Sunday, 25 March 2012
Monday, 5 March 2012
20 Pykett since 2008 the only illegal demolition, developer Mah Sing to be thought a lesson so no one follows their irresponsible act.
Penang Island Municipal Council only grants permission to owners to tear down non-heritage structures
GEORGE TOWN: THE state government maintains that the demolition of old bungalows in George Town had been carried out according to the law.
Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) had recently expressed concern over the demolitions.
State Local Government and Traffic Management Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said the Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP) had only granted permission to owners to tear down non-heritage structures.
He said MPPP would check its inventory of protected buildings to determine whether the structures were categorised as buildings with historical or architectural value.
"The list was drawn up by the council and has been in use since the 1990s. If a building is not classed as a heritage or historical building, it can be torn down with the council's permit," he said.
Chow was responding to MPPP councillor Dr Lim Mah Hui's criticism of the local authorities' attitude in "only protecting houses in the Unesco World Heritage zone".
Lim, who was at last month's full-board council meeting, also called for a moratorium on the granting of approval for the demolition of buildings on the island that were more than 50 years old and had architectural value.
Lim also demanded that MPPP disclosed the number of historically and culturally significant buildings that had been approved for demolition since 2008.
He cited several examples of demolished bungalows in George Town, such as the double-storey bungalow at 20, Lebuhraya Pykett, off Jalan Burma here.
There was a public outcry when the bungalow was torn down without a council permit in July 2010. There was further criticism from the public when the developer was only fined RM6,000 by a Magistrate's Court here for the illegal demolition.
Following the Pykett incident, NGOs and civil society organisations, especially heritage conservationists, started keeping a closer watch on old bungalows in George Town.
But, that did not stop two bungalows in Lorong Burma, Pulau Tikus, one of which was occupied by former Thai premier Phraya Manopakorn Nititada (1884-1948) and another at 177, Jalan Macalister from being demolished in recent months to make way for new developments.
Chow said the local authorities had no ruling that prohibited buildings more than 50 years old from being torn down.
"When a buyer purchases a property, he will check whether the building on the property is classified as heritage or not.
"If the structure is not a heritage building and has no historical or architectural value, it would be unfair to tell the owner that he cannot knock it down," he said.
Chow stressed that there had not been cases of classified heritage buildings being torn down in George Town unlawfully.
The only unlawful demolition was that of the Pykett bungalow, Chow added.
He noted that the structure was not even classified as heritage or having historical value.
Friday, 24 February 2012
illegal demolition
佔滿歡眾席．鼓掌又發言 NGO檳市局會議踩場？
- 非政府組織的代表在會議結束后，與林馬惠（右2起）及巴達雅交流。
（檳城24日訊）非政府組織代表拉大隊，到檳島市政局月常會議踩場？
屢次被檳首長公開批評的非政府組織，今日罕見地拉大隊出席市局月常會議，以致公眾席爆滿。
在以非政府組織身分出任市議員的林馬惠致詞后，他們報以熱烈掌聲；市局巴達雅一宣佈會議結束，兩名代表更從觀眾席上舉手發言。
檳市局今日召開月常會議，出現少見的爆滿，約40名非政府組織代表佔滿所有歡眾席，出席者包括植物園之友協會代表東姑依道拉、檳州消費人協會主席依里斯、檳城古蹟信託會主席邱思妮等。
為林馬惠助陣
一般相信他們是為林馬惠助陣，因為后者在會議上，發表非政府組織，一直關注的市局拆除歷史建築物課題。
當林馬惠致詞后，非政府組織成員皆報以熱烈掌聲。
巴達雅一宣佈會議結束，非政府組織的前市議員林巧清即舉手並站起，要求市局與非政府組織應對拆除歷史建築物課題，在沒有媒體出席情況下展開對話會。
