Ribut kencang di Parlimen Bagan

BUTTERWORTH,4 Novemeber 2012 - Bumbung di tiga blok bangunan Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Mak Mandin rosak teruk akibat diterbangkan angin dalam kejadian ribut pada kira-kira pukul 3 petang, hari Ahad ini.

Angin kencang itu turut menerbangkan bumbung beberapa buah rumah serta bangunan berhampiran sekolah itu sehingga bertaburan di atas jalan raya.

Pengetua SMK Mak Mandin Teh Siew Hong berkata beliau berasa syukur kerana ribut itu tidak menjejaskan kelas yang akan digunakan untuk peperiksaan Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) yang bermula esok.

"Namun saya bimbang keadaan tidak selesa bagi calon-calon SPM esok kerana bekalan elektrik terputus dan saya harap peperiksaan dapat diteruskan juga," katanya kepada pemberita di sini hari ini.

Teh berkata kejadian itu adalah kali pertama dialami sekolah itu sejak dibuka 34 tahun lalu dan pihaknya sedang menilai jumlah kerosakan.

Sementara itu, kejadian tersebut telah mendapat perhatian daripada Penyelaras Parlimen Bagan, yang mana peruntukan segera sebanyak RM20,000.00 diberikan kepada SMK Mak Mandin bagi kerja-kerja baik pulih bumbung sekolah.

Selain daripada itu Barisan Nasional Pulau Pinang akan menyalurkan sumbangan kepada mangsa ribut bagi meringankan mereka membaiki kerosakan akibat bencaba tersebut.

Pengusaha kantin sekolah itu, Salbiah Ahmad, 62, berkata ketika kejadian dia dan anak serta dua saudaranya sedang mengemas barang-barang jualan untuk sesi persekolahan esok.

"Makcik terkejut dengar bunyi kuat seperti guruh di atas bumbung dan tiba-tiba nampak bumbung terangkat menyebabkan kami semua meniarap ketakutan di atas lantai.

"Ia amat menakutkan namun bersyukur kerana semuanya selamat," katanya.

Source : Bernama

Driving home safety message

Butterworth,12 October 2012 : SOME 100 drivers from government agencies and the private sector went home equipped with better knowledge after attending a course on safe driving. The one-day course was jointly organised by the Bagan Barisan Nasional coordinator’s office and Social Security Organisation (Socso) with the co-operation of the Road Safety Department (JKJR), Puspakom Sdn Bhd and ISO Training Academy. It was held at the Safira Country Club in Seberang Jaya near Butterworth yesterday.

Educating drivers: Chua (left) handing over a certificate of participation to Tan (right) during the seminar in Butterworth. With him (from second left) are Jegan, Nurlaily and Hamizan

Bagan Barisan coordinator David Chua said the course would create awareness on safe driving. “Each day when you open the newspapers, you will find news on fatal accidents. “Such programmes meant to instil discipline on the road should be extended to the public,” Chua told a press conference after officiating the event. He hoped future similar courses would be conducted in other languages besides Bahasa Malaysia, as more people would understand better if conducted in their vernacular languages. Also present were Sungai Puyu Barisan coordinator Sum Yoo Keong, Chua’s personal assistant Mohd Nordin Saad, Socso executive officer Nurlaily Abd Latif, state JKJR director S. Jegan, Puspakom customers care advisor (northern region) Hamizan Zainal and ISO Training Academy chief executive Frank Tan. Chua said the seminar was conducted by experienced training personnel who carried out nationwide courses and trained many multinational companies’ drivers. He thanked Tan for conducting the training free under the academy’s social corporate responsibility programme. All participants received a certificate of attendance at the end of the seminar. Meanwhile, Jegan said about one million new vehicles were registered each year and about 300,000 new drivers were on the road. As such, road safety courses were vital.

Muhibbah in Parliament Bagan

A SENSE of muhibbah prevailed at Pesta Tanglung Bagan 2012 as several Indian and Malay families joined the Chinese community in celebrating the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival.

The event, organised by Bagan Barisa

n Nasional together with more then 30 organisations, was held at Lorong Tanjung Aman 4, off Jalan Raja Uda in Butterworth, and drew a crowd of over 5,000 people.

Many Indian and Malay children were thrilled when they lit paper lanterns with their parents and family members before taking part in a kilometre-long lantern procession in the vicinity.

Led by a Jalur Gemilang flag bearer and a dragon dance group, the people closely followed Penang Barisan chief Teng Chang Yeow, who opened the event, Bagan Barisan leaders and 32 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the 15 minute-long procession on Saturday.

Some 1,000 colourful paper lanterns and candles were given away free at the event, which was held from 6.30pm till 11pm.

Factory operator B. Paremeswari, 33, said she wanted her sons Jesse Eleazar, seven, and Issac Benjamin, six, to experience a Chinese festival.

“I was especially surprised to see a group of Chinese kindergarten children dancing to a Tamil number on stage,” she said, adding that it reflected respect toward another’s culture and language.

Factory assistant supervisor Norazizul Rahman Jamaluddin, 35, said his elder daughter Nur Farah Nabilah, 10, joined a Gangnam Style dance performance while his younger daughter Nur Farah Farzana, six, danced to an Indian song at the event.

