SUNDAY, February 27, 2011

Food court  with a difference: Kompleks Penjaja seems to have one of the largest selections of meals in Penang. (Star Online, 27.2.11)

Exposure to English: DISTED College, Penang recently hosted 43 teachers from two schools in Thailand on a study tour to expose them to an English-speaking teaching environment and opportunities for educational collaboration. (Star Online, 27.2.11)

Malaysia, Singapore through Cebu eyes: Members of Cebu media were invited by Silkair country manager Ajish Henry Morris to a “famtour” of Singapore and Malaysia. (Inquirer.net, 27.2.11)

Thieves break in to get ‘black gold’: Two dilapidated double-storey houses with overgrown bushes in Patani Road are sitting on “hidden treasures”. (Star Online, 27.2.11)

Department releases pangolins into the wild: The 135 pangolins saved from the cooking pot by the Penang Wildlife and National Parks Depart­ment have been released into the wild. (Star Online, 27.2.11)

A fair like no other: Apart from offering the usual brochures and counselling sessions, the Star Education Fair in Penang drew in the crowds with more study options and exciting activities. (Star Online, 27.2.11)

Anyone can suffer from mental illness, says doctor: Don’t let a smiling face or a happy personality hide the fact that a person may be suffering from a mental illness. (Star Online, 27.2.11)

Cherishing the present beatitude: 47-year-old He Tian-chung experienced a car accident when he was 17. The accident caused one of his legs to become shorter for the rest of his life. (MySinchew.com, 26.2.11)

SATURDAY, February 26, 2011

Guan Eng considering action on reports: Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has instructed his lawyer to see if any action can be taken against several newspapers which had published news allegedly stating that the state government's newly formed Non-Islamic Religious Affair portfolio would challenge the position of Islam. (theSun, 25.2.11)

Asia’s third best hotel: If you have not checked out Hard Rock hotel Penang, this may be a good time to do so. (New Straits Times, 26.2.11)

A haven to pine for: Few establishments, if any, can lay claim to being the oldest and newest all at once. (Star Online, 26.2.11)

Seized pangolins to be released into the wild: A court order has been obtained to release into the forest the 135 pangolins that were recently seized by the Penang Wildlife and National Parks Depart­ment (Perhilitan). (Star Online, 26.2.11)

FRIDAY, February 25, 2011

PDC Calls For Tender To Manage Seafood And Handicraft Gallery Centre: Penang Development Corp (PDC) has invited firms involved in managing restaurants to tender for management of the Seafood and Handicraft Gallery Centre in Batu Kawan here. (Bernama, 25.2.11)

Yes 4G Network Arrives In Penang: YTL Communications Sdn Bhd's much- awaited fourth generation (4G) mobile Internet with voice service, Yes, has arrived in Penang. (Bernama, 24.2.11)

YTL expands Wimax network to Penang: Malaysian communications firm YTL Communications has rolled out its Yes-branded Wimax network to Penang. (Telecompaper, 25.2.11)

Guan Eng: FOI bill has rectifiable defects: Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng admitted today the Freedom of Information bill that his government tabled at the State Assembly last November had weaknesses but that these could be rectified. (Malaysiakini, 25.2.11)

A case of going overboard: I WAS at the magistrate’s court in Penang at 8.30am on Feb 7 for my traffic case. (Star Online, 25.2.11)

Malaysian wildlife officers nab pangolin smugglers: Malaysian police have arrested two men for attempting to smuggle 135 live pangolins worth more than 100,000 ringgit (31,750 dollars) into Thailand, officials said Friday. (Monsters and Critics, 25.2.11)

THURSDAY, February 24, 2011

Call To Help Stem Corruption In The Manufacturing Sector: The Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) has asked responsible parties to disseminate information on corruption among private sector workers in the manufacturing sector in an effort to stem the phenomenon. (Bernama, 23.2.11)

Restore building to original condition, developer told: A developer that has been ordered to rebuild a colonial-era bungalow here after illegally demolishing it last year is required to restore it to its original condition, the Penang government has clarified. (theSun, 23.2.11)

MCA wants FOI bill withdrawn: The MCA today urged the DAP-led Penang state government to withdraw the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill, saying it denied the people's right to know of government plans. (MySinchew.com, 23.2.11)

