Senior citizens are delighted

CJ Jimmy Leow speaks to Adun Pantai Jerejak, Sim Tse Tzin about the response from senior citizens who received RM100.

Video by Jimmy Leow Beng Hock, Citizen journalist

Rate Penang state government's performance 2009

Citizen journalist Jimmy Leow asked people on the streets what they think of Penang state government's performance for 2009. In the scale of 1 to 10, how do you rate their performance?

PSDC & CIMB introduce EMAS for a cleaner river in Bayan Baru

Penang Skills Development Center (PSDC) together with CIMB Foundation distributed 1000 complimentary Effective Microorganism Activated Solution (EMAS) starter kits to the residents of Bayan Baru, Penang.

The objective of the event is to introduce EMAS to the local community.

CIMB's Regional Director, Liew Chee Cheang said that the bank has sponsored RM 100K to PSDC Green Program initiatives.

EMAS is made from organic products and can be used for household cleaning, laundry, gardening and even on pets.

It is an effective and healthy alternative to the conventional chemical based solutions and fertilizers. PSDC aims to encourage the adoption of EMAS among the Bayan Baru residents which will eventually contribute to cleaning the rivers in due time.

Dato Boonler Somchit, CEO of PSDC also mentioned that PSDC has adopted the nearby Sungai Nibong Kecil which has been polluted by domestic and industrial pollutants for decades. PSDC has confidence that EMAS can help to "heal" this river in due time.

Category: News & Politics

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.

Penangites Choke On Haze

CJ Jimmy Leow asked hikers at Youth Park, Penang what they think about the haze "season" which was set upon them again by the open burning from neighbouring country. It seems to be a yearly affair since the 90's, will we ever see a stop to this irresponsible act from the related parties. Or are we going to continue to choke on ashes year after year..

High Chaparral Candlelight Vigil

The candlelight vigil held at Kampung Buah Pala aka High Chaparral on the 19 June was calm and peaceful. The villagers are anxious to know the ruling of the court on the land issue. CJ Jimmy Leow took a look at what the villagers had to say and hope. They vowed to fight to the end for the rights of their land.

PISA, An Aedes Breeding Ground?

CJ Jimmy Leow reminded MPPP to drain the stagnant water in it's fountain to deter Aedes mosquito breeding. PISA is a popular place for the public and it should be free of Aedes mosquitoes at all cost. 

There are currently more than 18,000 cases of dengue in 2009 and the government has spent millions of ringgit getting rid of this health problem.

Balik Pulau Highway In A Limbo

Based on gathered information, the project was supposed to be completed within the 4th quarter of 2008, but until now, not an inch of this highway is usable. What is holding back the progress of this multi million project or will it become a structure waiting to be swallowed by the jungle of Balik Pulau, Penang?

Toll, Toll, Toll Everywhere

I have already spent at least RM 35.00 on toll fees travelling within Selangor this two days. Everywhere you go there is sure to have some one asking for money. RM0.60 here, RM2.20 there, RM 1.60 here.

But by paying these fees, you are rewarded with a smooth drive on the superhighways specially from KL to Shah Alam or Klang to PJ. I think Selangor and KL has the best highways by far. Well, looking at the traffic on the "normal" roads, it will be more expensive to queue and waste fuel, not to mention killing ourselves with pollution. I just came back from Subang Jaya and it was a relieve to return back to KL via the KESAS. Ok, have to pay of course, but it save me time, not that I am rushing to another appointment, again it was to avoid the big city traffic. I guess all great cities do have such issues and it is an ever lasting problem with no significant solution at sight. 

So, for those people who complain about traffic jams in some other states, try surviving one in KL. I was working in KL for 15 years before stay put in Penang and I must say that the traffic jam in KL is here to stay. With more and more influx of "anak anak kampung" from other states flocking into KL, working here, getting married here and having a family here, it is impossible to to reduce people and traffic. I think if the whole population of KL rides a bicycle, it would looked like Beijing, well may be 10 years back. 

One thing good about traffic jam is probably it teaches us to have patience.

Nomination Day at Bukit Selambau

Coverage done by me during the nomination day at Bukit Selambau.

Hunting for Tear Gas, Water Cannon and FRUs

The other morning I forced myself to get up and really needed a gallon of coffee to make me stay awake. I slept at 3:30am that morning because I was hunting for FRUs and tear gas.

I was looking forward to experience the FRUs and tear gas, but there was none to be found. You see, I was doing a coverage on the PKR ceramahs at Taman Kelisa, Bukit Selambau. Together with me was Malaysia Kini’s videographer Maran Perianen and a good friend of ours, Anil Netto.

Everyone was waiting for Anwar Ibrahim’s speech at 2 locations nearby. After a few vox pops, decided to walk to the next stop where Anwar Ibrahim will speak later in the evening.

Nevertheless, when you are carrying a tripod and a camcorder, people tends to ask which “TV station” you are from. Being a citizen journalist trained by Malaysia Kini, we tend to be carried away and yell back,”Malaysia Kini!”, you see, in this part of the country, Malaysia Kini is the people’s preference. So, I got a free ride on a motorcycle and I definitely saved some calories, not that I cannot part with them.

