Messups x 1 : Penang "Malfunctioned" Bus System

We have read in the numerous papers that Penang state executive councilor Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan ( whom is rumoured to be the next Penang Chief Minister if the Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon gets 'elevated' to the cabinet after he takes over the from Datuk Sri Lim Keng Yik as the President of Parti Gerkan Rakyat Malaysia) openly admitted to his failure to fix the Penang public bus system.

Couple that with the refusal by The Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Ministry on a request by the Penang government to have "full authority" over the inefficient public bus service in the state, your chance of striking 1st price in 4D is higher than seeing the Penang bus service gets improved.


It is nearing a month since the the last piece of news on the bus system revamp was published on the website. Pretty darn sure that a gag orders had been issued to the press to 'silenced off' the criticisms from affected quaters, even The Star also 'cooled down', with hope that the public will 'forget' that the problem ever existed and live happily ever after.


Not anymore this time round, vowed a group of Penangites that had suffered for the past decade.

I received this invitation by Ong BK, who is a famous NGO fighter in his own right.

Halo friends,
Protest against Penang 's non-functioning bus system


There has been enough of talk to give the non-functioning bus operators some more chances –yet it is clear to all bus users & Penangites that there is no use flogging a dead horse! A system change is needed –a real reform for our dying public transport system. Nothing less –let's send this message out loud and clear at this Friday's protest , 11-8-06 12.00noon, at Penang Rd, below KOMTAR, at Pedestrian crossing. Enq.013-5900339! See you there !


All welcome ! Please forward to more friends !


Yours sincerely,
Ong BK
Coalition for Public Transport Reform (CPT-R)

• BUG: Get new bus operators


• What the hell is Dr. Teng Hock Nan doing ?

What can RM20.00 get you ?

"That will be twenty ringgit" said Mr Taxi driver of HP1420.

That was the amount that I had to pay for getting a taxi ride from Perhentian Bus Sungai Nibong to Komtar on friday, 7th July 2006.

Was the taxi meter working ? yep sure damn it was ... it was placed in snooze mode.

Cost of living sure is high in Penang, even higher than Kuala Lumpur.

As a comparison, a taxi ride from Puduraya to KLCC in Kuala Lumpur will cost me a mere RM 6.00 and the driver instinctly switched on the meter even without me asking.

Shame ole shame Penang Taxi Driver.

Dr Teng, what can you do about that ? judging from your failure at handling the bus reorg exercise in April 2006, my hope on you is diminishing at exponential order ...

Spotted in Penang, a 110cc Multi Purposed Utility Vehicle !

Recent events of the reduction of fuel subsidies, disappointing National Auto Policy and increment of automotive interest repayment rates must have hit hard on the common Penangites.

So much so that this pair of Penangites opted for an 110CC locally assembled AP not required petrol consuming vehicle to make a living.

I salute them for their R&D spirit

Order of the city in the hands of these people

Citizen of Penang, particularly George Town dwellers, will have to deal with these people for the next 24 months.

These ladies and gentlemen, presumably experienced hands in dealing with urban planning and management were appointed by the BN government to take up office for the next 2 years.

According to the Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan, he entrust incoming MPPP President, Datuk Abu Bakar Hassan, who has vast experience in various departments in federal and state governments, with his last appointment as Negeri Sembilan Land and Mineral office chief.

MPPP President 2006-2007, Datuk Abu Bakar Hassan

He will take over from Ahmad Phesal, whose notable creations includes Salted Dug Eggs, Gigantic Yeast Infested Penis, Giant cement seashells, just to name a few, Each of these eyesores cost no less than RM 300,000 of tax payers monies while generate absolute ZERO return.

As usual, any incoming MPPP president will come with a plan. What Abu Bakar 'dreamed' for Georgetown in the next 24 months are:

• Most advance state/city in Malaysia


• Cleanest state/city in Malaysia


• Best place to live in Malaysia

Just like Air Asia Motto: Now everyone can fly, Abu Bakar deserves to dream.

However, Air Asia can send everyone to their destination, can Abu Bakar realise his dream?

Will he be the one man that can deliver that previous Prime Minister of Malaysia + Penang Chief Minister + 5 MPPP presidents collectively failed to deliver for nearly 2 decades?

How many seashells can you get for RM 500,000 ?

The answer : 12 giant cement made seashells

No that long ago Penang was honoured with (a) 2 groups of 'metalic hibiscus', but to the public looks more like yeast infested penis & (b) a couple of metalic betel nuts, which however the bulk of Penangites thinks the art piece looks more like 'salted duck eggs'.

(a)Metalic Hibiscus along RECSAM roundabout at RM 300,000



(b)Metalic Betel Nuts not far from Penang Legislative Council at RM 350,000

But wait, our creative city council have more in the bag, the latest 'creation' for us all is the RM 500,000.00 worth of cement sea shells.

