International Art 2009 Penang

Fed up with all the political news and happenings already, but this is just temporary. At the meantime, do enjoy this video produced by me on Art International Penang 2009.

Lim Guan Eng : Ex Convict now Chief Minister

MALAYSIA'S Democratic Action Party's (DAP) Leader Lim Guan Eng had served jail time twice in his political career.

After a fierce struggle as opposition leader, he was sworn in as the Penang Chief Minister following the Malay General Elections in March 2008.

His party was part of the opposition alliance Pakatan Rakyat which won control of five states in the Malaysian election.

The 49-year-old spoke to Singapore Press Holdings journalists during a visit to Singapore.

Find out more about the rocky path that Mr Lim took as an opposition leader and the challenges he face as the Chief Minister on RazorTV.

A Tribute To Teoh Beng Hock

Silent outrage at Teoh's funeral from Indrani Kopal on Vimeo.

A tribute to Teoh Beng Hock, may he rest in peace.

No Plastic Bag Day

Chief Minister YAB Lim Guan Eng launched the Giant Green Awareness Campaign at Pasar Raya Giant, Bayan Baru on the 19th July 2009.

In conjunction with the No Plastic Bag Day every Monday of the Penang State Government, Giant has donated all the savings from the plastic bags of local communities amounting to RM 19,000 to Pertubuhan Rumah Kebajikan Seri Cahaya Puplau Pinang, Childrens Protection Society of Penang, Sahabat Alam Malaysia, Friends of the Penang Botanic Gardens Society and Water Watch Penang.

The Chief Minister thanked hypemarkets and supermarkets in Penang for playing the leading role in this green initiative. He also added that Penang is the first state in Malaysia to start this campaign and the response from the public is very encouraging.

Penang State Government will decide by October 2009 whether to extend No Plastic Bag Day to other days.

Video : Jimmy Leow (Citizen Journalist)

MACC are you still a human being?

Lim Guan Eng spoke about MACC, Police and the controversial death of Teoh Beng Hock, who was a special assistant to Selangor executive councillor Ean Yong Hian Wah.

Teoh's body was found on Thursday sprawled on the roof of an adjacent building after he had undergone questioning late into the night at the offices of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

Penang Welcomes Tiger Airways

The inaugural flight of Tiger Airways which arrived at 11.40am this morning is another milestone for Penang as the state welcome the new international airline to the Penang International Airport. With Tiger Airways flying two flights a day, Chief Minister, Lim Guan Eng is hopeful that more tourists from Singapore and elsewhere will visit Penang for its culinary and heritage attractions. According to Rosalynn Tay, MD of Tiger Airways, by November 2009, there will be three flights a day connecting the Lion City and The Pearl of The Orient.

Additional to this, Lim Guan Eng urged Malaysia Airports Bhd to standardize airport taxes throughout the country for budget airlines at RM 25.00 per passenger for international flights and RM 6.00 for domestic flights as compared to RM 51.00 and RM 9.00 in Penang International Airport.

Highway to nowhere completion date

CJ Jimmy Leow's follow up on the Abandoned Highway at Teluk Kumbar, Penang. A new contractor has been appointed by JKR and the new completion date of this highway is Nov 2010.

Jimmy Leow went to the site to observe the work in progress.

Squatters Stranded For 13 Years

This is a video produced by me after being approached by a villager of Jalan Raja Uda during my coverage at Kampung Buah Pala recently.

Citizen Journalist Video About 13 years ago, Cherating Development Sdn Bhd persuaded a group of squatters in Prai, Penang, to vacate their homes for development projects.

As compensation, the developer promised an 800-sq feet flat for each family, and cash payment of RM450 until the flats were ready.

Convinced it was good offer, the squatters from Jalan Raja Uda (JRU) agreed, but till today, the promised flats has yet to seen.

The squatters were temporarily provided with single story long houses in late 1996. They built to last for two to three years.

However, after 13 years, the condition of the houses has worsened.

A Malaysiakini's citizen journalist video captured the deterioration of the houses, ranging from crumbling walls to leaking roofs.

Shabby living conditions

"We have been staying here for 10 years, (and) everything is falling apart. There are termites everywhere," said Ng Lean Sim, 53.

The shabby living conditions are especially troubling for some older squatters, as most of them are poor and in frail health.

Ng and another squatter, Tang Lee Lee, 70, have made appeals at the developer's office.

They submitted revelant documents for relocation to the promised flats, but their requests fell on deaf ears.

Another squatter, Lim Eng Hock, told Malaysiakini that in the eviction letters from the developer in 1996, it was mentioned that the developer will compensate us with an 800-sq foot flat.

New developer

"If we didn't move out once the letter of eviction was served, we would be fined RM100 a day. Since we were promised a flat, we quickly shifted to this place by Dec 26, 1996, the deadline," said Lim.

The current developer of the project is Woolley Development Sdn Bhd. They inherited the project from Cherating Development in 2000.

Showing Malaysiakini documents pertaining to the project, Daniel Leng, 54, identified in the video as the JRU squatter's spokesman, said that part of agreement was that Woolley Development take over the liabilities of the project as well.

"The developers promised the squatters that their flats would be ready in two years, and that should have been in 1999," said Leng.

It has been 10 years since, and the developers have yet to keep their end of the bargain.

Story by Emily Chow, Malaysiakini.

Mohan Singh's Final Farewell

It was a long wait for us CJs who have arrived at Mohan house at about 12.00 noon. Yes, it was a 6 hour wait. The atmosphere was calm when MAIS brought the coffin into Mohan's house for the final farewell and ritual.

Mother's long wait.........

Citizen journalist Chan Lilian from Penang was having the advanced training in citizen journalism at Malaysiakini when she was assigned to interview A. Kugan's mom. It turned out to be a very eye-opening conversation on a lot of injustice going on. The mother, N. Indra broke into tears at several points and the heart rending interview also moved many who listened to tears.

Rais Yatim Does Not Know Citizen Journalism

Our Minister of Information, Communication and Culture himself left bewildered with the seemingly newfangled term 'Citizen Journalist'.

CJs Natasja Sheriff and Joash Wee covered this event from Kuala Lumpur.

Kugan's Case Postponed

The family of deceased A. Kugan was once again left disappointed. The judge hearing the application for the return of his seized blood and tissue samples was away outstation so the case was postponed this morning.

CJ Lilian Chan covered this event directly from Kuala Lumpur.

Should YOUTUBE remove 1st Lady's videos?

CJs Nick Kelesau and Jimmy Leow asked the people on the streets about how they felt with the increasing trend by certain quarters who are trying to discredit ministers and their spouses through the internet.

One of the most recent attempts which registered over 390,000 views in YOUTUBE described Datin Seri Rosmah Mansur being ungrateful to her friends and family.