No Overuse, No Surcharge

LOOKING TO THE STARS 5 《四方论政》 2 13年8月16日-31日李凯伦玛章武莫区州议员《从中元节看地方改革》《所期待的援手》举办单位和信者尝试过”改在开斋节间，每都有形形色色 AND BEYOND 变”来让这些节更加靠普罗大众的前来我的服务中心。但最令我心的生活文化让更多趋于走向无神论酸地是看见不少妇女携带着孩子们前的年轻受这些间信仰，并把它来服务中寻求帮助。他大多数是延续下去对长辈们来说，”中元巫裔妇女都来单亲家庭，携带着节” 征着华不朽的节庆精神。几年纪很小，甚至还是抱在怀里的在整个农历七月忙于出席不同的盂婴儿，心里一点也不好受。兰晚宴我看到和有所感触其中一位母亲告诉我，她被丈夫抛的，却是相聚的意义。很多地方组织农历七月十五是个非常热闹的日弃多了而为了养活一家7口，就出把晚当成其中一个年度聚会，有者子，只要有华的地方就会出现地方外打工，当安员。俗语说 “穷《四方论政》也邀请其他团组织一起出席联谊。家孩子早当家”甚至最年的子也组织居民协会睦邻计划家和在这个科技发达导致缺乏际沟通社团搭起给间来的”好兄弟”唱大被逼辍学跟着母亲外工赚钱。为的时代里，这是难得的社场合，也戏的戏台和歌台进行祭祀仪式和举了孩子们着想，在外租屋也不是长远是地方领袖和政治物向民众传达讯盂兰胜会晚宴等。的计划，所以她望可以获州府息的平台。作为民代议士，我会把的民屋。林秀琴从华文化的角度来看，这合了 pg 马章武莫动力社区报派发给宴会她是一位很坚强的母亲靠着自己双溪槟榔区州议员佛教道教和民间信仰的节庆，让广的席者，借此机会跟选民分享政府的努力外工作，那微薄的收养和一起感恩并追先身母能养活一家7口已不简的政策社会问题和国家所面对的挑活孩子们。她不埋怨自己的遭遇，她祈福和普渡鬼魂。这个节日所赋单，何况她又是位单亲妈妈。 3 战。考虑的是怎么让孩子们过得更好。予的意义让信徒们获得心安，求出槟州民联政府积极地在协助这社其实，从中元节庆的进行方式中，平安，也对美生活有所待。因此，我协助她申请民屋，因会所需要帮助的群妇女们，如单亲我们可以看到几个让社区变得更加强通过参与这些节日活动，我们可为州政府所提供的民组屋是每个月妈妈援助金计划，每一年单亲妈妈们大的因素，其中包括方领袖的以看到经过千年的文化累积之后， 100令吉，而在房费大概都可以获得100 吉援助金，这是州领导能力和世观参与者对节庆意节庆的方式也被代的变化所影响。也要数百令吉以上，一方面可以减轻政府积极地协助，减轻她们的负担。义的思考和居或团员的凝聚等。传统大逐歌演和卡拉OK 她负担，一方面也可以让孩子们能拥除此成立了社区巾帼部队，为了让每个都有信仰的自由，必须建比赛所取代点的大香也因响应有更好的环境成长。女性可以站来协助女性，让她们立在互相尊重上。因此，我望参加环保救地球而”缩水” 一些宴会也我也是一位母亲，本身有5 小可以得到感受到州政府所给予的援中元节庆的民众得到精神上的慰籍，在治物和地方领袖的呼吁下减少孩，可以了解她的心情和感受。助。地方改革可以进行，社会越来越进菜肴的样数和肉类。 pg 步。 5 孙意志《我的阅读笔记》爪夷区州议员享受阅读。我的读物有点杂。除各语文日报，每周的亚州周《从爪夷出发！》刊及时代杂志，也是图书馆的常爪夷另外，果您最爱海鲜，来爪夷就客。（J WI）对了。其在高渊港口，轻而易举就最近在州议会提了州议会图书，对于一些可选购到肥美的螃蟹鱼虾及海鲜类室的藏书不足之处。议会休会后，槟岛等我走了趟议会图书室。议休会言，或许会数高渊港口市民事捕鱼业和海上期间空荡荡的，只有名职员在办被认养殖鱼只量多得成为马主要的公 Enc k Ru l 向我简介了图书室黄汉伟遥远的输业港口之一。相信有朝一日，海的藏书总名单。坦白的，这不合亚依淡区州议员地方。他们不懂槟城里还有这一个上养殖场可成旅游景点之呢。议会图书室应具的规模。地方，何前往当或者那里什么这是个数码科技的年代，多城市变写国会好吃的，都的都看到别提到在此感谢夷选民在第1 序而选中给予大力地支，利当上了这里的权威夷区州员。这场选战尽可让您的 FREE生中甜苦和辣，但深认萤识夷品尝的美食是最大林上，棵树向我绍红漂亮极观萤 buletin August 16 - 31, 2013 Competency Accountability Transparency http:www.facebook.com/buletinmutiara http:www.facebook.com/cmlimguaneng No overuse, no surcharge Story by Chan Lilian total consumers and the rates are being FOLLOWING the headlines in some subsidised,” Jaseni said. mainstream media that claimed Penang “PBAPP subsidised 70 per cent of will increase water conservation sur the domestic water supply which came charge by 100%, members of the- up to RM65 million in 2012.” public were led to believe that every About 28 per cent, or 128,863 users, household will have to bear the burden consumed 54 per cent of the water, in their water bill starting Sept 1. whereas the remaining 72 per cent only Penang Water Supply Corporation consumed only 46 per cent. (PBAPP) general manager Jaseni Mai- “These 28 per cent consumers are dinsa quickly called a press conference using way too much water. In PBAPP, on Aug 25 to explain and set the record we never say that they are wasting too straight. much water, contrary to what was re- “This increase of water conserva- ported. We only want their cooperation tion surcharge from 24 sen to 48 sen to reduce the usage,” Jaseni said. for every 1,000 litres of usage exceed He also assured consumers that if ing 35,000 litres per month from Sept- their bi-monthly bill is less than 1 will only