“We are excited as this is our first time attending a lantern festival after reading about it in the media,” he said.

Grandfather Phong Kok Wah, 59, brought his wife and their three grandchildren to the event, noting that they did not want the young ones to miss out on the excitement.

Barisan’s Bagan parliamentary constituency coordinator David Chua, who is also Bagan MCA Youth chief, said the festival was no longer enjoyed by just the Chinese community, but by other races as well.

“It is a non-religious festival and therefore, all races can celebrate it together,” he said.

Some 20 children aged between three years and 12 years old from Little World Kindergarten also performed Chinese, Malay and Indian dances in tune with the 1Malaysia concept.

Ho Kee Siang, 37, from the Seberang Prai Saolim Martial Arts Association said 50 students aged between six years and 18 years performed 20 different shaolin stunts at the event, which included those that used long and short weapons.

Highlight of the event was a traditional Chinese mask changing performance by Danny Goh and his wife, Li Hong from the Yan Yang Tian Te Ji Group in Kuala Lumpur.

The duo also performed several folk songs and acrobatic stunts such as spinning bowls on sticks, fire baton balancing on the mouth and escaping from chains tied to the body.

Some 300 dancers, mainly women, from the Lily Tan Modern Dance Studio performed a Gangnam Style flash mob and several line dancing items, while another 330 members from the Butterworth Chinese Traditional Dance Group performed qi gong and modern dances.

Big Bowl Station owner K. K. Lim was a crowd-puller among the 60-odd stalls with his unique teddy bear faced deep-fried Korean pocket burgers, while others sold various snacks from chicken wings, fried bihun to spring potatoes and Taiwan ice jelly.

Young Malaysian Movement North Seberang Prai branch added splendour to the festival by exhibiting 41 lanterns that were submitted for a competition.

Many of the creatively-designed lanterns used recycled materials including ping pong balls, shuttlecocks, straws, palm leaves, plastic bottles and shells.

A community lantern-making competition was also held at the Super Tanker Food Court at Taman Lip Sin on Saturday as part of the Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations.

Lanterns of various designs and colours were up for display including exotic ones which included those with bird and flower-shaped motifs.

Winner Ching Eng Hong, 50, a printing shop owner, captivated the hearts of the judges with his rectangular garden-themed lantern.

He walked away with a RM200 voucher from Sunshine Square.

Also present were Bayan Baru Barisan coordinator Por Joo Tee and Batu Uban coordinator Goh Kheng Sneah.

Taxi drivers up in arms

(Butterworth, 2 Oct, 2012) MEMBERS of the Butterworth Terminal Taxi Drivers and Hired Cars Owners Associa-tion want the authorities to act against non-members of the association, who are jeopardising their livelihood. 

Association chairman Abdul Wahab Hashim said drivers of taxis and hired cars, who are non-members of the association and from other parts of Butterworth, had been picking up passengers at the Sultan Abdul Halim Ferry Terminal in Butterworth. 

“They pick up new passengers at the terminal after dropping off their passengers there. 

“This is affecting the livelihood of our members, who are operating in the area,” he told reporters after Bagan Barisan Nasional coordinator David Chua presented a RM2,000 cheque to the association on Tuesday night. 

Also present was Bagan Dalam Barisan coordinator M. Karuppanan. 

All ears: Chue (second right) with Karuppanan (third right) and Sungai Puyu Barisan Nasional coordinator Sum Yoo Keong (right) listening to the problems faced by members of the Butterworth Terminal Taxi Drivers and Hired Cars Owners Association ar the Sultan Abdul Halim Ferry Terminal

The association also called upon the Land Public Transport Commission to conduct a study on the problems faced by owners of the hired cars and taxis. 

Abdul Wahab said the owners were forced to take an oath to renew their permits despite having their vehicles examined by Puspakom. 

“Why do the owners have to take an oath to renew their permits when Puspakom has already inspected the vehicles?” he asked. - The Star.Metro 

Pesta Tanglung Bagan 2012 at 6 Sept. (Sat)

Date: 6.10.2012(Saturday)
Time: 6.30pm-11pmVenue: Lorong Tanjung Aman 4, off Jalan Raja Uda, 12300 Butterworth。

Some 5,000 people from all walks of life are expected to throng the Pesta Tanglung Bagan 2012 this Saturday, organised by the Bagan BN with the assistance fo more than 30 organisations.

The event will be held at the field in Lorong Tanjung Aman 4, Taman Aman Tanjung, off Jalan Raja Uda, Butterworth, from 6.30pm to 10.30pm.

Organising chairman Lim Hai Song said various events has been lined up to liven up the night.

He said the event would be officiated by Penang Barisan Nasional chief Teng Chang Yeow and attended by several Barisan component party leaders.

"The event will be held on a grand scale for the second time with its basic aim of promoting the Chinese culture and its traditions," Lim told a press conference held at the Pusat Community Police SPU in Butterworth.

Lim said 1,000 lanterns would be given to children on a first-come-first-served basis, and there would be a lantern procession in the area.

