FOR THE first time in 46 years, municipal councillors were "elected" in a polling exercise today, the culmination of a project organised by the Penang Forum.

Approximately 300 people witnessed the 15 candidates make their case at the Penang Chinese Girls Alumni Association before casting their votes. Ten people were eventually elected, five each for the Penang Island Municipal Council and the Seberang Perai Municipal Council. Penang local government committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said that the councils will make the final selection either in December or January next year. Read here.

The forum was chaired by former Penang State Government Exco Member Datuk Dr Toh Kin Woon. All contestants have declared that they currently do not hold office in any political party or chamber of commerce and have not been convicted of any crime. Read here.

Rail track project stopped

The Penang state government ordered a halt to the Electrified Double Track Project (EDTP) that would run from Ipoh to Padang Besar. The stop-work order took place effective immediately. Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said that the move was necessary in order to prevent major floods on the mainland. The RM12.485bil project involves bridges, railway lines and tunnels that run over 300km across Perak, Penang, Kedah and Perlis. Read here.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha however said that the project has nothing to do with the floods. "We should not stop the project," he said. "Instead, we have to quickly finish it because all necessary works and preparations are done." Read here. In response, Lim said that he was willing to meet with Kong to hear his case, saying that he would lift the stop-work order if he is sufficiently convinced. Read here.

Sniping continues at State Assembly

The latest sitting of the Penang State Assembly continues to be a colourful affair.

• No monyet: Speaker Datuk Abdul Halim Hussain forbade the use of the word monyet ("monkey") following a heated exchange between assemblymen. Read here.
• More arguing over "haram" money: The assemblymen had been arguing, during an emergency motion debating the protests, over the controversial RM100 senior citizen donation, which allegedly came from gambling sources. Read here. 
• English as second official language? Jagdeep Singh Deo (DAP-Datuk Keramat) proposed that English be adopted as the official second language of the state. "I am not dismissing Bahasa Malaysia as the national language and official language of the country," he said. "But English is also important, and I ask the state government to consider making it the second official language in Penang." Read here.
• Increased security: After the previous week's protests, the state assembly saw heightened security, with numerous policemen guarding the perimeter and interior of the building. Read here. The increase in security did not sit well with the leaders of the protests. Parti Cinta Malaysia vice-president Huan Cheng Guan said, "The current chief minister behaves like a chicken hiding behind the House fence." Read here.
• Boycott: The state opposition would then boycott the afternoon session on Wednesday, accusing Deputy Speaker Tan Hock Leong was biased against them. Read here.

Other news

• Dr Sun Yat Sen's historic Penang conference: IN November 1910, the Chinese revolutionary Dr Sun Yat Sen was in many ways a disappointed and desperate man – a persona non grata, banned from Japan and in exile from China for 15 years. Read here.
• RM100 aid for single mums and the disabled: There is good news for single mothers and the disabled in Penang. They, too, will be eligible to receive the RM100 annual aid, said Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng. Read here.
• Fish stocks dwindle as trawlers empty Asia's seas: Overfishing in Southeast Asian seas has left garoupas and sea bass in dire straits, searching for mates on denuded seabeds, according to experts alarmed by ever-declining catches. Read here.
• Law slams Ng, says Penang still top three tourist hubs: An angry Penang state councillor has refuted Tourism Minister Dr Ng Yen Yen's claims that Penang is no longer among the top three tourist destinations in the country. Read here.
• Certificate Of Occupancy Issued To 7,571 Houses In Penang: The Penang government has issued the Certificate of Occupancy (OC) for 7,571 units of low- and low-medium-cost houses in the state up to September this year. Read here.

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