A SPAT involving leaders of the Penang Chinese Town Hall (PCTH), the Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce (PCCC) and the state government threatens to mar this year’s Chinese New Year celebrations. Raging in the Chinese press the past week, the series of disagreements started with a refusal by the state government to fund PCTH’s CNY open house. Read here and here.

Just when the matter seemed to have been resolved, with the Tourism Ministry coming in with the funds, developments took a new twist with PCCC president Tan Sri Tan Kok Ping calling on PCTH chief Tan Sri Lim Gait Tong and his deputy Datuk Lam Wu Chong to debate the issue in public. Read here.

We highlight below some of the other ongoing debates and issues in Penang:

TOURISM

It’s the food:  The public reacts positively to Penang being voted New York Times No 2 must-visit destination for 2009. Read here and here for reactions from the website and blog mentioned, and here for some reaction.

MULTILINGUAL ROAD SIGNS

Second phase begins, suit dropped: Nineteen more bilingual signs were put up on Jan 21 in the second phase of installation. Meanwhile Pahang accountant Nik Rizman Sapian has withdrawn his suit against the Penang Government over the matter. The state has received the notice of discontinuance dated Jan 14. Read here and here.

ECONOMY

Intel moves to ‘right-size’, Penang acts over unemployment:  Intel Corp plans to close two of its three factories in Bayan Lepas as part of its worldwide response to the worsening economy. Read here. However, the 1,000 employees affected by the closure would be offered other job positions at the company’s four other plants, three of which are in Kulim. Read here. In a related development, the Penang state government has approved a RM10-million grant for the Career Assistance and Training (CAT) centre to help the unemployed in the state. It is to be managed by investPenang. Read here.

Wireless launch: The first batch of the seven locations for Wireless@Penang coverage has been launched with the hope that in 18 months a total of 70 per cent of the state would have WiMAX coverage. Read here.

STATE ADMINISTRATION

'No mistaking who’s the boss': theSun columnist Himanshu Bhatt, writing on the Chief Minister’s recent address to civil servants, is of the opinion that “Guan Eng finally demonstrated how his leadership in the government had grown. There was no more soft talk. Speaking firmly, with a tone that was commanding yet respectful, he left no stone unturned in touching upon sensitive issues that took many by surprise.” Read here.

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