Gadis OKU ditolak dari kereta

Sara (kiri) ditemani David Chua (dua, kanan) melihat keadaan Sofia (dua, kiri) yang ditinggalkan anggota keluarganya semasa ditemui di Kampung Federal, malam kelmarin.

BAGAN, 21 September 2012 - Siapa lagi yang mahu diharap oleh seorang anak istimewa yang memegang kad pengenalan diri sebagai orang kurang upaya (OKU) selain anggota keluarga sendiri.

Namun dalam satu kejadian yang berlaku di Kampung Cantik di sini, dua hari lalu, remaja malang itu, Sofia (bukan nama sebenar) dikatakan telah ditolak keluar dari kereta dipercayai dilakukan oleh anggota keluarganya sendiri.

Sofia, 29, seorang anak tunggal yang mengalami masalah lembam. 

Mujur kejadian yang menimpa gadis yang memegang kad Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat (JKM) itu dilihat oleh seorang penduduk kampung.

 Saksi kejadian, Sara Che Daud, 54, berkata, dia melihat Sofia terjatuh dipercayai selepas ditolak dari sebuah kereta di jalan masuk ke kampungnya sekitar jam 12.50 tengah hari, Ahad lalu.

 Sara ketika itu dalam perjalanan pulang dari menghadiri majlis kenduri.

Menurut Sara, dia kemudian mendekati remaja itu.

 "Saya cukup terkejut apabila mendapati wanita yang ditolak keluar dari kereta itu ialah Sofia yang mempunyai pertalian saudara dengan ahli keluarga saya.

 “Saya terus menghubungi seorang anggota keluarga untuk mengambilnya,” katanya.

 Bimbang sesuatu yang lebih buruk menimpa gadis istimewa itu, mereka kemudian menghubungi Penyelaras Barisan Nasional (BN) Parlimen Bagan, David Chua Teik Siang untuk minta bantuan.. 

Ditemui di rumah Sara selepas menziarahi Sofia, David berkata, dia telah melihat keadaan gadis itu semalam dan menghubungi JKM Seberang Perai Utara (SPU) bagi tindakan selanjutnya memandangkan Sofia pemegang kad OKU.

 Sementara itu, Pegawai Kebajikan Daerah SPU, Abdul Rahim Mohd Aliff berkata, pihaknya akan ambil Sofia untuk ditempatkan sementara di rumah kebajikan terpilih dan berusaha menjejaki ibu kandungnya bagi bantu menyelesaikan kes penjagaannya. - Sinar Harian

State govt urged to clarify ‘confusing’ reports over Mak Mandin land

THE state government should clarify whether it plans to give or sell the 0.83ha (2.06 acre) plot of land in Mak Mandin for the relocation of 70 squatter families from Rumah Hijau Mak Mandin.

Barisan Nasional’s Bagan constituency co-ordinator David Chua said several mainstream newspapers had quoted Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng on July 4 as saying that the state had identified a piece of land in Jalan Mak Mandin 5 for the construction of replacement flat units for the affected families.

He said Guan Eng also said that he hoped the Federal Government would quickly approve a grant for the construction of affordable housing units there.

“However, in the July 16-31 edition of the state government’s Buletin Mutiara, it was reported that the state was offering the piece of land for the Federal Government to buy and build 300 units of flats for the residents.

“We are a little confused by the Buletin Mutiara report,” he told reporters at the Bagan MCA division office in Jalan Kampung Benggali, Butterworth, yesterday.

Chua, who is also Bagan MCA Youth chief, said if the state government was sincere in wanting to help the Rumah Hijau residents, why did it only decide to find a piece of land for their relocation after four years of coming into power in Penang.

Seeking clarification: Chua (second left) with Bagan MCA vice-chairman Sum Yoo Keong and Bagan MCA members holding copies of Buletin Mutiara reports and other related documents during the press conference

He also urged the state government to provide the necessary contour plan for the land to the National Housing Department so that an architect could be appointed to start working on the replacement flat’s design.

On another matter, Chua called on Guan Eng to provide low-cost housing units from the state’s People’s Housing Project (PPR) in Ampang Jajar, Seberang Prai, to some 11 squatter families who face eviction in Kampung Federal, off Jalan Siram here.

Chua also criticised the state for not having any plans to build low-cost housing units within the Bagan parliamentary constituency.

State Town and Country Planning, Housing and Arts Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai said Lim, in a letter to Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Chor Chee Heung dated June 21, had said that the state agreed to allocate a piece of land for the relocation of the squatters.

“The chief minister also threw an offer to the Federal Government to consider buying up the particular piece of land.

“So, the ball is in the Federal Government’s court. The state did not impose any specific condition that the Federal Government must buy the piece of land,” he said.

State executive councillor Lim Hock Seng, who is also Bagan Jermal assemblyman, said the state had already submitted a location plan of the piece of land to the National Housing Department.

“We are willing to provide further assistance to whatever information and details that is required by the department to expedite the construction of the flats,” he said, adding that the residents there had already waited for more than 40 years for their problem to be resolved.

On the Kampung Federal issue, Hock Seng said the state could consider offering low-cost units to the 11 families in the same flat block as the one proposed for the Rumah Hijau squatters, provided they were willing to move into high-rise flats.