邱思妮則現場發表，本身對有關課題的看法約5分鐘，並獲得其他出席者鼓掌支持。
民眾在月常會議上鼓掌支持某市議員，與在會議結束后發言，都是少見的現象。
對此，巴達雅強調，兩人是在會議結束后才發言，並非在會議上講話。
她也要求媒體別錯誤報導，因為民眾不被允許在市局月常會議上發言。
另一方面，巴達雅也當場詢問市局法律顧問，是否允許民眾在會議結束后發言，不過由于這並非會議議程，因此沒有記錄在案。
冀重視歷史文化建築物
檳島市議員林馬惠要求市政局提供去年與今年，拆除的歷史與文化建築物數據，及呼籲市局不應只是保護古蹟建築物，也應重視歷史與文化建築物。
他說，過去12個月來，人民可看到一些歷史建築物被拆，有些則是被民眾非法拆除。
"最近位于中路門牌177號，在盧源來專科中心對面的建築被拆除，之前還有一些歷史文化建築物也被拆除。"
他舉例，車水巷與布爾克斯路事件中，3間建築物中兩間被拆除，如同砍掉一支腳而保留另一支腳。
他說，目前市局保留古蹟的方式是，只保留在古蹟區的建築物，或其它被列為古蹟的建築物。
"事實上，檳州獲世遺地位的其中一項原因，是檳島內有很多戰前建築物。"
學習新加坡反面教材
林馬惠認為，市局在管理歷史文化建築物方面，可將新加坡作為反面教材，從中學習管理歷史建築物。
"市局可考慮將古蹟城日本京都，及與檳州擁有相近特徵的廈門作為參考。"
他說，檳州可向新加坡學習正面教材，如清潔、安全與周全策劃、良好交通系統，也可學習反面教材。
"新加坡在發展城市的初期，拆除許多傳統建築物（不完全是古蹟），如今從錯誤中學習，要保留這些建築物。"
因此，他認為檳島不應重複新加坡的錯誤。"
他建議市局暫停核准拆除檳島內，所有在1962年前建造及擁有文化價值的建築物。
"市局應即刻展開保留建築物的行動，同時設立保留歷史建築物委員會，成員必須是專業人士、民間組織等，以研究相關問題。"
Illegal demolition of Penang's lost mansions
A PENANG Island Municipal Council (MPPP) councillor has called for a stop to the demolition of all buildings on the island which are more than 50 years old and have architectural value.
Dr Lim Mah Hui further demanded that the MPPP make public the number of historically and culturally significant buildings that had been approved for demolition since 2008.
He said such disclosure was needed as Penangites had been "painfully" witnessing the blatant demolition of historical buildings on the island in the past 12 months, some of which were illegal.
Dr Lim, at a full council meeting at the Town Hall building here yesterday, went on to list a few of the buildings that had been torn down, including the beautiful mansion of Khaw Bian Cheng on Pykett Avenue, two historic bungalows on Burma Lane -- one of which was occupied by former prime minister of Thailand Phraya Manopakorn Nititada and two other bungalows along Brooks Road.
Dr Lim said the Khaw Bian Cheng mansion was torn down without a permit, while in the case of the Burma Lane and Brooks Road residences, two of the three buildings in each location were torn down and only one was left standing in each place.
"This is not preservation. It is architectural and historical mutilation. It is like cutting one limb and preserving the other," he said to the applause of non-governmental organisations' representatives, who had packed the public gallery.
Dr Lim said historic mansions like the one used by the former Thai premier were an important part of the history of Thai Malaysians in Penang, but had been destroyed in the pursuit of profit and under the guise of "development".
"It is myopic to only preserve the buildings in the core heritage zone and wantonly destroy important buildings in the buffer zones and other parts of the city."
Dr Lim called on the state to explain what kind of development was being planned for Penang.
"I have heard that some policy makers want to model Penang like Singapore and Hong Kong, both of which are densely populated international financial centres.
"Perhaps, we should consider a combination of Kyoto and Xiamen, cities which are similar to Penang in terms of characteristics in size, geography and services."
Sunday, 19 February 2012
michelin guide new rest in hk
By Cathy Yan
The 2011 Michelin Guide to Hong Kong and Macau, released Thursday, awarded stars to 24 new restaurants.
Sun Tung Lok, a Chinese restaurant in Hong Kong known for its shark's fin soup, won a coveted three-star rating, joining Caprice, Lung King Heen and Robuchon à Galera in Macau.
Four new Hong Kong restaurants – two Cantonese and two Western – were each awarded two stars. Another two in Macau nabbed two-star ratings.
In total the guide includes 69 starred restaurants for Hong Kong and Macau.
