AS PENANG awaits eagerly the Penanti by-election on May 31, signals are coming out that the game plan on both sides did not have broad consensus. PM Najib Tun Razak’s “no election” stance has been challenged by Umno members, especially those from the Mahathir camp. Read here. Pakatan’s nomination of Mansor Othman had been opposed by Penang PAS Youth (read here), however, the state Exco had gone ahead to endorse him. Read here.

For more on POLITICS, read here.

What appears to be taking shape is an old-style psychological war where the mainstream media and information control might again become major tools. For example, Umno is reconsolidating its position within the media it owns. Read here. And controls are getting more widespread. Read here. But, with new media becoming much more influential, how this will be productive is anybody's guess.

In the past week, however, two issues threaten to steal the limelight from politics:

• The prospect of an AH1N1 flu pandemic: While Penang realises that a full-blown pandemic will have severe consequences (read here) and has taken preparatory measures (read here), media reports on May 3 indicate that the threat is not as great as earlier anticipated. Read here.
• Control over Penang’s heritage: In this area, three places are becoming bones of contention:
  (1) The four controversial hotel projects: With UNESCO officials in town to discuss the hotel projects (read here), attempts are bring made to inject life into this issue (read here and here), however, the state government is maintaining a position that it has done its best and wants to deal with it carefully and, where necessary, confidentially. Read here.
  (2) The cable car project via Botanical Gardens to Penang Hill: Former state tourism chief Teng Chang Yeow has warned of dire consequences if this project is to go ahead in this environmentally-sensitive area. Read here.
  (3) The dismantling of the funicular railway: With major distractions like politics and disease, the Penang Hill funicular railway project is receiving little attention in the English media except for small articles. Read, for example, here.   

All these beg the question: Do Penang people have a say at all in these projects that are affecting major icons of Penang’s heritage?

For more on HERITAGE, read here.

Also of note are the following:

• World tender for maintenance of Fort Cornwallis: In an initiative to enliven the fort, the state government has called for an international tender to maintain and develop it into an iconic monument. Read here.
• Penang is new global IT outsourcing destination: Head of KPMG’s Business Performance Services, Woon Tai Hai, said Penang has all the strengths to become a major outsourcing hub. Read here.
• Hospice in dire straits: Victim of the economic crisis, Hospis Pulau Pinang, one of the most worthy causes in Penang, has had to limit some of its services due to shortage of funds. Read here.

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