PENANG-FEDERAL relations have taken on a new dimension with the Transport Ministry taking a much more proactive role in air and sea transport development, especially in the expansion and management of the Penang Port. Led by Transport Minister Ong Tee Keat, who is also MCA president, the moves are seen as interlaced with politics. Read here. In relation to this are the following developments last week:

• Federal-controlled Penang Port Commission (PPC) has submitted three proposals to (1) turnaround the Penang Port (2) introduce water taxis to complement the ferries, and (3) hand over the ferry service to the “regulator”. Read here
• Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB) chief said PPSB had never told PPC that it was going to give up the management of the ferry operations. This is because it must first be discussed with the Transport Ministry, Finance Ministry and the Economic Planning Unit (EPU). Read here
• A reader has brought up, in three newspapers, issues of interference, viability and the need for careful study with regards to the ferry service. Read here, here and here
  

For more news on TRANSPORT, read here

• Gerakan tames Huan: Gerakan has acted swiftly against its vice-president Huan Cheng Guan whose actions threaten to undermine the party leadership and its efforts at recovery. Read analysis here. Read related news here in netbuzz on politics
• New twist in High Chapparal case: Hindraf has come out in support after the case was lost and the state govt became their last resort. Read here and here
• New book by Khoo Salma. Historian Khoo Salma has come with a book, Heritage Houses of Penang . Read review here
• Heritage: Responding to two collapsed building (read here), Penang Heritage Trust (PHT) has called for policies to protect old buildings. Read here. Meanwhile, traditional traders bemoan the fact they are not benefiting from heritage listing. Read here
• Height ruling: The controversy over the four high-rise building projects planned in George Town’s conservation zone is likely to end with all developers now required by the state government to scale down or amend their plans in compliance with Unesco’s recommendations. Read here
• Tanjung Bungah residents urges state government to act: The Tanjung Bunga Residents Association has written a letter to exco members Chow Kon Yeow and Phee Boon Poh, expressing its concerns about property development projects on steep hill slopes. Read here
• Award for syariah court judge: A Penang Syariah court chief judge, who exposed corrupt practices by a Syariah court staff has received the first Penang Integrity Award of RM10,000. Read here. Nonetheless, a concerned citizen responds that while the Penang government is to be commended for its zero tolerance to corruption, it runs the risk of breaking the ground rule of "innocence until proven guilty". Read here
• Lee Kuan Yew on Penang:  LKY’S statement that Penang’s infrastructure is inferior compared to Ipoh and Seremban continues to draw reaction. For comments by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop, read here. State Gerakan assistant secretary Goh Kheng Sneah also commented. Read here

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