM5, was supposed to have started in March, as announced in the State Legislative Assembly in November last year. It was postponed to this month due to objections from hotels. Currently, Penang has 72 star-rated hotels and 100 non-rated lodgings with about 14,700 rooms.


Star-rated hotels in Penang have put up notices to inform guests of the levy imposed.

~News courtesy of New Straits Times~

No Komtar stop for express buses

No Komtar stop for express buses 

Express buses picking up and dropping off passengers at Komtar here will no longer be allowed to do so as such permits will be revoked tomorrow.

Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP) councillor Muhammad Sabri Md Osman said the council had asked the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) to cancel all permits which allow express buses to use Komtar as a pick-up and drop-off destination.

He said this move was in line with the council's directive under Section 72(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 where all express buses will be allowed to pick up and drop off passengers only at the Sungai Nibong Bus Terminal.

"The directive was issued in 2005, but of late, we have noticed a rise in the number of express buses picking up and dropping off passengers at Komtar.

"The council is concerned about this as it will not only worsen the traffic congestion but also pose a risk to the passengers alighting and boarding buses on the busy road.

"To put a stop to it, we have asked SPAD to cancel all permits to Komtar and also fine violators who continue using Komtar as their pick-up point," he said after the council meeting at the Town Hall building here recently.

Sabri said starting today, SPAD would take action against any express bus operator using the Komtar area as its pick-up and drop-off point.

"SPAD will take the offenders to court and they will be charged accordingly," he said.

Sabri also advised the public to buy bus tickets where the boarding point is at Sungai Nibong Express Bus Terminal and not at Komtar.

Checks by Streets showed that a few buses, mostly outstation ones, were parked at Komtar waiting for their passengers to board or alight.

Express bus operators were also seen selling bus tickets with pick-ups at Komtar.

One bus operator in her 30s, who declined to be identified, said many foreigners prefer Komtar as a pick-up and drop-off point as it is more convenient compared to the Sungai Nibong Bus Terminal which is far away from the town centre.


Express buses are prohibited from dropping off and picking up passengers at Komtar.

~News courtesy of New Straits Times~

Viewing old Penang through new eyes

Viewing old Penang through new eyes

LOUIS Gan Yee Loong, 27, has made a name for himself in art circles with his mural "Brother and Sister on a Swing" in Gat Lebuh Chulia.

Gan, 27, has now gone one step further with his exhibition entitled "Nostalgia Penang", currently ongoing at Galeri Seni Mutiara until May 25.

At this early stage, he has already snagged his first solo, which is testament to his extraordinary talent.

Born with hearing and speech disabilities, Gan is a freelance artist.

He has a preference for watercolours, with acrylics coming in a a close second, and he has also dabbled in oils.

For his solo, Gan has selected 42 pieces in watercolours, all painted this year. The paintings, of predominantly heritage buildings, show a maturity beyond his years.

"I have seen old buildings in other places in the world but the heritage buildings in Penang are unique and I find a need to paint them in my own style.

"The age of the artist does not matter; what is more important is the interest and passion and, of course, the direction of the artist concerned," he said.

With no formal education in art as his parents could not find an art teacher able to work around the communication difficulties, Gan learnt his rudiments on the Internet, particularly through YouTube, and found his forte through research and study.

"I believe in the axiom 'practice makes perfect' and learning through the Internet has helped a lot to develop my own style and choice of medium.

"I drew cartoon characters when I was young. Winning a prize in the Japanese-Malaysian Junior Art Competition at 16 spurred me to further develop my skills," said the artist through his older brother Yee Haw at the launch of the exhibition.

A closer look at his paintings reveals the presence of cars in all his cityscapes, for which he has this explanation: "The cars were there when I painted the scenes on the spot. I painted the scenes as they were. They were not implanted."

Gallery owner Koay Soo Kau said he met Gan two years ago and was impressed by the young artist's skills, which led to this exhibition.

"A young, good and accomplished artist who uses the wet-on-wet technique, which shows his ability to give a transparent character to the watercolour.

"Gan loves to show light and shadow, a characteristic typical of of most watercolourists.

"He also has a good eye for finding the best angles to show the buildings, and the presence of motorcars, reflects that George Town is infested with cars!" he said.

Koay said Gan had showed that a hearing disability was no deterrent to the pursuit of one's dream.

Guest-of-honour was Auto-City Penang founder and Auto-City Group managing director Gary Teoh Kiang-Hong.

The gallery is at 118, Lebuh Armenian. Visiting hours are from 11am to 6pm daily. Admission is free. For details, call 016-444 0167.


Lebuh Armenian.

~News courtesy of New Straits Times~

Penang Bridge Marathon 2014