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 registra- tion 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 as- tronomy 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.