2016 a Transformation Year
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pg FERRY 2016年是槟城的转型年 SERVICE 1 FIASCO pg 2 FREE buletin Competency Accountability Transparency http:www.facebook.com/buletinmutiara January 1 - 15, 2016 http:www.facebook.com/cmlimguaneng 2016 a transformation year The 15,000 people who flooded the Esplanade and were flagged off on a 5km fun walk by Lim and other Penang state leaders. NEW Year in Penang always kicks off with one of “Forbes has picked Penang as the top destination tional year for 2016 with the completion of projects the most vibrant and fun events as the Penang Island for backpackers while LA Times listed Penang as worth hundreds of millions of ringgit in Komtar and City Council (MBPP) celebrates City Day on Jan 1 one of the top must-see destination in the world. It Penang Hill. Many hotels have recorded occupancy every year with a City Walk. is all because of the people of Penang that we are rates as good as 2014 despite the poor economic This year, the response to the City Walk was so getting all these recognition as a top travel destina- conditions and the tragic triple airline disasters good that MBPP moved the venue from Beach Street tion!” Lim said before he flagged off the partici- involving MAS and Air Asia planes last year,” Lim to Esplanade to cater to the 15,000 participants. pants. had earlier said in a New Year’s statement. Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and other Penang “The influx of tourists during this holiday season “2016 holds out hope for a more promising year. state leaders were there to flag off the participants. is best epitomised by crowds at Penang Hill which However success brings its own problems with traf- The crowd cheered and applauded when Lim at- broke the previous record of 1.36 million tourists fic congestion being the critical challenge. Penang tributed the several accolades Penang has been last year and is expected to reach 1.5 million this will be heading for a transformational year,” he getting to them. year. Tourism in Penang may be in a transforma- added. 2 Jan 1 - 15, 2016 Transport Ministry to meet on ferry services Story by Chan Lilian and ing berth. portation to travel around. Those Victor Seow The Transport Ministry has with vehicles can use the bridge Pix by Law Suun Ting fixed Jan 8 for a meeting regard- while those who don’t, depend ing the ferry services. on the ferry. You cannot deny THE new schedule for Penang “I hope they can reach an people who don’t drive from ferry services has left users in a agreement and I am willing to using the ferry. We are going lurch and created long queues meet Transport Minister Datuk backwards as we don’t follow and longer waiting time. Seri Liow Tiong Lai too because multi-model transport systems “Only four ferries are plying we are ready to take over the for cities in the world. Secondly, the routes during peak hours ferry services. Penangites are the ferry acts as a contingency from 6am to 9am. After that, fed-up!” Guan Eng said. during emergencies. We need to from 9am till midnight, only Earlier at a press conference make sure the contingency plans three ferries are in use. Al- on Jan 2, Hock Seng, Tanjong are always at their peak perfor- though Penang Port Sdn. Bhd. Vehicles finally get to board the ferry after a long wait at the MP Ng Wei Aik and Jelutong mance,” he said. (PPSB) claimed that the ferry terminal. MP Jeff Ooi also voiced their “Number 3, the ferry service arrival interval is 20 minutes, in dissatisfaction over the issue. is a part of heritage for Penan- reality it can take over 30 min- them to surrender it to the Pen- ly Pangkalan Raja Tun Uda and The three representatives had gites. And the people are very utes,” Lim Hock Seng, Public ang state government,” Chief Pangkalan Sultan Abdul Halim specifically held their joint press sentimental about this. Reduc- Works, Utilities and Transport Minister Lim Guan Eng said. On in Butterworth which are in use conference at 3pm to highlight ing its services is like making it exco member, said in a press Dec 8, 2015, State Secretary including the assets related to the long queue and unnecessary useless in modern times. It is conference on Jan 6 in Komtar. Datuk Seri Farizan Darus had ferry services and the facilities. waste of time caused by the not. Its services are getting from “I feel very disappointed with written to the Transport Ministry The Penang State will only newly implemented timetable of bad to worse because it is run by the ferry services. Recently, on the