FOOTBALL DON’T TALK, BLINDNESS AND DURIAN NOT A DIPLOMACY JUST PAY UP, HURDLE p 2 BN TOLD p 3 p 16 FREE buletin Competency Accountability Transparency http:www.facebook.com/buletinmutiara November 16 - 30, 2012 Edisi Bahasa Inggeris, Tamil dan Cina http:www.facebook.com/cmlimguaneng MPPP rules for affordable homes Story and pix by Chan Lilian HOPE is in the air for Penangites who have voiced their concerns relating to the escalating prices of homes on the island. Many have lamented about the lack of affordable homes. “Super condos’, such as those with 6,000 sq ft to 11,000 sq ft floor area, are not within reach of most Penang folk. Taking heed of this situation and the people’s demand for af- fordable homes, the Penang Is- land Municipal Council (MPPP) has come out with guidelines to shift the focus from “super con- dos” to more affordable homes. On Nov 25, exco member for local government and traffic management Chow Kon Yeow called a press conference to pro- vide a clearer explanation on the “Guideline for Development for Chow showing the Penang island map with density ratio markings to members of the media. Looking on are Patahiyah 87 units/acre density”. MPPP (seated, left), Yew (seated, right) and Roslan Ramly (standing, left), Addnan and Patrick Khoo. chief Datuk Patahiyah Ismail, acting secretary Patrick Khoo ministration ie. on the island; 2) ment of “super condos”. and the rest of the 75 per cent of 5. Tourist belt at the border of and three directors - to provide more They will continue the trend development of their choice. Pa- Air Putih and Air Itam where the Yew Tung Seang from choices and varie- of building such luxury homes tahiyah pointed out that only the road leads to Penang Hill and Building Department, ties of homes in for better return of investment current 30 unit/acre in certain Kek Lok Si Temple to avoid traf- Addnan Mohd.Razali terms of size and unless MPPP takes some meas- areas are allowed to increase the fic congestion. (Engineering) and Ro- number of rooms ures to balance the type of homes density to 87 unit/acre. There are 6. Areas within the re-zoning slan Ramly (Town for Penangites to to be built in Penang. To avoid locations which aren’t allowed sections. Planning) - were also choose, and 3) to this, MPPP has imposed guide- the 87 unit/acre ruling and these “Apart from the price control present. “The guide- shift the balance lines so that the density of 87/ include: and the maximum limit of built line has been enforced from the current acre or maximum 122,000 sq ft 1. Established housing area up area of 122,000 sq ft, MPPP since June 28, 2010. focus on “super are adhered to. Price control is with low density. has also imposed other condi- However, due to re- condos” to more also imposed for 25 per cent of 2. George Town World Herit- tions,” Patahiyah said. cent media highlight, the public affordable homes. Chow said the sales of the project. There- age site. The developer has to build 30 per may get the wrong perception,” MPPP had taken all necessary fore, developers have to build : 5 3. Certain areas in Tanjung cent low-cost and medium-cost Chow said. He explained that the steps to ensure that more afford- per cent of RM400,00/unit Bungah – from Tanjung Bungah housing in the same district. objectives of the guideline are able housing projects are under- home; 15 per cent of RM300,000/ Hotel to Mar Vista. They also have to provide com- : 1) to create more units of afford- taken by developers who had unit home; 5 per cent of 4. Tourist belt along Gurney able housing within MPPP ad- previously shifted to the develop- RM200,000/unit home; Drive. TURN TO PAGE 5 2 EU keen to work closely with Penang Story and pix by Chan Lilian to be the platform to talk on all Pix by Law Suun Ting and these initiatives and fantastic Mohd Hafiz Tajuddin cooperation. It is a great tool to pursue the goal,” Vandebon said THE presence of 12 nations in his speech. within the European Union and Vandebon revealed that in deputy ambassadors and trade 2011, Malaysia had foreign di- representatives from nine other rect investment (FDI) from the nations in Penang on Nov 21 EU amounting to Euro1.3 bil- clearly signifies the strong inter- lion (app. RM5.1 billion). There est they have to work closely are over 2,000 European com- with Penang both economically panies in Malaysia and with the and culturally. bulk being in Penang. Called the EU-Penang Day, Malaysia was the 23rd largest this was