The Hiding Place for drug addicts: Before setting up "The Hiding Place" Rehabilitation Centre, the founder Qiu Qin-yuan had been sent to prison five times and had been a drug addict for eleven years and a beggar for six years. (MySinchew.com, 23.2.11)

Zhu Li vows never to come back here: Chinese tourist Zhu Li, who broke her legs when two Myanmar nationals riding a water scooter rammed into her, has vowed not to visit Malaysia again. (Star Online, 24.2.11)

WEDNESDAY, February 23, 2011

Heritage site: Unesco warns Penang government on swiflet breeding: Unesco has warned the Penang government to look into the swiftlet breeding industry at the George Town World Heritage Site or face the music. (Star Online, 23.2.11)

Court: Return drug case convicts’ properties and cash: A Sessions Court has ordered the return of about RM307,000 in properties and monies in bank accounts to seven claimants who contested the seizure of assets in a drug case. (Star Online, 23.2.11)

Viropro, Inc. Acquires A Major Biotech GMP Production Facility: VIROPRO announces it has acquired Alpha Biologics Sdn. Bhd. of Penang, Malaysia, through a Share Purchase Agreement. (4-Traders, 22.2.11)

Star, do not stoop so low! Have some decency: John Inbaraj urges the management of The Star to recognise in its news coverage that certain groups’ persistent attacks on the Penang state government have gone a little overboard. (Aliran.com, 22.2.11)

Church backs Penang's non-Muslim portfolio: The Anglican church wants the Penang government to immediately activate the newly-minted non-Muslim Affairs portfolio to address issues which affect this group. (Malaysiakini, 23.2.11)

Benchmark Electronics Announces Expansion of Precision Technologies Capabilities in Penang, Malaysia: Benchmark Electronics, Inc. (NYSE:  BHE), a leading contract manufacturing provider, today announced that it has acquired facilities and certain other assets to expand its precision technologies capabilities in Penang, Malaysia. (PR Newswire, 22.2.11)

TUESDAY, February 22, 2011

Chamber To Launch Stop Sexual Crime Against Children Campaign On Saturday: In a bid to create public awareness to combat sexual crime against children, the Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce (PCCC) will launch the Stop Sexual Crime Against Children Campaign this week. (Bernama, 22.2.11)

Decision over transfer of Syariah judge on March 22: The Penang Syariah Lower Court is to decide on March 22 the matter of transferring to the Syariah High Court a "khalwat" (close proximity) case involving a Syariah judge and a woman. (MySinchew.com, 22.2.11)

MONDAY, February 21, 2011

No Need For Non-Muslim Portfolio, Says Abdullah: There is no need for the Penang government to have a portfolio for non-Muslim affairs as the federal government has always looked after the welfare of non-Muslims, said former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. (Bernama, 20.2.11)

Guan Eng slams non-Muslim portfolio critics: Detractors of the Penang government’s new executive council portfolio for non-Islamic religious affairs have been accused of practising double standards in singling out the state. (theSun, 21.2.11)

Emulate Penang, interfaith panel urges federal gov't: An interfaith council has urged the federal government to emulate the Penang government in forming an executive portfolio to handle non-Mulism religious issues.  (Malaysiakini, 21.2.11)

Rapid Penang Needs 200 Buses More From Federal Government: The chairman of the Penang Barisan Nasional (BN) Working Committee, Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan has asked the federal government to immediately provide 200 buses to Rapid Penang Sdn Bhd (Rapid Penang) in an effort to improve the public transport system in the state. (Bernama, 21.2.11)

11 schools in Penang with 100% STPM passes: Eleven schools in Penang recorded a 100% passing rate in all subjects in the 2010 Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) examination. (theSun, 21.2.11)

New safety guidelines for Penang’s popular Batu Ferringhi: Only those who are 16 years of age and above can take part in water sports at the popular Batu Ferringhi beach from Saturday. (Star Online, 21.2.11)

Penang police detain two Iranian women, seize 6.2kg Syabu worth RM1.55 million: Penang Police made their biggest drug bust of the year by seizing 6.2kg of syabu worth RM1.55 million after arresting two Iranian women at the Penang International Airport, here last Saturday. (MySinchew.com, 21.2.11)