EX-PENANG chief minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon blamed the September 11 terrorist attack, among other reasons, for the Pulau Jerejak tourism development project's RM30mil loss. "The financial condition was unstable in 1997 and 1998. When 9/11 happened, people did not want to travel for a year," he said.

Koh added that UDA chairman Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed is interested in reviving the project. The project, supposed to be implemented in four phases, is still in its first phase. It has not progressed since the political tsunami of March 8, 2008. Read here.

Current chief minister Lim Guan Eng said that the state government is willing to buy back the project, so long as UDA settles a RM3.6mil loan from the Penang Development Corporation to the Penang Land and Mines Department. Regarding Koh's stated reasons, Lim retorted, "Dr Koh has blamed everything except God and himself. Bali and Phuket did well despite the incidents he mentioned. He has to come clean. Why did he give the land to UDA before the full premium was paid?" Read here.

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has called upon the Auditor-General to put together a report on the project's financial losses. “We cannot simply probe the matter without any financial report and the Auditor-General is the best authority to provide it,” said PAC chairman Datuk Seri Azmi Khalid. Read here.

The Star editor Wong Chun Wai notes that even if Koh's reasons were legitimate, it is unlikely that he will find much sympathy. "That, unfortunately, is a problem among many politicians," he says in his column. "They tend to blame everyone and everything, and especially the press, except themselves." Read here.

Uproar over Sikh haircut

The National Service is making headlines for the wrong reasons yet again. This time in Penang. Sikh trainee Basant Singh reported that his hair had been cut while he was asleep at the Sungai Bakap training camp. “I was fast asleep on Sunday night. When I woke up the next day, I realised that my hair had been cut off as I was about to tie it,” he said. His father, Surinderpal Singh, a priest, said that the act was a violation of his son's religious practices.

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said he has ordered an investigation into the matter. Read here.

Several days later, authorities investigating the situation said that they have found that "no malice" had been involved. "Based on what the witnesses said and evidence obtained, the probe committee concluded that there was no element of malice, involving neither trainees nor trainers," said National Service Department director general Abdul Hadi Awang Kechil. Read here.

In spite of the investigation's results, Hamidi said a police investigation will go ahead to determine if this is a criminal case, promising that swift action will be taken against the perpetrators. “We do not wish to touch on the sensitivities of any religion or culture. To the Sikhs, I assure you that it is not the policy of any NS camp or its trainees to criticise other religious practices,” he said. Read here.

Abdul Hadi told reporters that the family have been given two options: transfer his training to another camp, or postpone it. Read here. Some say that this incident is an example of how ignorant many Malaysians are regarding the religious and cultural practices of their fellow citizens. Read here.

Other news

• Penang tops total capital investment list for 2010: Penang attracted RM12.2bil worth of total capital investments in 2010, the highest in the country and a 465% increase from 2009. Read here.
• Rubbish, say plastic makers: Plastic bag makers felt the pinch when the no-plastic bag ruling was enforced in Selangor and Penang. Read here.
• Slice of nature on busy road: Motorists who are stuck in a jam during peak hours along Carnarvon Street can now enjoy a scenery of green trees to sooth their nerves as the Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) has given the street a new look. Read here.
• CAP seems to be lone consumer champion: Consumers and consumer associations must work harder to get effective consumer protection and public support. Read here.
• sPICE plans open for public viewing: The Penang Island Municipal Council has put the project plans of Penang International Convention and Exhibition (sPICE) centre for public viewing at the ground floor of the Penang International Sports Centre (PISA). Read here.

For more news on Penang, please click through to iGT NetBuzz Jan 17 to 23, 2011 here. For daily updates, "like" iGeorgeTown on Facebook or join us on Twitter.   

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