BUILDING 207起可开始登记 RELIGIOUS 可负担房屋喽！ BRIDGES pg 2 pg 1 FREE buletin Competency Accountability Transparency http:www.facebook.com/buletinmutiara February 1 - 15, 2013 http:www.facebook.com/cmlimguaneng Moving to reduce traffic jams Story by Chan Lilian visit to Farlim on Jan 27. Penang, they can now afford cars Pix by Law Suun Ting “The people voted for a change and hence, the increase in conges- in 2008 and this is the kind of tion,” he said. TRAFFIC woes, a bane for Penan- change they expect. Unlike others, “Traffic congestion poses a very gites and especially for folk in the we don’t make election promises big challenge for us. Unfortunately, Paya Terubong and Air Itam areas, where they tell the people that public transport is under the Fed- may soon be a thing of the past as things will be done only after elec- eral Government. Taxis and buses the Penang Pakatan Rakyat State tions. Pakatan Rakyat is different. are under the Federal Government. Government is going to announce We decide now and we give to the Even if we want to build trams in a high impact traffic mitigation people of Paya Terubong and Air Penang, no one will dare to invest project for the area at the end of this Itam the real change they expect.” in it because it involves billions of month. The project involves linking ringgit. What if the Ministry of Paya Terubong and Air Itam are Lebuhraya Thean Teik with Thean Transport pulls back approval? the highest densely populated areas Teik Road which will lead to the That leaves us with no alternative in Penang and possibly in the coun- Tun Lim Chong Eu expressway but to provide one more road,” Lim (From left) MPPP secretary Ang Aing Thye, exco member Lim Hock try as well. (Jelutong expressway). Seng, Lim, MPPP deputy Director of Engineering A. Rajendran and added. Coupled with the huge number It is a four-lane road with pos- assemblymember for Air Itam who is also an exco member Wong Despite the constraints as the of vehicles in Penang, people have sibly a flyover and tunnel. Hon Wai looking at the plan of the proposed high impact traffic Federal government has control to almost spend half their time Lim told the press that the full reduction mitigation project. over transportation, Penang has caught in traffic jams. details of the project will be re- but if we wait longer, traffic conges- million vehicles in Penang though been proactive in solving traffic “The Pakatan Rakyat govern- vealed after the Chinese New Year tion will get even worse and the cost the population is only 1.6 million. congestion problems. ment is a people-centric govern- holiday after the exco members of building the road will increase. Meanwhile, during holidays, Some of the measures taken are ment. We dare to make this big have approved the tender award. Therefore, the Pakatan Rakyat 90,000 vehicles cross the Penang encouraging the people to cycle, decision which will cost millions of Traffic congestion is expected to makes this brave decision to do it Bridge to get to the island. providing free shuttle buses for fac- ringgit because we take heed of the be reduced by 30 per cent - a huge now,” Lim said. “In the last five years, the num- tory workers who cross from the people’s hardships, sufferings and figure in terms of reduction of traf- The severe traffic congestion is ber of vehicles in Penang has also mainland to the island, upgrading hear their grouses,” Chief Minister fic jams. attributed to several factors. increased. Due to the economic the roads and improving the traffic Lim Guan Eng said during his “We may not have the money According to Lim, there are 2.3 prosperity enjoyed by the people in system. GONG XI FA CAI FROM ALL OF US! The State exco members wishing Penangites all the best for the new year. (Seated from left) Chow Kon Yeow, Datuk Mansor Othman, Lim Guan Eng, Prof. Dr. P. Ramasamy and Lydia Ong Kok Fooi. (Standing from left) Datuk Abdul Malik Kassim, Lim Hock Seng, Law Heng Kiang, Phee Boon Poh, Wong Hon Wai and Law Choo Kiang. 