These cement seashells are erected at an vacant plot opposite of St xaviers Institution / Citybayview Hotel in Farquar Street. The area used to field some greens and well shaded. It was frequented by trishaw riders for a nap in the hot and humid afternoon.


What wonders the Penangites are why these cement structures erected at a place where there is no beach in view but the next 10km up north ? even so I doubt that many would dare to dip in the water considering that the only sewage treatment plant on the island, which is located along Jelutong expressway, is scheduled to get ready by 2007.


It was mentioned in the press that MPPP Council president Datuk Ahmad Phesal Talib said the need to increase assessment is necessary to cover the escalating cost of the council's expenditures.


Yeah right, Mr President, stop giving excuses, you can help save up RM 1.15 million by canning these ugly and useless beautification projects !


[Supporting News]
Council may remove hibiscus structures


Thursday, May 19, 2005
The Penang Municipal Council may remove some of the hibiscus structures at the Jalan Udini Road roundabout if they do not blend with the surroundings.
Its president Datuk Ahmad Phesal Talib said the council was in the middle of implementing its beautification project at the roundabout.
“We are only at the beginning stage of landscaping and the public should give us a chance to finish the project before making negative remarks about the design.
“However, we may remove some of the structures if they are viewed as obscene or offensive,” he said yesterday.
Ahmad Phesal said the cylindrical structures were meant to light up the area at night, and the coloured lights in the cylinders would later be synchronised with other lights


Saturday July 30, 2005 - Pinang ‘fruits’ for roundabout
By Priscilla Dielenberg


A FOUNTAIN with a 4.8m-high metal structure re-sembling giant pinang fruits will be erected at the roundabout next to the clock tower at King Edward's Place in George Town.
The Penang Municipal Council’s landscaping, beautification and recreation committee alternate chairman Lim Kean Guan said work on the roundabout was scheduled for completion before National Day.
“We decided on a pinang structure because of its significance in the state.
“More than 20 mature pinang trees will be planted in the area,” he said, adding that the project would cost about RM350,000.
”The roundabout used to feature flowers but flowers do not represent anything, they just look nice,” he said.


Higher assessment rates for Penang
by Siow Yuen Ching of The Star


PENANG:Property owners on Penang island will have to pay higher assessment rates next year, with increase ranging from 2.9% to 6.4%.
With the increase, Penang Municipal Council expects to collect a total of RM115.4mil in assessment rates next year, an 8% increase from this year.
Council president Datuk Ahmad Phesal Talib said the increase was necessary to cover the escalating cost of the council's expenditures.
This increase in assessment rate will be the third over the past 12 years.
The last increment was in 2000.

The RM 350,000.00 'Salted Duck Egg' 咸鸭蛋

These artistic Pinang (Betel Nut) fruit, which looks like metalic salted duck eggs cost the tax payers RM 350,000.00

These organic salted duck eggs cost me RM 1.70

According to Kwong Wah Yit Poh, the 4.8 m tall pinang fruit will be the latest landmark in Penang. Built with a pricetag of RM 350,000.00 from MPPP, it will be officitiate by Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan coming Sunday evening in conjunction of Penang Shine Walk event.

Do we really need another useless eyesore ?

Hasn't the MPPP learn from the past mistakes ? We had had enough the neon colored palm trees at Gurney Drive roundabout, eerie green bamboo plots at the junction of Macalister Road / Peel Avenue, Seagulls that seems to fly to nowhere along Jelutong Expressway and musrooms that looks more like erected penis at the RECSAM roundabout, and now we get this big 'metalic salted duck egg' 咸鸭蛋

RM 350,000.00 is alot of money, it is much better spent to upgrade the facilities at Jubilee Old Folks Home in Sungai Dua, that will make the residents a bunch of happy old folks for the Merdeka day.

Does this salted duck egg 咸鸭蛋 reflect the ever degrading state of affair in Penang ?

Chief Minister to open his 'gigantic fruit' for all to see at Malaysia Voters Union

Traffic offenders of the week

These photos were taken after I finish dealing with some bloodsucker along Beach Street. Either the polis are too busy or simply apply the 3B motto :

• Boh Chap ( Don't Care )


• Boh Kuan ( Don't Mind )


• Boh Bak Kua ( No eye see )

PQ 1 Waiting at the Bus Stop. The owner of this Proton Perdana must be some big ball fella since normal tax paying citizen of Penang can't afford to have a number plate of 1. There is a fella at the driver seat but that does not give him the right to stop at the free shuttle lot

PGA 3255 Another big ball fella which is color blind, blinded by the color yellow.

