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

Penang World Music Festival 2014 to hit town

Penang World Music Festival 2014 to hit town

THE state will come alive with the sounds and sights of the Penang World Music Festival 2014 on April 12 and 13.

Music lovers throughout the world will be gathering to enjoy the variety of music the festival has to offer at Penang Botanical Garden, the festival venue.

Visitors will experience the melodies of Belgium and Bulgaria, the rhythms of India and Malaysia, the tribal music of Brazil and South Africa, and the traditional compositions of Poland, Uzbekistan, Spain, and France.

Balkan, gypsy, tribal , jazz -- you name it, they'll be playing it.

State Tourism Development and Culture Committee chairman Danny Law said the festival serves as a bridge for cultural understanding between different countries and cultures.

"We have partnered with the Minas Gerais government in Brazil as well as the Sofia government in Bulgaria for this showcase.

"As Penang aspires to be the model city for culture and heritage, we believe in preserving the beautiful music from all parts of the world," he said at the launch of the festival.

Law said events that featured world music and cultures had proved to be successful in Malaysia, citing as example Sarawak's Rainforest World Music Festival, which had become an international music event that attracted many tourists to the state.

Tickets are priced at RM80 and RM140 each. They are available online, at Queensbay Mall, Komtar Information Counter and Fort Cornwallis.

Shuttle bus service from Batu Ferringhi to Penang Botanical Garden will be provided.

Visit www.ticketcharge.com.my or www.penangworldmusic.gov.my, for details. 


Danny Law (centre) and event sponsors launch Penang World Music Festival 2014.

~News courtesy of New Straits Times~

Active cultural scene for Penang

Active cultural scene for Penang

Penang National Department of Culture and Arts has lined up a series of activities throughout this year in conjunction with Visit Malaysia Year 2014.

Department director Mohd Rizal Ismail said it was important to preserve and propagate the cultural and traditional values of the country which seemed to be fading away from the younger generation.

"On many occasions when asked, those from the Y-generation have no idea what many of these performances, arts or crafts were about. It is therefore imperative that we rejuvenate the cultural and traditional heritage of the country before it is lost forever," he said.

"Penang is the birthplace of many famous places, faces, arts and crafts so it is timely to increase awareness among young and old on our cultural heritage.

"All the activities are planned with the vision of 1Malaysia, where all the communities are involved so as to instil a feeling of oneness while inpursuit of preserving and keeping alive the national culture, traditional and identity."

Rizal said the department intended to involve the participation of all the races and age groups, especially the younger generation.

To be held mostly at the Kompleks Pustaka Warisan Seni auditorium in Lintang P. Ramlee, here, the activities up until April are:

- Feb 28 -- Pokok Hiasan;

- March 3 -- Program Perantisan Kumpulan Boria Bukit Gedung and Bimbingan Seni Budaya;

- March 8 -- Seni Pertahankan Diri;

- March 22 -- PMS Nelayan and Program Expresi Muzik;

- April 5 -- Seni Lukis;

- April 19 -- Cegah Jenayah Bersama PDRM;

- April 20 -- Manifestasi Teater Negeri; and

- April 23 to 30 -- Kem Sukarelawan Zon Utara.

For details, call 04-281 7791/92 or fax to 04-281 7781.

~News courtesy of New Straits Times~

Coupon parking system to resume on Feb 15

Coupon parking system to resume on Feb 15

The coupon parking system, which was suspended about two weeks after it was implemented on Jan 1, will resume from Feb 15.

The Penang Island Municipal Council said, in a press statement, that those who had purchased the January monthly parking pass could renew them for use in March.

A total of 335 outlets that sell the coupons are listed at www.mppp.gov.my.

It also warned of strict compliance by motorists, failing which they would be severely dealt with.

On Jan 16, the council suspended the system after motorists complained of a shortage of coupons.

Motorists had complained about the poor quality of the scratch coupons.

They had also complained that some agents were fleecing the public by selling RM4 booklets at RM4.50 and RM6 booklets at RM7.

The council did not say anything about the fate of the parking system concessionaire, Perkhidmatan Alam Indah Sdn Bhd, which had been blamed for the problems.

When he made the announcement about the indefinite postponement of the coupon parking system, state Local Government ommittee chairman Chow Kon Yeow had said that the state government was satisfied with the actions taken by the council and Perkhidmatan Alam Indah, and that the public would have free usage of all 11,103 parking spaces on the island.

Perkhidmatan Alam Indah managing director Abdul Malik Abdul Kader had admitted that there was a shortage of coupons and that the coupons were of poor quality.

~News courtesy of New Straits Times~

Pinang Peranakan Museum turns 10

Pinang Peranakan Museum turns 10

The anniversary featured a book launch and fashion and jewellery show

It was an auspicious night for the Pinang Peranakan Museum as it celebrated its 10th anniversary at a hotel here recently.

One of the highlights of the evening was the launch of the Straits Chinese Gold Jewellery book, the third book after Pinang Peranakan Mansion and Hai Ji Zia Zhu by the museum.

The book celebrates beauty, elegance and the extravagance of Baba Nyonya jewellery.

The author, Lillian Tong, is a fifth generation Penang Nyonya and also the museum director of the Pinang Peranakan Mansion and Straits Chinese Jewellery Museum in Penang and Malacca.

As an advocate of Chinese history, heritage and culture in Penang, she has been a curator at exhibitions, a lecturer and has also taken Peranakan heritage and culture to world expositions, conventions and exhibitions abroad.

Guests were treated to a sumptuous dinner and a lion dance to herald the Year of the Horse. The event also showcased Baba Nyonya jewellery from the baju panjang to the sarung kebaya from the early 1800's to the late 1900's.

The highlight of the evening was the Baba Nyonya bridal couple in an antique Chinese Imperial dragon phoenix robe.

Among the guests were foreign dignitaries, leaders of various communities, academicians and experts in the Baba Nyonya culture as well as presidents of the Baba Nyonya associations from Penang and Singapore.

Patron of the Chinese Peranakan Association, Datuk Seri Khoo Keat Siew said the straits Chinese culture or Peranakan culture is an integral part of the larger multi-ethnic community that makes up Penang.

"Penang is a melting pot of of cultures. The nyonyas' worthy contributions particularly in attire and and local cuisine have immeasurable impact that continues to add colour to our community.

"The many customs, rites and rituals are not just inherited but also acquired from the melting pot that Malacca was under the Malay Sultanate, Portuguese, Dutch and British rule.

"I would also like to congratulate Lillian Tong, who is of Peranakan heritage herself for taking us on a journey to discover the importance of gold jewellery in her culture," he added.

The book is perfectly bound and comes in hardcover with a jacket.

It will be available for sale at bookshops and the Peranakan Mansion in late March.

To order the book, call Tong at 012-407 2711 or email naughtynonya@gmail.com.


Models dressed in Nyonya outfits with matching jewellery.

~News courtesy of New Straits Times~