PENANG joins Perak and Selangor as the only states in Malaysia that have been exempted from a plan to privatise solid waste management in the states.

Under the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Act, states will be required to privatise their solid waste management, previously the responsibility of city councils. Penang executive councillor Chow Kon Yeow received a letter from the Housing and Local Government Ministry confirming the decision. Read here.

Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Chor Chee Heung noted however that even though the three states have chosen to opt out, the door is still open for them to return to the privatisation scheme. “(The states) will not be able to get financial assistance from the Federal Government to settle the bills for such services,” he said.

For states that have chosen to take part in the privatisation scheme, three concessionaires will be responsible for their solid waste management: Alam Flora Sdn Bhd, Environment Idaman Sdn Bhd and SWM Environment Sdn Bhd. Read here.

Blinded and deafened for a good cause

The Annual Walk for Sight and Sound 2011 at the Penang Municipal Park was a big success, attracting a crowd of 2,500 people.

Participants were blindfolded and earplugged and were guided by friends and family to the Penang Botanic Gardens, 3.8km away, to allow them to better understand how the blind and deaf live. The group was led by the St George's Girl School band. Read here.

Organisers added the deaf category, a new quirk to the annual event, in a bid to do something different. The event raised some RM100,000, which will be donated to the St Nicholas Home and the Penang Deaf Association. Organisers included the Lions Club Georgetown Perdana, Penang Municipal Council and Penang State Sports Council. Read here.

Other news

• CNN survey: Assam laksa is worth going the extra mile for: Penang's famed assam laksa is one of the dishes worth traversing the world for, according to a CNN International food survey. Read here.
• Property market in Penang still vibrant: The increase in the number of exhibitors at the Star Property Fair 2011 here is an indication that the property market in Penang is still vibrant. Read here.
• BN slams DAP's 'Cash For Vote' plan: The DAP-led Penang government proposal to give cash aid of RM100 for each newborn baby has been described as vote buying for the general election. Read here.
• Filipinos win Penang skimboard contest: Skimriders from the Philippines bagged the championship trophies in both the International Men’s Division and the International Women Division in Penang, Malaysia’s 5th International Skimboarding Competition last July 16-17, 2011. Read here.
• Corruption Among Youths Worrying: The number of young people involved with corruption is becoming a concern when they made up 61 per cent of those detained in Penang between January and June this year. Read here.

For more news on Penang, please click through to iGT NetBuzz July 18 to 24, 2011 here. For daily updates, "like" iGeorgeTown on Facebook or join us on Twitter. 

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