PEH 4672 Superb parking skill, can park at the corner next to the round about and pretended to be blind.

WMB 4583 Know why there is always jam near the Pasar Chowrasta strech in Penang Road ? This dumb arse driver tripple parked and decided to exit his car just like that.

Hooray !!! Penang Leads !!!

We worsen ourselves from Penang Darul Sampah to Penang Darul Parking Lot

10 useful tips on saving on fuel, and your pocket

I receive this chain mail in my inbox this morning, which is relevant to the situation that we are in now.

Tips to save Petrol( to break-even the 10 sen raised ).

1) Pump up your tyres.

Keeping your tyres inflated is one of the easiest and most important things. Saving petrol means saving money one can do to improve fuel economy. If a range is recommended by the manufacturer, the higher pressure should beused to maximize fuel efficiency.

Deflated tyres run hot and jeopardize safety. It will also cause the tyres to wear out prematurely, affect the vehicles adversely, and hurt the fuel economy by increasing therolling resistance. Tyres lose about 1 psi pressure per month due to air loss caused by the tyre hitting holes, bumps and kerbs.

Therefore, the tyres should be checked at least once a month. Just 1 tyre deflated by 2 psi will result in a 1% increase in fuelconsumption.

2) Drive at moderate speed.

Avoiding high speeds on open roads results in safer driving and better fueleconomy. In highway driving, over 50% of the power produced by the engine is used to overcome aerodynamic drag.

Drag and thus fuel consumption increases rapidlyat speeds above 90km/h. On the average, a car uses about 15% more fuel at100km/h, and 25% more fuel at 110km/h compared to when it is doing only 90km/h.

However, this should not lead one to conclude that the lower the speed, thebetter the fuel economy because it is not. The fuel consumption of an average car increases sharply at speeds below 50km/h.

3) Clean the air-filter regularly

Clogged air filters increase fuel consumption by restricting airflow to theengine, and thus should be cleaned/replaced when necessary. Clogged airfilters can increase fuel consumption by up to 10%.

4) Use thinner tyres

Tyres with thick width will improve the handling of your car. However, it will also increase your car's fuel consumption. Thicker tyres mean more rolling resistance! , and thus will consume more fuel.

5) Start up the car properly

With today's cars, it is not necessary to prime the engine first by pumpingthe accelerator pedal repeatedly. Do not crank the engine excessively. This only wastes fuel.

When starting theengine, idle it no more than 30 seconds to warm it up.An engine will warm up faster on the road.

However, avoid suddenacceleration before the engine has warmed up sufficiently.

6) Drive in high gear (overdrive)

The engine runs most efficiently between around 1,500 and 2,500 rpm. To maintain these low revs you should change up through the gears as soon as practical and before the revs reach 2500 rpm. For automatic transmission cars,you should always switch on your overdrive to help save fuel.

Overdrivewill allow your engine to change gears at lower revs. It also puts your transmission into an "economy" mode and lets it engagethe final "overdrive" gear when cruising to!keep the rpms extra low, thereby increasing fuel economy.

7) Travel light

Avoid carrying any unnecessary weight in your car. On the average, every 50kg added load in your car will increase fuel consumption by 2%.

8) Anticipate traffic ahead

A driver can reduce fuel consumption by up to 10% by anticipating trafficconditions ahead and adjusting the speed accordingly, and avoidingtailgating and thus unnecessary braking and acceleration. Accelerations anddecelerations waste fuel.

Braking and abrupt stops can be minimized by notfollowing too closely and slowing down gradually when approaching a redlight. It takes up to six times as much fuel to move a car from a dead stopthan it does for one moving at just a few km/h.

9) Avoid strong acceleration

The fuel consumption remains at a minimum during steady driving at amoderate speed of about 90km/h. Keep in mind that every time the accelerator is hard pressed, t! he enginegoes into a "fuel-enrichment" mode of operation thatwastes fuel. The vehicle should always be gradually and smoothlyaccelerated. Using cruise control on highways can help maintain a constant speed andreduce fuel consumption.

10) Minimise aerodynamic drag

Additional parts on the exterior of a vehicle such as roof racks andspoilers, or having the window open, Roof racks are bad for fuel economy increases air resistance and fuelconsumption, in some cases by over 20%.

11) Don't let your engine idle

Minimize fuel wasted in idling by stopping the engine whenever your car isstopped or held up for an extended period of time. Idling more than a minute consumes much more fuel than restarting the engine.

By having the engine switched off, you will save more fuel than is lost from the burst offuel involved in restarting the engine. The net increased wear and tearfrom this practice is negligible.

12) Use the air-con sparingly

Air conditioners can use about 10 per cent extra fuel when operating. However, at speeds of over 80 km/h, use of air conditioning is better for fuel economy than an open window