12
Municipal Council
Penang RT to go on
environment watch
by Bernard Cheah
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
AN ENVIRONMENT awareness
programme for Rukun Tetangga (RT)
neighbourhood watch committees in Penang
will be implemented by February.
The programme is organised by the
Penang Environment Committee, Penang
Neighbourhood Watch Coordinating
Committee and Penang Environment
Working Group (PEWOG).
It will see RTs in the state participating
in the programme to promote environment
awareness to the community and help
conserve the environment.
PEWOG chairman Datuk Dr Ong
Hean Tee said the plan would involve the
Penang community, private sector and state
government to ensure its success.
“We need to instill awareness of the
environment among the public, especially
the secondary school children,” he said,
adding that the programme was supported
by the State Environment Department and
the North-East District National Integrity and
Unity Department.
He told reporters this at an environmental
workshop attended by over 30 RT members
from the north-east district.
Congestion in
front of
Pacific Komtar
THE Penang Island Municipal Council has
advised the public to exercise more caution
and patience when travelling along Jalan Dr
Lim Chwee Leong.
In a press statement, it said the traffic
flow along Jalan Dr Lim Chwee Leong had
increased with the opening of Pacific Komtar
last Wednesday.
“The main cause of the congestion is due
to vehicles parked or waiting along the road.
Many road users also slow down along the
road to see the activities in front of Pacific
Komtar, thus worsening the problem,” said
the council.
When 50 lucky children got their wish ...
THERE’S a Christmas song that goes “All I
want for Christmas is my two front teeth”.
Suria KLCC can’t give you teeth but they have
given more than what the tooth fairy can
afford in their Make-A-Wish charity campaign.
Brien with children from The
Yellow House Foundation
The chief minister’s political secretary, Ng
Wei Aik, who represented State Environment
Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow at
the workshop said it was important to act to
protect and restore the environment.
“The state government hopes community
leaders will take up the challenge and
carry out projects to help raise their
neighbourhood’s environment quality,” he
added.
Ranging from extravagant Nike football shoes
and Salabianca gowns to simpler things like
swimming lessons, reference books, scientific
calculators or just a heart-warming wish for
a simple dinner with the family, Suria KLCC
granted them all.
beautifying the Esplanade
THE Penang Island Municipal
Toshiba
bullish
despite
global
slowdown
Council (MPPP) is in the midst
of beautifying the Esplanade, a
heritage site in George Town
which was awarded Unesco World
Heritage status.
Council president Datuk Zainal
Rahim Seman said the MPPP had
pg 20 over the past two months carried
out works to replace lamp posts,
improve landscaping around the
field, enlarge the stage and beautify
the beach front.
“About RM1.7 million was spent
by the federal government for this
beautification process,” he said,
adding that the upgrading works
Fulfilling 50 wishes from 50
underprivileged children from The
Yellow House Foundation, Suria KLCC’s
Make-A-Wish charity campaign was a
gratifying success, in line with the spirit of
Christmas.
Dec 19 saw the excited faces of the
children lining up to receive their
Christmas gifts before being treated
to lunch at Chinoz on the Park and a
surprise visit to the Skybridge.
“We thank Suria KLCC for the effort
put in to make our children feel extra
loved and appreciated throughout the
Make-A-Wish event,” said Yellow House
Foundation representative Gin Kaw Law.
Alongside participating retailers and
shoppers, Suria KLCC ran the special
programme between Dec 1 to 18. The 50
wishes, predetermined by the children,
were displayed on a board at the Centre
Court to appeal to charitable souls.
As an added bonus for the children,
Suria KLCC also sponsored an additional
gift for every wish fulfilled.
“We have been part of the larger
community for over 10 years and we
hope to continue to serve not only as the
preferred shoppers’ paradise, but also as
the venue from where love and the spirit
of sharing and giving radiates,” said Suria
KLCC chief executive officer Andrew
Brien.
theSun | WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 24 2008
were expected to be completed by
early January.
Zainal told theSun 33 lamp posts
around the area were replaced
with new and more beautiful ones.
Zainal said the lamp posts that
were replaced were those installed
by Tenaga Nasional Berhad about
10 years ago.
“We will not simply replace
those lamp posts which have
historical value,” he said.
The council has identified
11 lamp posts, believed to be
considered old and historical, to be
preserved as part of maintaining
George Town’s heritage status.
briefs
More facilities for the
disabled, please
MALAYSIAN Animal-Assisted Therapy for
Disabled and Elderly president Anthony
Siva Balan has called for more facilities for
the disabled.
Speaking at a road safety and aware-
ness campaign for the disabled recently, he
emphasised the importance of understand-
ing the needs of the disabled.
For example, he said, there should be
facilities for them to make crossing the
road easier.
The campaign was launched by
Independent Living and Training Centre
together with the Road Safety Department
and Selayang Municipal Council
Selayang MP William Leong Jee Keen
said implementing such facilities should
not be difficult considering Singapore has
already established such facilities in many
public places.
“Selayang could lead the way in hav-
ing such facilities and I hope the federal
government will look into this,” he added.
The campaign was held in conjunction
with the International Day for the Disabled
on Dec 3.
Don’t sideline us, MP
tells Sports Ministry
BUKIT Bendera MP Liew Chin Tong has
called on the federal government to
pursue a bipartisan approach towards
youth and sports issues.
He urged the Youth and Sports Min-
istry not to mix politics with sports dur-
ing the committee-stage debate of its
ministerial budget. “It is important that
the ministry be professional in handling
its work and be inclusive in dealing with
Pakatan Rakyat-led state governments,”
he said in a press statement.
Liew pointed out that there were
two occasions where officials from the
Penang state government were not in-
vited to attend meetings relating to the
ministry; namely the Sukma supreme
council meeting on July 15 and the Pen-
ang State Youth Consultative Council.
“I also expressed my disappointment
over the postponement of two previ-
ously approved projects under the Ninth
Malaysia Plan in Penang, which are, the
‘dry gym’ in Penang International Sports
Arena (PISA) costing RM3.5 million, and
the upgrading of the Bertam Sports
Complex, which also costs RM 3.5 mil-
lion,” he said.
Student aid money
stolen
A SCHOOL principal lost financial aid for
poor students amounting to RM12,000 when
he stopped for a drink at a restaurant in Jalan
Beserah, Kuantan, leaving the money in the
glove compartment of his car shortly after
drawing it from a bank. His car door had been
prised open and the money was gone when
he returned. – Bernama