For the first in so many years, Anwar Ibrahim was just 4 feet away from me as he came out from his car, he looked tired, dressed in black and white. He sat for awhile and he walked to the make shift podium and started his speech with greetings in multiple languages, promoting multicultural bond and respect.

I tell you, he can really speak, I have a tape with a remaining time of probably 45 minutes. His speech filled the tape and I had to insert another to catch the finale of S. Manikumar and Anwar Ibrahim.

Overall, I believe the crowd was small, about 3500 people, but most of them went home happy and content, I hope that the long list of symbols of the independent candidates on the voting slip will not confuse the voters.

My impression of S Manikumar? Well, he is young of age, brilliant mind, good fighting spirit and most important, not corrupted. I think that is good enough…………..

Anwar versus Goliath

How will this end up? With the by elections at Bukit Selambau, Bukit Gantang and Batang Ai on the way, Najib sworn in as the 6th prime minister of Malaysia, economic situation plunging even deeper than ever, will we see a prosperous Malaysia that we dreamed of?

"I, Najib Razak, who has been chosen to hold the post of prime minister, swear that I will carry out the responsibilities which I have been entrusted with to the best of my ability," 

"I will be true to Malaysia and will defend and uphold the constitution."

Will Najib Razak lead the rakyat to a better Malaysia? Will he be ruthless? Will he be the people's man? Will he fight for the rights for all races equally? Will he take stern steps to eliminate corruptions in the UMNO and in the government? Will he promote freedom of speech? Will he release those ISA detainees and abolish ISA once and for all? Will he lead economy recovery? Will he offer himself as a witness to the Mongolian woman's case?

All these questions are probably circulating in our heads and as of now, some good may just come our way. In order to gain some confidence from the public, he has to do something, to me among all the above "will he"s, I have the opinion that ramping back the stimulus package in such a way that it brings direct impact to the rakyat is the most crucial.

Secondly, he has to eliminate all doubts with regards to the Mongolian woman's case. I believe this issue is the most damaging to his image as a Prime Minister. The rest will have to wait, I guess, because he cannot be seen to bending too much to the demands of the rakyat, can he?

I was watching the appointment of Najib as the 6th Prime Minister this morning on TV and at the same time, checking out the speech by Anwar in Bukit Selambau on my laptop. Najib's occasion seems grant and prestige with the Agung, Pak Lah, ministers and Istana Negara, whereas Anwar's make shift podium at Bukit Selambau seems small and not so "governmental".

Nevertheless, Anwar's fantastic speech made up for what was lacking. 

Catch his latest speeches in Bukit Gantang and Bukit Selambau in Malaysiakini.TV.

Zero Hardcore Poverty speech by YAB Lim Guan Eng

Penang is the first state in Malaysia to achieve Zero Hardcore Poverty status. It is, "Hari ini dalam sejarah" said Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

Penang Zero Hardcore Poverty Press Conference

Citizen journalists' follow up on the homeless and the poor. Lilian, Lim and I, went to the Zero Hardcore Poverty announcement done by the CM of Penang on the 30th March 2009 at Dewan Sri Pinang.

We did asked a few tough questions during the press conference with regards to the position of the homeless and the funding provided by federal government.

Citizen Journalists : One Voice for the Homeless

Opposition Leaders Barred from Visiting Schools

By the way, I stay next to a government school and I have never once had a glimpse of any big shots from the Ministry of Education who came to the school or heard from my children of such visits. If the ministry of education does not want to visit the schools, it does not mean that the state government should not! Even if they are from the DAP, PKR or PAS for that matter.

Why? MOE is afraid that the Opposition officials will put bad influence into the students' brain. Look, your teachers have been preaching all things good and proper for the ruling party for so many years, why worry?

Maybe if MOE would care to send some representatives to visit and take note of the problems the students and the teachers are facing nowadays, it would have solved a lot of issues such as bullying, gangsterism, smoking, violence, and vandalism. Most importantly is to understand the standard that the students are in right now. Please come and ask the headmasters or headmistress about the issues that are giving MOE the bad name. 

So, if MOE disallow all Opposition party leaders to enter the government schools, maybe you should also bar all the parents who voted for the oppositions too. And maybe, you should not allow those students whose their parents voted for the oppositions to study in the government school too. How absurb can you get?

Malaysian Insider: Selangor's elected leaders from Pakatan Rakyat are barred from visiting government schools in the state, according to a directive issued by Education Minister Hishammuddin Hussein.

In an education department list on who can attend official events in all schools in the state, Pakatan Rakyat leaders names are glaringly missing.

The education department letter's list was issued to all school headmasters in Selangor earlier this month. 

Anwar Ibrahim in Bukit Gantang, Perak.

Video taken from Malaysia Kini TV.

Hill Slope Development Protest

Anyone keen for a tea party? A tea party will be held at Solok Tan Jit Seng, behind the Tanjung Bunga Seondary School this Saturday 21 March 2009 from 4:00pm to 5:00pm. The tea party aims to bring together residents who are concerned about dangerous hill slope development. For those who support this cause, appreciate if you can make your presence felt.

For more details and write ups, go to Anil Netto.

Photo taken from Anil Netto

The Making : Bukit Selambau Prelude

Our fellow CJ, Lim Boo Seng made a excellent video footage of the events that happened during our Bukit Selambau prelude coverage recently. Fantastic job !!!!