MANY questions have been raised with regards to the proposed Penang International Convention Centre in Relau. Estimated to cost RM50 million, this is a project undertaken by the Penang Municipal Council.

One of the first to voice its opposition to the project was the Residents Association of Bandar Bayan Baru. The association felt that it will this create unnecessary traffic snarls in the area going to Relau, Bukit Jambul and Bayan Baru and state authorities should instead look into the upgrading of the present facilities at Penang International Sports Arena (PISA). Read here

Identifying the areas in which the public funds could be used instead, was blogger Anil Netto. A few highlighted areas are as follows:

• Upgrading existing public markets and building new Council markets in places like Batu Maung and Teluk Kumbar.
• Improving pavements and disabled access around Penang.
• Upgrading and repairing old drains that are in poor condition.
• Upgrading and installing modern public toilets on the island, especially in George Town. The state of a city’s public toilets tells you a lot about the place. Read here for more.

Engineer Tan Seng Hai who has initiated an online petition to raise at least 2,000 signatures against the PICC by Jan 15, 2010, stated that Pisa and the Pesta Pulau Pinang Expo site were currently under-utilised. Click here to read petition.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng had earlier said that he encouraged anyone who felt that the PICC project was too costly to apply through the tender process to build it at a lower price. He had said that in order to achieve an international city status, there was a need for a proper convention centre. Read here, here and here for other opinions.

Other news

• Perda will not disturb cemetery: The Penang Regional Development Authority (Perda) does not plan to disturb graves at Tang Sang See Temple in Batu Ferringhi. Read here
• Hindraf chairman sues Penang DCM, media for RM100mil: Hindraf chairman P. Waytha Moorthy is suing Penang Deputy Chief Minister Prof Dr P. Ramasamy, six local media organisations and three others for RM100mil for defamation. Read here
• RM50mil to renovate low cost public housing: Residents of low-cost public housing in Penang afflicted by ageing facilities and shoddy maintenance can look forward to a fresh lease of life with a RM50 million renovations exercise now undertaken by the state government. Read here
• Illegal repairs threaten heritage site, says NGO: Political interference and lax enforcement have resulted in some properties in the Unesco-listed inner city losing their heritage values, after being subjected to illegal repairs and renovations, says the Cultural Heritage Action Team (CHAT), a non-governmental organisation. Read here
• Don heads Islamic council: Universiti Sains Malaysia lecturer Ellias Zakaria has been appointed the new Penang Islamic Religious Council president.  He replaces Umno Permatang Berangan assemblyman Shahbudin Yahaya. Read here
• Your 10 questions to CM Lim Guan Eng. Read here
  

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