-The Star-

BN asks Penang govt who's paying for land?

by S. Arulldas

Location: 

BUTTERWORTH

THE state government has been asked to clarify whether the land allocated for the Rumah Hijau longhouse residents in Mak Mandin for low-cost homes is under the state's expense or if the National Housing Department (NHD) is paying for it.

Penang Barisan Nasional (BN) treasurer David Chua said that state executive councillor and Bagan Jermal assemblyman Lim Hock Seng had issued contradictory statements on the matter in the state's official monthly newsletter Bulletin Mutiara.

"First, he said the state is allocating the 0.082ha site land on Jalan Mak Mandin for free and then he said the NHD will have to pay it," Chua, who is also the Bagan MCA Youth head, told reporters.

He said the state had initially agreed to give a piece of state land for free to allow the department to build low-cost flat units to the affected residents.

Chua said it was understood that the state should provide a piece of land for the NHD to build low-cost flats for the affected 70 families.

The families will soon have to vacate their homes when a private development project starts.

Chua also wants Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who is also the MP for Bagan, to explain why he had asked the department to build 300 low-cost units there when there were only 70 families left in the area.

State Housing Committee chairman Wong Hon Wei and Hock Seng could not be reached for comments.

BN Bagan edar Jalur Gemilang

Bagi memeriahkan sambutan Hari Kemerdekaan Ke-55 negara yang akan disambut tidak lama lagi, Pusat Khidmat Penyelaras Barisan Nasional (BN) Parlimen Bagan, Pulau Pinang mengedarkan kira-kira 2,000 Jalur Gemilang pelbagai saiz kepada orang ramai di Pasar Awam Apollo, Jalan Raja Uda, Butterworth baru-baru ini.

Penyelarasnya, David Chua Teik Siang berkata, kesemua Jalur Gemilang itu habis diedarkan kepada orang ramai dalam masa kurang daripada sejam.

"Walaupun sibuk membeli barangan, orang ramai tetap datang untuk mendapatkan Jalur Gemilang percuma yang diedarkan kepada mereka.

TEIK SIANG (kanan) mengedarkan Jalur Gemilang kepada seorang peniaga di Pasar Awam Apollo, Jalan Raja Uda, Butterworth baru-baru ini.

"Ini menunjukkan, rakyat di negeri ini masih mempunyai semangat patriotik yang tinggi untuk bersama-sama meraikan Hari Kemerdekaan negara yang bakal disambut pada 31 Ogos ini," katanya. - KOSMO! Online

For the love of Malaysia

MERDEKA fever was in the air in Jalan Raja Uda, Butterworth, when about 2,000 Jalur Gemilang flags, of various sizes, were distributed to the young and the old there.

Bagan Barisan Nasional coordinator David Chua led a team comprising Sungai Puyu Barisan coordinator Sum Yoo Keong, Bagan Jermal BN coordinator Teh Lay Cheng and Bagan Dalam BN coordinator M. Karuppanan to give away the flags as early as 8.30am.

Other Barisan component party members and leaders including Bagan Umno special officer Abdul Hamid Ibrahim, Bagan MIC secretary S. Muniandy and Bagan People’s Progressive Party (PPP) chairman M. Puroshotman assisted them.

The Barisan coordinators took turns to place the Jalur Gemilang on passing vehicles.

“We want to ignite the spirit of patriotism among the people by distributing the flags and the response from the public has been very encouraging,” Chua told reporters yesterday, adding that the Jalur Gemilang is a symbol of the nation’s identity.

Flag bearers: (From right) Chua and Sum distributing Jalur Gemilang to fishmongers and shoppers at Apollo Market in Butterworth, Penang.

He urged those who did not receive the free flags to purchase it themselves and display it with pride at their homes as well as work premises.

He added it is important to relish and remember the country’s struggle for independence.

“Our nation’s forefathers had sacrificed a lot in order to ensure a better future for us all,” he said.

Chua said the younger generation should always be reminded of the country’s Merdeka Day, so they would not take the nation’s sovereignty for granted.

The Barisan coordinators and their group later proceeded to the Mak Mandin Rumah Hijau area to distribute Jalur Gemilang.

Repairing Rumah Hijau

RESIDENTS in 70 homes at Rumah Hijau longhouses in Mak Mandin, Butterworth, can now look forward to having better roofs over their heads.

This is because work to repair the homes has already started with a RM140,000 allocation from the Implementation and Coordination Unit (ICU) of the Prime Minister’s Department.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced the allocation for the project during his official visit to the Bagan parliamentary constituency on June 16.

The repair works will be carried out by two NGOs — Pertubuhan Islam Komuniti Bagan and Gerakan Belia 4B Malaysia Butterworth branch.

Two cheques for RM100,000 and RM40,000 were handed over to the two bodies respectively by state development officer Datuk Nik Ali Mat Yunus at a simple ceremony held at the Rumah Hijau housing area.

Also present were Bagan Barisan Nasional coordinator David Chua, Sungai Puyu Barisan coordinator Sum Yoo Keong, Rumah Hijau Mak Mandin Residents Association chairman Sim Seang Kwang and Pertubuhan Islam Komuniti Bagan representative Abd Hamid Ibrahim.

