THE Penang state government has threatened to take legal action against Muhamad Farid Saad for allegedly making false statements regarding MyBalikPulau. Farid, state assemblyman for Pulau Betong, had claimed that the newsletter lacked Malay historical content and accused the government of distributing it.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said, "We have been patient with his irresponsible and racist actions in the past. What else does Farid want to talk? I think we should be more focused on the economy, education and the welfare of people." Read here.

Among those criticising the detractors of MyBalikPulau is Balik Pulau MP Yusmadi Yusoff, who called an NGO's burning of the newsletter "unwarranted and uncalled for". "Balik Pulau can’t move ahead with such destructive, racist and parochial attacks. I call on all quarters to stop attacking the newspaper. Its factual errors, if any, were unintentional and not malicious. When something is educational, art or historical, we should treat it as such. We should appreciate it, embrace it and share it." Read here.

The publisher, the Penang Arts Education Association (Arts-Ed) has since clarified that the newsletter was not intended to be the definitive historical account of the district. In a statement, the association said, "The oral histories represent stories from persons who were interested and willing to share their stories. It was to engage with all ethnic communities. Some were happy to share and others declined; thus their views could not be represented in this newsletter." Read here.

A former "graduate" of an Arts-Ed project defends the association's work with young people. "This is what Arts-Ed is doing in Balik Pulau. Documenting and presenting oral history of the people of Balik Pulau, preserving them so that the younger generation would know, understand, and carry them on." Read here.

Taming Penang's water sports

Two beach boys from Myanmar are now faced with imprisonment or a stiff fine after allegedly ramming a tourist for refusing to hire a vehicle in Batu Feringghi. "We hope to wrap up investigations by next week and submit the papers to the deputy public prosecutor's office," said state police chief Datuk Ayub Yaakob

Though the state government had banned water sports activities in Batu Feringghi due to the incident, jet ski operators have reportedly seen a boom in business. Read here.

Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen cautioned that such incidents could affect the tourism industry. “I hope the state government will set up a proper system to ensure the safety of tourists on its beaches, especially in Batu Ferringhi." Read here.

The incident has caused some observers to question the seriousness of enforcement in the country. Said one, "I fail to understand why rules and regulations can almost never be enforced here. When there is an attempt to enforce a rule, the most common reaction is to politicise it and mostly along ethnic lines." Read here.

On Sunday, the state government reversed its ban on water sports; it will instead hold "strict surveillance" until February 19 to give beach boys time to form an association and come up with guidelines. "During this week," said Lim. "The Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) will also finalise guidelines to regulate all beach activities, which will be enforced after the transitional period." Read here.

Other news

• DPM: Govt fair to all states: Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the federal government had always been fair in its treatment of all states, including Penang and others under the Pakatan Rakyat rule. Read here.
• Old buildings as time machines: Heritage enthusiast Angela Hijjas talks to FMT about the importance of preserving architectural legacies. Read here.
• Guan Eng in a spin over media hounds: Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng is now ruing the love-hate relationship he is enduring with the mass media since Pakatan Rakyat came to power in the Pearl of the Orient. Read here.
• Garbage deal refused: There is no need for Penang to privatise solid waste management if the two municipal councils are competent enough to undertake the task. Read here.
• Penang records highest percentage in utilisation of funds for federal development projects: Penang recorded the highest percentage in utilisation of funds, compared with other states, in expenditures on development projects implemented by the federal government, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop said. Read here.

For more news on Penang, please click through to iGT NetBuzz Feb 7 to 13, 2011 here. For daily updates, "like" iGeorgeTown on Facebook or join us on Twitter. 

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