state’s intention to take absorb the lower category em- the ferry services. a bunch of failed operators. And there was an accident on the over the ferry services on four ployees who are directly in- Ooi raised four points which most importantly number 4, the Penang Bridge which caused a conditions. volved in the ferry operations arose from this issue and hoped operator just ignored the chair- massive jam. As an alternative, The four conditions are : but the higher management staff the relevant parties who caused man of the PPC. Governance is when motorists decided to use The state will not be respon- will be subjected to further con- the mess would take heed and at stake,” Ooi noted further. the ferry, they had to wait up to sible for any liabilities or debts siderations; and come up with solutions. “The operator is trying to cut two hours. This is unacceptable by PPSB up to the date the ferry The Transport Ministry must “Number 1, Penang, as the their loss by reducing the num- and obviously the federal gov- service is taken over by the state. approve 30 water taxi licences second largest city in Malaysia, ber of ferries and this is done at ernment has failed to manage The state has the right to take to Penang for the operation of has a lot of people who are de- the expense of the public,” the ferry services. It is time for over the two other jetties, name- water taxi and a site for a dock- pendent on multi-model trans- added Hock Seng. Why see red over green lane? ENOURMOUS storm kicked Straits Quay to Gurney to Es- to the nature of the pavement, up in a teacup. planade and join the existing which is not conducive to ride That was how Datuk Dr. dedicated coastal bicycle lane fast. Recreational cyclists are Lim Seh Guan, chairman of G from GAMA to Queensbay. those that cycle for sports on Club Penang Cyclists, de- “A million words will do no Saturdays and Sundays. They scribed the recent media cov- justice compared to first-hand would not want to use the erage and uproar by the op- experience. We would like to shared lane as they will go at position party MCA and cer- invite critics and supporters 30 to 50 kph and they are usu- tain quarters. alike to commute with us one ally in a pack,” he added. Dr. Lim clarified certain of these Friday evenings when “Do you remember when facts to clear the confusion and traffic is at its peak and feel for the change of traffic flow and to better inform a few assem- yourself the danger of being turning Jalan Burma and Kela- blymembers, MPs and coun- chased down by a bus and at wai Road into a one-way street cillors as they too had taken the same time share the rela- was thought to be a disaster by the same stance as MCA in tive safety of the pavements a certain group of users but it protesting the green lane de- with some pedestrians,” he turned out to be a success marcation by the Penang Is- said. story? land City Council (MBPP). “The shared green lane is “It came as no surprise that According to sources from for cyclists. By cyclists, we there is some resistance to the MBPP, the 2.53km green lane mean commuting cyclists, not shared lane proposal,” Dr. Lim was on Jalan Magazine to recreational cyclists. Commut- said. Lebuh Lintang, part of Jalan ing cyclists are those who want G Club had been instrumen- Dr Lim Chwee Leong, part of to travel from point A to point tal in turning Penang into a Lebuh Carnarvon, Jalan Kam- B, e.g.Tanjong Tokong to Gur- bicycle friendly state. pung Kolam, Jalan Masjid ney Plaza to do some groceries The members are active in Kapitan Keling, part of Lebuh with two children in tow or promoting the Bike On Friday Light and part of Jalan Padang from Burma Road to Beach campaign and organised sev- Kota Lama. Street to do some banking ac- eral main events in Penang like The purpose is to connect tivities. This group of cyclists the recent City Ride and The green lane with bicycle logo along Jalan Masjid Kapitan the span of bicyle lanes from will cycle at most 10 kph due Tristate. Keling. Jan 1 - 15, 2016 3 To vape or not to vape Story by Chan Lilian ang, students are vaping away with Pix by Alissala Thian total disregard for their safety and health,” Dr Jayabalan said. TO ban or not to ban, that is the question the state is Several members of Penang facing on vaping. Vape Entrepreneurs Association To get a clearer picture on the issue, the Penang state (PPVPP) gave their views and government held a public dialogue in Komtar on Jan 5 claimed that vaping is a way to and invited several notable people to give their views.