Speed devils on Penang Bridge

These factory bus drivers should be reprimand for driving at such a speed and recklessly on Penang Bridge. If you are the one who is engaging these buses to ferry your workers, give them a warning before something bad happens.

Video by Jimmy Leow, Citizen Journalist

Heng! Ong! Huat!

The Penang state-level Chinese New Year open house on Sunday attracted more than 30,000 well wishers and foreign visitors at the new market complex in Balik Pulau

An arch, decorated with lights and elaborate designs, has been set up on the road beside the market to welcome visitors. Rows of small red lanterns strung overhead outside the market have added a touch of gaiety to complement the setting.

Video by Jimmy Leow

MPSP fast response delights foreign investors

A call to MPSP to clear and trim thick bushes and trees by a Swiss factory located at Prai Free Industrial Zone was responded with urgency.

The section outside the rear of the factory has been left unattended for many years and has been a place for illegal dumping by irresponsible parties.

Due to the thick bushes and trees along the fence, it provides a good hiding place for intruders. Recently, some materials has been stolen by thieves who cut through the fencing.

Video by Jimmy Leow

Syabas for SP Setia

It is all praise for SP Setia from Penang Chief Minister, Lim Guan Eng. Developer SP Setia has build 360 units of low cost flats worth RM110,000 but selling them at RM42,000 to those earning low income. The flats which are 660 square feet in dimension were completely built one year earlier than scheduled.

Lim asked other developers to follow SP Setia's CSR commitment.

Video by Jimmy Leow

Vel vel vel vel

Nearly 200 thousand devotees made their way to the temple at Waterfall Gardens in Penang during the eve of Thaipusam to fulfill their vows.

The colourful Hindu religious festival saw devotees from all over the country gather at the venue to carry out their spiritual obligations.

Like in the years before, some carried kavadis while many others had shaved their heads bald and carried the pal kodum (milk pot) to show their appreciation to Lord Muruga.

Video by Jimmy Leow

Waging war against encroachment

Teluk Kumbar is a small fishing village on the southern part of Penang Island which consists of nearly 200 inshore fishermen, mainly Malay and Chinese. 

Teluk Kumbar used to be rich in marine life and making a living out of fishing seems effortless before the encroachment by commercial trawlers nearly 40 years ago.

Teluk Kumbar inshore fishermen share the same fate as their fellow fishermen from Pulau Betong. The only difference is the frequency of such encroachment has reduced in Pulau Betong due to frequent "community policing".

The inshore fishermen around the southern part of Penang have suffered abuses and threats from commercial trawlers and the authorities. Some inshore fishermen's boats were rammed because they took photos of the trawlers registration for reporting purposes. Some were challenged to fight at sea.

Commercial trawlers are prohibited by law to fish within the 5 nautical mile radius from the shores as the area is reserved for inshore fishermen. But yet, the invasion continues everyday and night. 

In order to be invisible during the night, the trawlers encroach these fishing grounds without switching on their lights or signals.

This has caused serious accidents where small boats were dragged down because they accidentally cross the floating lines dragged by the trawlers.

Despite the presence of a Fisheries office nearby, the inshore fishermen of Teluk Kumbar have no high hopes of getting any kind of enforcement from the government agency. They said that the office by the beach is frequently used as a beach house for the officers' family during the weekend.

Video by Jimmy Leow

Tmn Kota Permai problems nearly over

The residents of Tmn Kota Permai, Bukit Mertajam, Penang can now see the light at the end of the tunnel with IKRAM declaring the structural damages on their houses were caused by the "nearby project" constructed about 4 years ago. 

Bernard Cheen, the residents spokesperson said the compensation plans are "acceptable" and they are still open for further negotiation if required with JPP. But there is still an open issue on the flash floods compensation where JPP has offered a one time payment of RM 500 to RM 1500 for each home. 

According to Cheen, the residents have endured lost of thousands of ringgit every time flash flood hit their housing estate. This is also blamed to the JPP project nearby. This time around, the residents seek assistance from the previous Adun from MCA, Tan Teik Cheng who has assured the residents to "fight until the end" to get justice for the residents and put a closure to this long pending issue. 

Video by Jimmy Leow Beng Hock, Citizen Journalist