the second time such a trading partner in 20111 and Ma- historical and momentous gath- laysian exports to EU nations stood ering took place in Penang. The at Euro 11.9 billion. first time was in June 2011. Chief Minister Lim Guan Abdul Halim with some of the EU delegates at the luncheon hosted by InvestPenang at the There are 28 countries in the Eng together with InvestPenang G-Hotel. European Union and the 12 and Penang past of continu- ambassadors who visited Pen- State Assembly ous warfare un- ang were from Croatia, Nether- Speaker Datuk til Europe lands, Austria, Ireland, Belgium, Abdul Halim sparked two Of futsal match and durians Spain, Hungary, Denmark, Fin- Hussain hosted World Wars. In- land, Italy and Romania. a lunch at a hotel deed by becom- Led by Luc Vandebon, am- for the EU del- ing an oasis of bassador and head of the Euro- egation. peace, Europe pean Union Delegation to Ma- In his wel- has a duty to ex- laysia, they paid a courtesy coming speech, port peace by visit to the Chief Minister’s Lim praised the showing the Office in Komtar. EU for being benefits of wag- The delegation also partici- chosen as the ing war not on pated in a trade and investment recipient of the mankind but on forum organised by InvestPen- 2012 Nobel poverty, disease, ang which presented a paper on Peace Prize. Vandebon led the EU hunger, igno- the investment opportunities in “This award delegation to Komtar to rance, extrem- the state for the delegation. was given to pay a courtesy to Chief ism, racism and In the evening, the delegation recognise EU’s Minister Lim Guan Eng. corruption,” had a friendly futsal game with effort in uniting Lim said Penang Player team before end- the European bloc from a conti- “Instead of sowing hatred, let ing the visit with a European nent of wars to a continent of us preach love. Instead of seek- Union Film Fest. peace. Clearly Europe’s suc- ing enemies, let us trade. Instead “There are many possibilities cessful quest for peace is in stark of exchanging bullets, let’s ex- for us to expand our already contrast to its previous violent change footballs.” Ong offers durians to Michael Feiner, Deputy Head of vibrant rela- Mission, Embassy of Germany. tionship with Penang. EU Story by Chan Lilian works with Pix by Mohd. Hafiz Tajuddin Malaysia but the initiatives ONE of the highlights of the EU-Penang Day on Nov 21 was that are taken the friendly futsal match between the EU delegation and the there need to be team Penang Player at the Esplanade field. brought to life Exco member Law Heng Kiang and Penang State Assembly on the ground. Speaker Datuk Abdul Halim Hussain were amongst the Penang This is through team players. the cooperation And Abdul Halim managed to score a goal for Penang, mak- with the state ing it a 2-2 draw. and with meet- The EU delegates also sportingly sampled Balik Pulau duri- ing the people. ans which were brought to the City Hall by exco member We are on track Lydia Ong. to expand on The ambassador of Netherlands , H.E. Paul Bekkers was one of the players She carefully selected durians with milder flavours and the in the friendly match. He joked that it is good for diplomatic ties because the this. EU-Pen- football match ended in a 2-2 draw. Bekkers is seen here leaping high to head European delegates described the fruit as “creamy and sweet”. ang Day hopes a ball. 3 ‘Show us the money’ ‘We are waiting for BN ‘janji ditepati’ to pay RM22 million for Taman Manggis land’ Story by Chan Lilian media because many of the issues regarding Taman Mang- “WHERE is your money, BN?” gis, which the Penang state This was the question posed government had announced, by Chief Minister Lim Guan were not published. Eng to Barisan Nasional at a For example, Lim had re- press conference in Balik Pu- peatedly explained that the lau on Nov 25. piece of land measuring 1.1 Lim was referring to the plot acres is too small for public of Taman Manggis land which housing. BN had said it wanted to buy Therefore, the Penang state from the state government. government had instead ear- Earlier, on Oct 3, BN Youth marked an 11-acre plot in Jalan had brought RM22,000 as SP Chelliah and planned to use downpayment/earnest money the l.1 acre land for a dental for the Taman Manggis plot. hospital. The remaining RM22m was to However, media portrayed be paid by Dec 4. the Penang state as if it was not The deadline of Dec 4 was concerned about housing for given to BN on Nov 7 when the public.