affect 28 per cent of the RM21.40, they will not be affected by domestic users in Penang,” he said. the water conservation surcharge. Water conservation surcharge is “Our strategy is to take this as an act one of the ways PBAPP uses to re- to deter the over consumption of water. duce the high consumption of water To put it simply, some of these con- in Penang. sumers are using way too much water,” “Water conservation surcharge only Jaseni said. applies to domestic water supply users. “The water conservation surcharge They make up 86.3 per cent of the is to make people appreciate and not take the cheap water rates for granted. This is part of our journey to educate Graph from PBAPP which shows Penangites using the most water per person, per day. consumers so that we can take care of the future needs of our children and grandchildren.” He also provided a graph which showed that Penang has the highest consumption of water, per person, per day. In 2013, each person, on the aver age, used 302 litres of water per day- while the national average is only 210 litres. Jaseni says domestic consumers will Jaseni also revealed that PBAPP not be affected by the surcharge if will recommend that new develop- they do not exceed 35,000 litres per ments include water saving devices in month. their infrastructure. 2 August 16 - 31, 2013 Cash boost for needy public varsity students Story by Danny Ooi SOME 350 students undergoing diploma and degree courses at local public universities re- ceived their RM1,000 registration aid at a function held at Dewan Sri Pinang on Aug 3. They were among the 924 applicants who applied for the aid online through i-BiTA, which was opened from May 21, 2012 till July 1, 2013. Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng officiated the function, which was also attended by Deputy Chief Minister 1 Mohd Rashid Hasnon, Deputy Chief Minister 11 Prof. Dr. P. Ra- masamy and State Secretary Datuk Farizan Darus. In his speech, Lim said from 2008 till 2010, the Penang Government funded only 500 successful applicants at insti- tutes of higher learning to re- ceive RM500 yearly. Some of the recipients of the registration allocation getting together for a group photograph. “Since online applications began, i-BiTA was introduced quota for the number of suc- aid of RM1,000 to potential and degree courses on condi- fare programme by the state to in 2011, the state government cessful applicants,” he added. graduates chosen for admis- tion that one of their parents is look into the welfare of all has increased the registration Last year, the state govern- sion to local public colleges a registered voter in Penang, Penangites in line with its CAT aid to RM1,000 without any ment announced registration and universities for diploma with a combined household governance which has been in income of less than RM4,000 effect since 2008. monthly. One of the recipients, Ooi This allocation is only for Yueh Man, 24, a first-year ac- first year student. counting student at Universiti Notice Lim said the registration Pertanian Malaysia, Serdang, allocation is part of the