2 February 1 - 15, 2013 Lim thanks people for support against Bible threat CHIEF Minister Lim Guan Eng has praised Malaysians from all walks of life for taking a stand against the purported Bible-burn- ing festival that was to have been held in Butterworth recently. “The Penang state govern- ment records its appreciation to the Penang police and Seberang Perai Municipal Council (MPSP) enforcement personnel for taking the necessary steps to stop the extremists from carry- Menteri Besar of Kelantan and also PAS ing out their plan,” Lim said in spiritual leader Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat was a recent press statement. invited to Member of Parliament Karpal Singh’s house at Western Road, Penang “We also thank the people from on Jan 27. The two leaders are seen here both in Penang and Malaysia as shaking hands while assemblymembers well as outside Malaysia and our Datuk Salleh Man and S. Raveentharan look on. Muslim brothers and non-Muslims Assemblymembers Datuk Salleh Man and S. Raveentharan with Kelantan for their prayers and support Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Aziz looking at the special birthday cake at Karpal against such a vile and abhorrent Malaysia. Malay rights Singh’s house. act,” he added. “This incident has brought us NGO Perkasa The failure of the Bible-burning international shame and we urge and its leader Datuk Ibrahim Ali and the Nazis in Germany before our multi-racial society. fest sends a strong message for Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul who had made the call. the Second World War. “The time has come for the BN mutual respect amongst different Gani Patail to stop appeasing Malaysians are grateful that The failure of the attorney- government to draw the line by faiths, peace and harmony to the Perkasa but take action against its Muslims and Malays also reject general to act against Perkasa will taking firm action to ensure that no extremists who want not only to leaders for calling for the Bible to such extremist tactics that are only encourage such future acts of one threatens any holy books of burn the Bible but to burn down be burnt,” Lim said, referring to similar to those employed by Hitler impunity by extremists to threaten any religion.” Tok Guru Nik Aziz meets Bishop Sebastian Francis By Anil Netto – he has a pacemaker – his aides Later, when posing for a group Printed with permission say he perks up when the occa- photo, Nik Aziz joked: “I don’t sion demands such as when ad- know what the mainstream media ON a day when a threat of Bible- dressing a large ceramah. And on is going to say about my meeting burning by unknown bigots fiz- this occasion, he was clearly with you!” zled out, Pas spiritual leader Nik looking forward to meeting the The closed-door meeting was Aziz hosted a friendly private Bishop. held on an auspicious date for the meeting with Catholic Bishop Nik Aziz touched on the im- Pas spiritual leader for several rea- Sebastian Francis. portance of kerohanian (spiritual- sons: It was his birthday; it was the It may have been Nik Aziz’s ity) – which Sebastian whole- first time he had witnessed a Thai- 82nd birthday on Sunday, but it heartedly agreed to – and la- pusam celebration in Penang (en was the octogenarian who hand- mented the excessive emphasis route to meeting MP Karpal Singh ed over a cake to the Bishop of on materialism in development at his residence). He also received the Penang Diocese, which cov- models today. news that he is now a great-grand- This one’s from me to you: Tok Guru presents Bishop ers Penang, Kedah, Perlis, Perak The Tok Guru pointed out that father twice over – newborn twins. Sebastian with a mouth-watering cake. and Kelantan. On the cake was Islam honours the prophets, in- (He has 10 children and 52 grand- inscribed the simple words: Kpd: cluding Jesus. In Kelantan, he children – that’s a lot of birthdays After about 30 minutes, Nik Tasik Gelugor Pas information Yg Mulia Bishop, Daripada: Tn was pleased to add, there were to keep track of!) Aziz appeared to tire and he re- chief Abdul Rahman Kasim as Guru Dato Nik Aziz, Mursyidul many images of Buddha. Earlier, he had laid the founda- quested Mujahid to take his place well as close aides of Tok Guru. Am Pas. Bishop Sebastian expressed tion stone for a minaret at a to deliver a khutbah (sermon) at Bishop Sebastian was accom- Though Nik Aziz had a full concern about Tok Guru’s health mosque in Batu Uban, which was a surau after the meeting. (After panied by Sister Marie Jeanne of schedule in Penang, he cancelled and said he would pray for him: built around 1710 (according to resting, he made a brief 15-minute the Little Sisters of the Poor and another appointment to make “The nation needs your spiritual Mujahid), well before Francis appearance at a ceramah later in Arokiadass, newly appointed to sure he could meet Sebastian at example,” he said. Light set foot in Penang in 1786. the night.) take charge of inter-religious dia- short notice. Looking frail, the Tok Guru expressed regret that And it was the first time he The meeting with the Bishop logue in the Penang Diocese. Tok Guru said he now finds it certain people had created a con- was meeting Bishop Sebastian.