SUNDAY's (17.01.10) dragon boat capsize tragedy (read here) has raised many questions with regards to the current system in place, from coordinating safety guidelines for co-curricular activities to the suitability of the area where the training took place. Read below for reactions and counter reactions on the calamity:

• State Education Director Ibrahim Mohammad stated that preliminary showed that the Chung Ling High School management did not adhere fully to safety guidelines for co-curricular activities issued by the Education Department and that the ill-fated dragon boat team did not seek approval and get clearance to train off the Gat Lebuh Macallum near the Harbour Trade Centre. Read here, here and here
• The wisdom of changing the Penang Pesta Open Dragon Boat Race venue — from the Teluk Bahang dam to the fisherman’s jetty off Jelutong Expressway was also questioned. The fisherman's jetty is around 1 km from where the tragedy happened. Penang Dragon Boat Association chairman and Asian Dragon Boat Federation vice-chairman Lai Chew Hock said water sports activities should never have been allowed there. “It’s common sense that the area is definitely not suitable,” he said. “Fishermen repair their boats so there are lots of structures lying around haphazardly.” Read here
• Commenting on the tragedy and the area of choice for the dragon boat races, Tourism Development and Culture Committee chairman Danny Law said that since early last year, dragon boat teams in the state had been offered free use of the Teluk Bahang Dam on weekends to practise but the out-of-the-way location made it an unpopular choice. He also stated that the Penang Pesta Open Dragon Boat Race will no longer be held at the Bandar Sri Pinang fisherman’s jetty. “There were complaints about the alignment and the lack of demarcation last December. Because of that, we decided then that the race would no longer be held there,” Law stated. Read here
• The Penang Port on the other hand has urged people plying the Penang Channel or any point along the state’s coastal waters for purposes of recreation or sports, to notify the police or the marine operations force of their plans. Penang Port chairman Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya said people should learn from the accident in the channel, so that they take proper precautionary measures before embarking on such trips. Read here
• Viewing the tragedy from another perspective was former Penang Inshore Fishermen’s Welfare Association committee member Khoo Kay Keat who wants the authorities to look into the impact of reclamation on the currents in the channel. He said the inshore fishermen had seen certain stretches along the coastline becoming shallower about the same time that reclamation work had taken place, while the middle portions of the channel had remained deep. "Certain parts of the channel are as deep as 40ft... When you reclaim, a lot of sand is placed in places where the sea once was and the sea water is forced to flow along a more constricted route." Khoo estimated. Read here
• Meanwhile, the mishap should not deter others from participating in the sport as it is safe as long as precautions are taken, said dragon boat race coach Lawrence Koh. "Dragon boat racing started in Penang and we have one of the best teams in Asia. Please do not let our culture fade away because of this,” said the coach of the Pacific West team. Read here

Other news

• Out to lure the tourist: Penang is set to woo more tourists through the various programmes and festivities lined up in the Visit Penang Year 2010-2012. Read here
• Five-minute target for Rapid Penang, says Ong: Rapid Penang hopes to shorten the waiting time for commuters to five minutes by having 350 buses within the first quarter of the year, said Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat. Read here
• Special task force to oversee heritage site: A special enforcement task force from the Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) has been formed to monitor renovations or repairs to the buildings in the Unesco World Heritage Site in George Town. Read here
• Penang may refuse waste service plan: Penang may become the first peninsular state to opt out of the national privatisation of solid waste collection and disposal services as it feels its two municipal councils can perform a better job. Read here
• Enigma interested to open production facility in Penang: Enigma Diagnostics Limited, manufacturer of a new H1N1 flu diagnostic system, is interested to open a production facility at the Penang Technology Park, possibly in September this year. Read here
  

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