AFTER nearly a 40-year wait, the 236 families living in the slum of Rumah Hijau in Mak Mandin, Penang, can finally move into new three-room low-cost flats located 3km away from their longhouses.
About 170 families had accepted the 650 sq ft units in Ampang Jajar, Butterworth, but there are some who refused to move out and has requested the state government to build the low cost flat at the present location. To these residents, moving to the Ampang Jajar would be a costly burden to them.
Vice president of Pemuda UMNO, Shaik Hussein and the residents of Rumah Hijau gave a tour and relate their stories to citizen journalists, Regu G and Jimmy Leow.
The flood victims of Tmn Kota Permai's request to get the related government agencies to make another analysis on the houses suffered from structural failure was turn down. The residents and the Adun, Tan Cheong Heng is dissatisfied with the decision. They promised to pursue the matter to higher authorities.
Many said that the sewage plant bulit too near to the housing estate two years ago is the cause of the problem.
Held at the Bayan Baru market and community complex in Penang, more than 300 patients were attended by volunteer doctors from several medical hospitals. The event was organised by Lions Club, Klinik Derma Sivanaran of Temples of Fine Arts and the Adun of Pantai Jerejak, Sim Tze Tzin. The patients were given free medications.
Penang Chief Minister, Lim Guan Eng said that the state government just paid 14.7 million ringgit due to a land scandal created by the previous administration. He also mentioned that this amount paid will have an effect on the state's budget.
Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng took a swipe at those who questioned the legality of Patahiyahs appointment as a councillor. He said that former Local Government Committee chairman Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan as a malicious voice in the issue. Lim also told certain quarters not to politicize the matter.
CJ Jimmy Leow observed the progress of the once abandoned highway located at Balik Pulau, Penang. The highway which connects the little town of Balik Pulau to Teluk Kumbar has resumed construction recently by Sarahon Construction which will cost the government an additional 42 million ringgit.
Previously, the original cost of the highway was 56 million ringgit but abandoned by Bulkers Corporation due to financial problem in the early months of 2008. At this point of time, 40 million ringgit has been spent.
Instead of paying the original cost of 56 million ringgit, the government now had to pay 82 million ringgit for the same project, which is a 46% increase. Instead of completing the project in Sept 2008, it is now scheduled to be completed at the end of 2010.