Happy moment: Nik Ali (left), NGO representatives and Rumah Hijau residents rejoicing during the handing over of cheques worth RM140,000 to start repair work on the squatter houses in Mak Mandin, Butterworth, Penang

Nik Ali in his speech said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak attended six meet the people sessions in Penang between 2011 and this year, while his deputy attended 29 similar programmes and approved RM39.1mil for various projects.

Among the projects was the Rumah Hijau repair works, he added.

He said the repair works were expected to be completed before the Hari Raya Aidil Fitri celebrations.

Nik Ali also praised Chua for his commitment in helping the rakyat in the Bagan constituency.

Helping out: Bagan Barisan Nasional coordinator David Chua (on ladder), Penang ICU’s development officer Datuk Nik Ali Mat Yunus (second left), Rumah Hijau Mak Mandin Residents Association chairman Sim Seang Kwang (left) and Rumah Hijau residents laying new roofing sheets on the roof of a longhouse

Chua in his speech said that priority in repairing the houses would be given to Muslims in view of the Hari Raya festivity.

“I hope the others will be patient for their houses to be repaired,” he said.

He said he spoke to Muhyiddin about the pathetic condition of the Rumah Hijau houses during the DPM’s visit to Bagan and the deputy premier immediately approved the sum of RM140,000 for the repair works.

Chua also urged the Penang Government to expedite the documentation for the low-cost flat to be built for the Rumah Hijau residents.

“Once the documents are ready, we can draw up the plan to built the units and the residents can be expected to move in three years from now, he added. – The Star/Metro North

Chua: Federal Govt will help

BARISAN Nasional’s Bagan constituency co-ordinator David Chua says he will seek funds from the Federal authorities to buy a piece of land to resettle the remaining 70 families living in the Rumah Hijau longhouses in Mak Mandin.

He said the party could not wait for Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng to negotiate terms with owners of three parcels of land near the original site to buy up one of the parcels for the same purpose.

“Back in March, he took representatives from the Rumah Hijau Bagan Residents Association to meet officers at the Housing and Local Government Ministry to apply for funds to build a low-cost flat block.

“As a result from that visit, the National Housing Department wrote a letter to them saying that it was willing to consider their application.

“I am confident the Federal Government will provide the funds to buy an alternative piece of land somewhere else, as well as funds to build the replacement housing units,” he told a press conference yesterday.

On Monday, Lim had said that the state government was prepared to buy or acquire a 1ha plot of land in Mak Mandin to assist the Federal Government in the relocation of all 240 families from the Rumah Hijau longhouses.

Lim had said that the state had identified three parcels of land, each measuring about 1ha near the longhouses, as options to facilitate the construction of a replacement flat block.

Chua said he disagreed with Lim’s move on Tuesday to ask the Federal Government to build 350 replacement flat units for the over 300 families, who originally stayed at the Rumah Hijau longhouses.

He said most of the families have already moved into housing units in a low-cost flat block in Ampang Jajar, built by a private developer in 2009.

“I do not see why we have to drag them out of their housing units in Ampang Jajar as many had spent a lot of money to renovate their units.

“However, I will conduct a survey to determine how many families are willing to give up their Ampang Jajar flat units and join the remaining 70 families in seeking for replacement units in their old Rumah Hijau site itself,” he said.

Chua also quizzed the state what it planned to do with the Ampang Jajar flat units of those families that opt to move out and occupy units in the proposed replacement flat block in the Rumah Hijau area.

“Is the state saying that these families are entitled to two housing units, one in Ampang Jajar and another in the proposed flat block at the Rumah Hijau site?.

“Or is the state delaying this for political purposes?” he said.

Residents all eager over DPM’s visit to Butterworth

DEPUTY Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s visit to Bagan in Butterworth on Saturday where more than 30,000 people will greet him will be the first made by a deputy prime minister.

He will be in the parliamentary constituency for the ‘Jom Bersama TPM — Semarak Kasih Rakyat’ programme in Raja Uda.
More than 200 hawkers will be serving local delights to the visitors.

Muhyiddin is also scheduled to meet local leaders from all communities in the Bagan parliamentary constituency.

Bagan Implementation Coordination Unit coordinator and Bagan MCA youth chief David Chua said the event would be held at the field behind the Caltex service station in Lorong Aman 4, off Jalan Raja Uda between 2pm and 6pm.

“We are excited over his visit as this is the first time a deputy prime minister is visiting Bagan and the people are eagerly waiting for the event,” he said during a press conference held at Bagan MCA division headquarters in Jalan Kampung Benggali, Butterworth, yesterday.

Also present were Bagan Umno representative Aminah Ishanak, Bagan Jermal Barisan coordinator Sum Yoo Keong, state MIC representative L. Balasubramaniam and Bagan PPP chairman M. Purushotaman.

Looking forward: Bagan ICU Co-ordinator David Chua (third right) with the organising committee members posing for a photo in Butterworth, Penang

Chua said they would be distributing 30,000 food coupons worth RM300,000 to the visitors through non-governmental organisations, associations and clubs in Bagan.

He said visitors with the coupons are also eligible for a lucky draw with a 42-inch LCD TV as first prize, a fridge (second prize) and a laptop (third prize) as well as 53 other prizes.