Newly starred restaurants in Hong Kong include:
Three Stars:
Sun Tung Lok, Chinese (4/F, Miramar Shopping Centre, 132 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon)
Two Stars:
Celebrity Cuisine, Cantonese (1/F, Lan Kwai Fung Hotel, 3 Kau U Fong, Central)
Cuisine Cuisine at The Mira, Cantonese (3/F, The Mira Hotel, 118 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon)
8½ Otto e Mezzo, Italian contemporary (Shop 202, 2/F, Alexandra House, 18 Chater Road, Central)
Pierre, French contemporary (25/F, Mandarin Oriental Hotel, 5 Connaught Road, Central)
One Star:
Cafe Gray Deluxe, European contemporary (49/F, The Upper House, Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty)
Chilli Fagara, Sichuan (Shop E, G/F, 51A Graham Street, Soho, Central)
Din Tai Fung (Causeway Bay), Shanghainese (Shop 3-9, G/F, 68 Yee Woo Street, Causeway Bay)
Fu Ho (Tsim Sha Tsui), Cantonese (4/F Miramar Shopping Center, 132 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon)
Fung Lum, Cantonese (45-47 Tsuen Man Road, Tai Wai, Sha Tin, New Territories)
Golden Valley, Cantonese and Sichuan (1/F, The Emporor Hotel, 1 Want Tak Street, Happy Valley)
Hin Ho Curry (Shau Kei Wan), Indian (Shop 11, East Way Tower, 59-99 Main Street East, Shau Kei Wan)
Ho Hung Kee, Noodles and Congee (2 Sharp Street, Causeway Bay)
Hoi King Heen, Cantonese (B2F, Intercontinental Grand Stamford Hotel, 70 Mody Road, East Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon)
Kin's Kitchen, Cantonese (9, Tsing Fung Street, Tin Hau)
Lei Bistro, Chinese (Shop B217-218, Basement 2, Times Square, 1 Matheson Street, Causeway Bay)
Lei Garden (IFC), Cantonese (Shop 3008-3011, Podium Level 3, IFC Mall, 1 Harbour View Street, Central)
Lei Garden (Kowloon Bay), Cantonese (Shop Unit F2, Telford Plaza 1, 33 Wai Yip Street, Kowloon Bay, Kowloon)
Lei Garden (Sha Tin), Cantonese (6/F, Phase 1 New Town Plaza, Sha Tin, Kowloon)
Mist, Japanese (4 Sun Wui Road, Causeway Bay)
Nanhai No.1, Chinese contemporary (30/F, iSquare, 63 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon)
One Dim Sum, Dim Sum (15 Playing Field Road, Mong Kok, Kowloon)
Spoon by Alain Ducasse, French (G/F, Intercontinental Hotel, 18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon)
Tim Ho Wan (Sham Shui Po), Dim Sum (8 Kwong Wa Street, Mong Kok, Kowloon)
Tuesday, 31 January 2012
Fwd: 20 pykett
Resent-From: MPPP
Subject: 20 pykett
RM0.00 MPPP
Pembinaan semula premis NO. 20, Lebuhraya Pykett perlu melalui Kebenaran Merancang. Majlis telah mengeluarkan notis dibawah Sek. 27(2)(a) kepada pemilik terkini iaitu OKS.
Terima kasih. MPPP
sabariah
Wednesday, 11 January 2012
Fwd: MPPP Councillor Appraisal: Summary Report
From: sh tan <shtan0202@yahoo.com>
Date: January 12, 2012 13:53:08 GMT+08:00
To: undisclosed recipients: ;
Subject: Fw: MPPP Councillor Appraisal: Summary Report
Reply-To: sh tan <shtan0202@yahoo.com>
To residents' groups: fyi----- Forwarded Message -----
From: sembang sembang <sembangforum@gmail.com>
To: Sembang forum notification group <sembang-forum-notification-group@googlegroups.com>; msian-ngo <msian-ngo@yahoogroups.com>; pgcivilsociety <pgcivilsociety@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, 12 January 2012, 12:19
Subject: [sembang-forum 443] MPPP Councillor Appraisal: Summary ReportThe following is a summary report of the self appraisals of the MPPP councillors. Attached please also find the detailed responses by the individual MPPP councillors. If anyone has any questions regarding the responses by the councillors, you can call up them directly. Their mobile phone numbers are in the detailed report. A similar exercise is also being carried out for the MPSP councillors. They have been given up till tomorrow, Fri 13 Jan 2012 to send in their responses.regardsSH Tan=============================================================================================Background:The "Know Your Councillor" campaign was initiated by several civil society members of Penang. The objectives of the campaign are:- to raise awareness on local democracy and local election among ratepayers in the State.- to enhance good governance, competency, accountability and transparency of councillors and local government.- to assist councillors to exercise good governance and ensuring effective performance of their responsibilities.- to help ratepayers understand the roles and functions of councillors.Questionaires were emailed to all the 23 MPPP councillors on 23 Dec 2011. The councillors were asked 3 questions:1. Please list your 3 major accomplishments as a MPPP Councillor for 20112. If you are reappointed as a councillor for 2012, what will be your 3 main goals for the year?3. If you agree to be reappointed for 2012, please state why you should be reappointed?The Councillors were given fourteen days to respond to the questionnaire. They were also informed that their responses to the questionnaire will be made public.Summary of responses:A total of 17 responses were received from the 23 questionaires sent out. The breakdown of the respondents by political parties and organizations is shown in the table below:
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