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~

Happy national day！

Happy national day！

Mid-Autumn FestoRama returns to Penang

Mid-Autumn FestoRama returns to Penang

ON Sept 15, one of the oldest streets here, Lebuh Pantai, will be transformed into a colourful and sepia-lit dance hall like Old Shanghai.

Men and women dressed in fashion from the 1940s to the 60s would be strolling about, children would be playing "teng teng" (hopscotch) along the nearby Lebuh Bishop, the classic Mini Coopers lining up on Gat Lebuh China and A-go-go and rock 'n' roll flashmobs breaking out in sudden dance moves.

All these signify that the Mid-Autumn FestoRama is back in town!

Themed "The Pearl of The Orient 2013 Blossoms Under The Full Moon", the event, held for the second time, is aimed at promoting Chinese culture among Penangites and tourists. Some 70,000 people are expected to attend from 3pm to 11pm.

CreatiVision managing director Adelyn Lim said the Mid-Autumn Festival, or more commonly known in Malaysia as the Lantern or Mooncake Festival, had always signified the gathering of friends and family members among the Chinese community.

"The public is encouraged to take part in the event along with their family and friends.

"We also encourage orphanages and old folk's homes to contact us about taking part in the event," she said here recently.

Present were Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) president Datuk Patahiyah Ismail and Penang Global Tourism managing director Ooi Geok Ling.

Lim said spurred on by last year's successful Mid-Autumn Festival, the organisers had decided to hold a bigger event and hold more exciting entertainment for people of all ages.

The events included a wushu demonstration, qipao (Cheong Sam) fashion show, Golden Shanghai Musical with a big dance floor provided for the public and also a Creative Moon Cake competition with cash prizes.

Other exciting events include a giant lantern display, lion dances and Chinese drum performances and a non-stop golden oldies karaoke singing.

Traditional children games would also be organised along Lebuh Bishop.

Free gifts would also be distributed and some 50 booths set up.

On the possible traffic congestion at the venues of the event, Patayiah said the council together with the police would manage the traffic flow and road closures in some areas.

For details, call 019-272 0999 or 03-4041 8009 or visit www.9-creativision.com or www.facebook.com/creativision.



Models wearing traditional Chinese dresses at the press conference for the Mid-Autumn Festorama at Pusat Informasi Taman Perbandaran. Pic by Anis Nabilla Md Wazilah

~News courtesy of New Straits Times~

New theme park and golf resort on mainland Penang

New theme park and golf resort on mainland Penang

The state government has called for a Request For Proposal (RFP) for an international theme park and golf resort development in Bandar Cassia, Batu Kawan, on the mainland.

The theme park will measure 87.01ha, while the golf resort, which will have an international standard golf course with a minimum 18 holes, will measure 190.2ha, said Penang Development Corporation (PDC) general manager Datuk Rosli Jaafar.

"The theme park and golf resort will be a boost to the tourism sector.

"The Second Penang Bridge is expected to be completed later this year.

"We feel this is the right time to embark on a new product which will benefit the region as a whole and Penang specifically," he announced at a press conference here, recently.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng was also present.

Rosli said the theme park would be a minimum of 60.7ha, and the remaining hectares used for residential, commercial and other developments related to the theme park.

Rosli said the tender would be given the flexibility to propose development components to ensure the viability of the overall project.

"The non-compulsory but strongly encouraged components are community projects, a public swimming pool with diving facilities, an outdoor amphitheatre for the performing arts and a sports complex," he said.

Meanwhile, Lim said the theme park and golf course would create employment and attract more people to Penang.

"For Penang to become an international city, the mainland must also achieve international benchmarks," Lim said.

The tender period was expected to last two-and-a-half months, until Oct 31.



Datuk Rosli Jaafar (left) shows the development plan to Lim Guan Eng. Pic by Asman Ibrahim

~News courtesy of New Straits Times~

Life can be a beach

Life can be a beach

People visiting Penang sometimes ask predictable questions such as "Hey, looks like you have put on some weight! Is it the good food?" and "You are a few shades darker. Is it all the frolicking on the beach?"

The answer to the first question is likely to be "yes", followed by the sucking in of the tummy. However, the answer to the second question is a big "no".

It is too hot to frolic on the beach, which is a little far from the city centre.

Getting there is also a nightmare, especially during the holidays because of the traffic congestion.

Everyone is headed for the popular Tanjung Bungah and Batu Ferringhi tourist belts, thanks to the beautiful beachfront hotels, water sport attractions (legal and illegal), great food and fantastic night market.

The problem is, the only road leading to these places is too narrow. Traffic jams can take hours to clear, which makes it increasingly difficult for the locals to enjoy their own beaches.

Having said that, there is a spot that has been somewhat overlooked.

There is a sandy stretch from Tanjung Tokong to the Esplanade, called the North Beach, which has the potential to become a tourist attraction.

Lined with boulders, the stretch is sometimes dotted by anglers and a few tourists basking in the sun. However, the beach entrance in Jalan Green Hall is in a terrible state.

It is littered with rubbish and people who have had too much to drink are occasionally found there. Some of the benches are also broken.

It could become a quick getaway for the locals if the council would refurbish and equip it with facilities like beach chairs and toilets.

North Beach is truly a diamond in the rough. It is about time we explored more readily-available options for those who want to get a tan without having to sit through a traffic jam.

Who knows, it could be to Penang what Barceloneta Beach is to Barcelona, Spain.

The 3km-long beach, formerly fishermen's quarters, is lined with beautiful sculptures.

It has helped to earn the Catalan capital a place on the National Geographic Traveler's list of Top 10 beach cities in the world.

Penang may just make it there, too, one day.



It is great in Batu Ferringhi, if you can get past the traffic congestion on the only road leading to it.

~News courtesy of New Straits Times~