He said buses would be provided to the residents in low-cost flats to transport them to the venue.

He said more than 5,500 T-shirts would be distributed to members of Barisan component parties.

He added that Tourism Minister and Penang MCA chief Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen, Penang Barisan chief Teng Chang Yeow, state Umno chief Datuk Zainal Abidin Osman, state MIC chief Datuk G. Rajoo, state Gerakan chief Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan and state PPP chief Datuk Dr Loga Bala Mohan would also be attending the event.

More Details: The Star Online

16 Jun 2012 JOM Bersama TPM di Parlimen Bagan

Lawatan Rasmi YAB Timbalan Perdana Menteri Malaysia Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin ke kawasanParlimen Bagan pada 16 Jun 2012. Semua di jemput hadir"JOM BERSAMA TPM"

JOM bersama TPM

Tarikh :16.6.2012 (Sabtu) 

Masa:1pm - 6pm

Tempat: Padang Jalan Tanjung Aman 4 (Belakang Caltex Raja Uda) 

New turn in shrine issue

‘Barisan needs stronger voice in state assembly’

BUTTERWORTH: Bagan parliamentary Barisan Nasional coordinator David Chua has called for a stronger Opposition voice in the state assembly. Chua said voters should support Barisan candidates in the next general election to have a stronger Opposition. Penang has 40 state seats of which Pakatan Rakyat has 29 while Barisan, through Umno, has 11. “There is no MCA or MIC representation in the state assembly, but I hope the people will support both parties so there can be a check and balance,” said Chua. Earlier, Chua, who is also Bagan MCA Youth division head, paid tribute to the Bagan Wanita Umno division head Jumabee Mohamad for her effort in obtaining hampers and business equipment from the Women, Family and Community Deve-lopment Ministry to help the poor constituents here. Chua said the country had been peaceful since independence under Barisan's leadership. It had been proven that Barisan could maintain peace and order besides helping the country develop, he said. Bagan Dalam Barisan coordinator M. Karuppanan said the coalition showed sincere concern about the welfare of the people with the 1Malaysia concept, whereby nobody should be left behind. He claimed that there were signs that the Indians were returning to the Barisan fold. Earlier, hundreds of Taman Bagan residents thronged a health programme organised here.

‘It is just a service road’

BUTTERWORTH: A road that the state government claims to have built to discourage motorists from paying toll at the Sungai Nyior plaza here is nothing more than a service road, an MCA Youth leader here said.

“Jalan Bagan 29 in Taman Bagan is merely a service road that connects Jalan Siram and Jalan Bagan 1,” Bagan MCA Youth chief David Chua said yesterday.

He said the state government spent RM5.7mil on the 1.5km road but it was underutilised as only about 500 people live along Jalan Siram while most of the buildings are shophouses.

“If the state is sincere in wanting to provide a proper alternative road, it should build a road parallel to the Sungai Nyior toll plaza,” Chua said, responding to a point raised by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng during his recent debate with MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek.

Lim had reportedly said during the debate that the Penang Government had built an alternative road for motorists to avoid paying the 50sen toll at the Sungai Nyior toll plaza.

Refering to a February 2007 posting on the DAP website that quoted Penang DAP secretary Ng Wei Aik as saying that the Sungai Nyior toll would be abolished if Pakatan Rakyat took a parliamentary seat and four state seats in the 2008 general election, Chua said DAP had failed to keep its pledge.

Asked if MCA would recommend to the Federal Government for the toll collection to be abolished, Chua said the Government had already reduced the toll rate from RM1 to 50 sen.

“The Government is subsidising 50 sen in the toll charged by the concessionaire,” he said.

The Star
Tuesday February 21, 2012
By DERRICK VINESH

Road ‘not good enough’

CHIEF Minister Lim Guan Eng has come under fire for misleading the public that his administration had built an alternative road Jalan Bagan 29 for motorists to avoid paying 50 sen toll at the Sungai Nyior toll plaza in Butterworth.

Bagan MCA Youth chief David Chua said the former Barisan Nasional state government had built the alternative road Jalan Todak which connected Chai Leng Park and Seberang Jaya even before Pakatan Rakyat came into power in Penang.

“If the state is sincere in wanting to provide a proper alternative road, it should then build a parallel road next to the toll plaza.

“Jalan Bagan 29 in Taman Bagan is merely a service road that connects Jalan Siram and Jalan Bagan 1,” he told reporters at Taman Bagan in Butterworth yesterday.

Chua was commenting on the statement by Guan Eng during Saturday’s debate with MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek that the state had built an alternative road for motorists to avoid paying toll in Sungai Nyior.

■Making a point: Chua (left) with Bagan MCA deputy chairman Sum Yoo Keong discussing the map of Jalan Bagan 29 along the road in Butterworth, Penang.

He also claimed the DAP had failed to keep a pledge before the 2008 general election to abolish the Sungai Nyior toll col- lection.

“A posting on the DAP website dated Feb 25, 2007, quoted party leader Ng Wei Aik as saying that the Sungai Nyior toll would be abolished if Pakatan wins a parliamentary seat and four state seats, including the Prai seat, in the March 2008 general election,” he said.

