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Tuesday, 23 June 2009 09:28 |
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“UNITY” has been most bandied about the past week. As the discourse unfolds, one discovers invariably that being “united” is usually “against” an opposite concept or form. In one view, Pas-Umno unity is an apposite of 1Malaysia (read here). In another, it is opposed to the notion of Pakatan Rakyat (read here). And, of course, it could threaten Barisan unity (read here). As we all know, the resolution of such conflicts is in compromise but at what price to the parties involved and their allies? And are they willing to pay?
[Update (22.06.09): Pakatan says no to unity government and proclaims all issues surrounding the fiasco which brought the fledgling opposition coalition on the brink of collapse resolved. Read here. Meanwhile, in reaction to the rejection, PM Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said that even without the unity government, Barisan is still able to administer the country and carry out its agenda to bring about changes for the benefit of the rakyat. Read here]
In the context of the above, the possibilities of compromise in Penang could take two forms as can be seen in the politics of the past two weeks: - Within Pakatan, would PKR and Pas allow DAP to run the show more smoothly, to let it display more fully its style of governance? Read here
- Would there be a softening of conflict between the state and federal governments so that Penangites would benefit? In view of this, the following developments last week are of interest:
- Federal-controlled Penang Port Commission and the state are vying for the Penang ferry service and exchanging barbs. Read here, here and here
- The first 1Malaysia Carnival is to be held in Seberang Jaya. The week-long, 40-event celebration is to be launched by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon on June 28. Read here
- InvestPenang’s Datuk Lee Kah Choon said that the federal government should not "cut its own nose to spite its face" by punishing Penang. Read here
- After his eight-day trip, Singapore’s MM Lee Kuan Yew said that strong federal-state relations are crucial for development, and that Penang has to find some ways to work with KL. Read here
Other noteworthy news - More work to fight crime: The police is to set up more beats and pondoks to solve crime. Read here, here and here
- Bid to save Yin Oi Tong: Attempts are being made to save this 124-year-old Chinese medicine centre in Lebuh China. Read here and view video here
- On the heritage front: Penang has been allocated RM4.49mil for the restoration of eight heritage buildings under the Ninth Malaysia Plan and is working on ways to arrest the decline of traditional trades and living cultures in the Unesco heritage zone of inner city George Town. Read here and here. Meanwhile, the Real Estate and Housing Developers' Association Malaysia (Rehda) has called on the Penang Island Municipal Council to reconsider the restriction made to limit Penang's inner city projects to 18m height or five-storeys. Read here
- PKR task force to scrutinise controversial projects: Penang PKR has set up a task force to look into all contentious and controversial development projects affecting the people in the state. Read here
- Penang has lost many of its talents: Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has upped the ante in the debate over the decline of Penang's economy under the previous government, lamenting that the state had also lost many of its talented people over the past few decades. Read here
- ‘Ang mor’ authors Hokkien dictionary: Dutchman Luc de Gijzel spent one-and-a-half years to compile more than 4,000 Hokkien words that come with English definitions. It is called Penang Hokkien Pocket dictionary. Read here
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