wel- told Buletin Mutiara: “I am Permohonan Bantuan Pendaftaran Pelajar Ke IPTA Sesi Akademik Pertama proud and happy that the 2013/2014 Bagi Lepasan STPM/Matrikulasi/Asasi/Diploma/Setaraf Dibuka Mulai Penang state government 9 Julai 2013 Hingga 30 September 2013 has devised this programme to help students from poor TEMPOH PERMOHONAN families.” Permohonan Bantuan Pendaftaran Pelajar Ke IPTA Sesi Akademik Pertama Ooi, who is from Berapit, 2013/2014 Bagi Lepasan STPM/Matrikulasi/Asasi/Diploma/Setaraf Dibuka Mulai Bukit Mertajam, added: “I 9 Julai 2013 Hingga 30 September 2013 hope to use the allocated fund to help me settle down DOKUMEN SOKONGAN in my new place and for my Pemohon Dikehendaki Mengemukakan Dokumen Sokongan Seperti Paparan Di studies.” Senarai Semak Kepada Pejabat Daerah Dan Tanah Yang Berkaitan Dalam Tempoh Echoing Ooi’s sentiment 2 Minggu Dari Tarikh Tutup Permohonan Secara Online Dibuat. Sekiranya Pemo- was another recipient, Mo- hon Membuat Permohonan Online Pada 30 September 2013, Dokumen Sokongan hammad Hazme, 18, from Juga Perlu Dikemukakan Pada Hari Yang Sama Iaitu 30 September 2013. Alma, Bukit Mertajam. Mohammad is undergoing SYARAT PERMOHONAN his diploma in electrical Pemohon Dikehendaki Mematuhi Syarat-Syarat Permohonan Yang Telah Ditetapkan. engineering at Universiti Kegagalan Mematuhi Syarat-Syarat Tersebut Akan Menyebabkan Permohonan Tidak Teknologi Mara in Selangor. Dipertimbangkan “It is so caring of the Ooi is proud the state has pro- Penang state government to Permohonan boleh dibuat secara online melalui pautan http://ibita.penang.gov.my grammes to help poor students help students from poor from poor families. families,” he said. August 16 - 31, 2013 3 To the stars and Chong (third from left) showing beyond..... reporters a map of the moon while (from left) Khoo, Ang and Baharin Story by Chan Lilian listen attentively. Pix by Law Suun Ting “PENANG probably has the most observatories in Malaysia!” said associate professor Dr. Chong Hon Yew who is the adviser to the Astronomy Club of Universiti Sains Malaysia. Chong shared his passion for star gazing and explained to members of the press about astronomy and the wonders one can view through the refractory telescopes. He was with executive consultant of Penang Hill Corporation (PHC) Datuk Ang Choo Hong. general manager Dr. Lawrence Khoo and promo- tions and marketing manager Baharin Annuar Abu Bakar at the PHC press conference on Aug 21 to announce the “Astro-Travel Extravaganza at Penang Hill” event. The two-day event is a joint venture with Kelab Astronomi Universiti Sains Malaysia. Ang announced several plans PHC has as part of its “Educate, Excite and Experience” pro- grammes for the public, especially the young. “We emphasise on educating the children through exciting activities and to allow them to experience nature. Astronomy is an interesting topic and PHC is planning to turn one of our bun- galows, The Edgecliff, to become an observatory so that more people will have a chance to dis- cover the universe and beyond,” he said.

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