Asked if MCA would recommend to the Federal Government for the toll collection to be abolished, Chua said the Federal Government had already intervened to reduce the toll rate from RM1 to 50 sen.

“The Federal Government is presently subsidising the remaining 50 sen in toll charges to the concession holder,” he said.

Chua also said the state spent RM5.7mil on the 1.5km-long Jalan Bagan 29, which he claimed was underutilised, noting that fewer than 500 people live on Jalan Siram.

“Most of the buildings on Jalan Siram are shophouses, apart from a Hindu cemetery near the Jalan Siram-Jalan Telaga Air junction,” he said.

Meanwhile, state Public Works, Utilities and Transport Committee chairman Lim Hock Seng said the state government was willing to consider building an alternative road next to the toll plaza provided it was consented by the Federal Government.

“The Federal Government must give us a guarantee that the concession holder overseeing toll collection in Sungai Nyior will not claim compensation from us for causing traffic ‘leakage’ along the stretch,” he said.

Hock Seng said the state was looking at the possibility of connecting Jalan Todak in Seberang Jaya with the Jalan Bagan 1-Jalan Bagan 29 junction via a flyover at an estimated cost of RM35mil.

Ng could not be reached for comment.

The Star
Tuesday February 21, 2012
By DERRICK VINESH

‘It is just a service road’

BUTTERWORTH: A road that the state government claims to have built to discourage motorists from paying toll at the Sungai Nyior plaza here is nothing more than a service road, an MCA Youth leader here said. “Jalan Bagan 29 in Taman Bagan is merely a service road that connects Jalan Siram and Jalan Bagan 1,” Bagan MCA Youth chief David Chua said yesterday. He said the state government spent RM5.7mil on the 1.5km road but it was underutilised as only about 500 people live along Jalan Siram while most of the buildings are shophouses. “If the state is sincere in wanting to provide a proper alternative road, it should build a road parallel to the Sungai Nyior toll plaza,” Chua said, responding to a point raised by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng during his recent debate with MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek. Lim had reportedly said during the debate that the Penang Government had built an alternative road for motorists to avoid paying the 50sen toll at the Sungai Nyior toll plaza. Refering to a February 2007 posting on the DAP website that quoted Penang DAP secretary Ng Wei Aik as saying that the Sungai Nyior toll would be abolished if Pakatan Rakyat took a parliamentary seat and four state seats in the 2008 general election, Chua said DAP had failed to keep its pledge. Asked if MCA would recommend to the Federal Government for the toll collection to be abolished, Chua said the Government had already reduced the toll rate from RM1 to 50 sen. “The Government is subsidising 50 sen in the toll charged by the concessionaire,” he said. http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/2/21/nation/10775542&sec=nation

Eateries put up giant screens for patrons to watch debate

SUPPORTERS of MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek and Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng are expected to jam pack coffeeshops, food courts and restaurants in Penang today to watch the live telecast of what has been dubbed as this year’s hottest debate between the two leaders.

While many will watch the telecast via Astro’s AEC Channel 301 at 5pm, there are also those who will catch the screening via giant projector screens at Jalan Raja Uda food court (Butterworth), Insa Dunia food court (Bukit Mertajam), Prangin Mall (Penang island) as well as other eateries.

Bukit Mertajam MCA division chief Lau Chiek Tuan said about 500 people, including party members and supporters, would gather at Insa Dunia food court on Jalan Kampung Baru to watch the live telecast.

He said a giant 4.2m by 2.7m projector screen as well as two smaller projector screens would be installed at the food court for the public to watch the debate.

Coffeeshop talk: Chua (left) with Bagan MCA deputy chairman Sum Yoo Keong (right) and other MCA members and residents discussing the debate

Bagan MCA touched by vendor’s plight

NEWSPAPER vendor Koh Yin Cheng, who has been suffering from ‘wobbling knees’ for the past seven years, badly requires knee replacement surgery on both knees.

The 54-year-old, who limps as he walks to sell newspapers daily on Jalan Raja Uda in Penang has been finding it hard to raise funds for his surgery.

Bagan MCA division Youth chief David Chua responded to his plight by sourcing RM14,000 from the 1Malaysia MCA Medical Fund for Koh’s surgery.

Chua said a private hospital had initially proposed to perform Koh’s surgery at the cost of RM40,000.

“But after I took him for a full medical check-up at the Seberang Jaya Hospital, we found out that the surgery could be done there for free.

“He only needs to pay for the equipment used in the surgery that cost RM14,000,” he said after MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai presented Koh a cheque for RM14,000 for the surgery at a restaurant on Jalan Raja Uda recently.

■For your op: Liow (in red) discussing with Koh (second right) while presenting the 1Malaysia MCA Medical Fund cheque to him. With them are (from right) Chua, Bagan MCA division chairman Lee Chee They and his deputy Sum Yoo Keong.

Chua said Koh, who lived in a rented flat in Pangsapuri Mawar, off Jalan Raja Uda, was a familiar face in the area, as he had been selling papers there for more than 10 years.

He said that Koh, who was married with three daughters aged 24, 17 and 13, earned about RM1,000 a month.

“I will help Koh fix an appointment with the hospital to have the surgery done soon,” he said.

Koh said he was grateful to MCA and Chua for helping him.

“I do not know what was the actual cause of the injuries to my knees.

“But, I am looking forward to being able to walk properly, just the way I used to in the past,” he said.


The Star MetroWednesday February 1, 2012

Mayang salur RM207,526 baiki rumah penduduk Butterworth

Barisan heeds family’s plight

BAGAN Barisan Nasional co-ordinator David Chua in Penang has come to the aid of Lalitha Arumugam who has suffered a string of misfortunes.

Chua said he would be making arrangements for Lalitha, 67, to receive financial aid from the state Welfare Department soon.

“I was really touched when Lalitha related her suffering when she came to receive her RM500 voucher under Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia aid.

“I decided to help the family because the Barisan government is always caring for the less for-tunate,” he said after visiting Lalitha at her home in Taman Ketapang in Sungai Puyu, Butterworth, on Monday.

Seberang Prai Welfare Department officer A. Tinesh and Special Issues Department officer Arbaaiah Ter-mizi accompanied Chua during the visit.

The Star had highlighted Lalitha’s plight when she received the voucher from Chua at SJK Sungai Puyu on Sunday.

Lalitha’s 75-year-old husband C. Krishnan, a former Telekom employee who was diagnosed with abdominal tumour, died in August last year.

Their son Kaliappan, 46, a clerk with Universiti Sains Malaysia, died of liver cirrhosis 13 days later.

Kaliappan’s wife, S. Shanti, 46, a factory production operator, recently fractured her leg and shoulder in an accident while travelling to her workplace.

Lalitha’s daughter Kanchana, 45, a clinic assistant, was widowed five years ago when her husband, M. Nagarethinam, then 43, an ambulance driver, died from brain haemorrhage after a fall while helping to clean a temple.

Shanti has three children aged between 13 and 22, and Kanchana has three, aged between 12 and 19.

Three of Lalitha’s grandchildren were pursuing diploma courses at Politeknik Seberang Prai, while her remaining grandchildren were still schooling.

Invitation: Chinese New Year Open House

MCA Bagan Division, Youth Section & Wanita Committee
Cordially Invite All residents
To Attend Chinese New Year Open House on
05-02-2012(Sunday)，11.00am-1.00pm
at MCA Bagan Division Premises
4234,Jalan Kampong Benggali,
12200 Butterworth, Pulau Pinang.

Tel : 04-332 4545 Fax : 04-331 3182
Blog : http://mcabagan.blogspot.com
Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/mcabagan
Email: mca.bagan.division@gmail.com

A night of fun and festivity

TENS of thousands of people jammed-packed Jalan Raja Uda in Butterworth, Penang, to attend two mammoth events held in conjunction with the upcoming Chinese New Year.

In welcoming the Chinese Lunar Year of the Dragon this year, dragon dances and dragon-themed structures were the main attraction at both events.

Over at the Tow Boo Kong Temple, a bottle-constructed ‘Ambient Dragon’ sculpture and a giant inflatable ‘Flying Dragon’ took centre stage during the Miao Hui (Temple Fair) 2012 there.

Over at the Tan Si Eng Chuan Tong Clan Association on Jalan Kampung Paya nearby, a mammoth crowd attended the Bagan MCA division’s Chinese New Year Carnival 2012 celebrations.

MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, who opened the event, joined about 1,300 line dancers in a brief dance stint before checking out the many activity booths and stalls.

■ Healthy activity: Liow (in red, right) , Dr. Tan Chuan Hong (Organising Chairman), MCA Bagan Division Chairman Loo Khay Thye, Bagan Barisan Nasional co-ordinator David Chua (next to Liow) and Sum Yoo Keong joining the line dancers during the Bagan MCA Chinese New Year Carnival at Dewan Tan Si Eng Chuan Tong on Jalan Kampung Paya, Butterworth.

Led by line dance instructor Lily Tan, the participants, who danced to 20 songs, came from as far as Taiping, Parit Buntar, Sungai Petani, Kulim and Alor Setar.

Liow also witnessed a dragon dance presentation, wushu and karate-do demonstrations as well as several Chinese cultural dances by Super Shape Fitness Centre, Tadika Kaliber and pupils from SJK(C) Kwang Wah Butterworth.

Some 40-odd children from private tutoring institute, Tan Educations from Taman Riang, Butterworth, captivated the audience through five endearing dance performances.

In keeping with the 1Malaysia spirit, the people were treated to several traditional Indian and Malay dances, as Liow later cut and distributed a 1Malaysia cake prepared by the state Information Department.

There were also several booths providing health care products and services, while the 1Malaysia Community Alliance Foundation was at hand to take down public complaints.





Popular Chinese comic characters Lao Fu Tze and Big Potato as well as the Health Ministry’s Germ Buster mascot also posed for photos with the people.

Liow later presented 5kg bags of rice to 251 needy senior citizens from the Bagan parliamentary constituency.

from The Star, Tuesday January 17, 2012

By DERRICK VINESH & HAN KAR KAY

more photo at : http://www.facebook.com/mcabagan