Orang Balik Pulau beraya dengan VIPs

Berduyun-duyun penduduk Balik Pulau tidak melepaskan peluang mengisi jemputan ahli Parlimen tersohor tempatan, Dato Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya yang mengadakan rumah terbukanya, sebiasanya seperti tahun-tahun sebelum ini. Turut serta menghoskan majlis jamuan makan rumah terbuka Hari Raya Pertama yang diadakan di Kompleks Sukan Balik Pulau petang tadi termasuklah ADUN dari Teluk Bahang (Puan Siti Faridah binti Arshad) dan ADUN dari Pulau Betong (Encik Muhamad Farid bin Saad).

Pelbagai juadah disediakan dan dihidangkan berkonsepkan suasana pasar jaja (hawking). Juadah paling laris kali ini ialah sate dan ABC (orang sini panggil 'ais kacang'). Lain-lain yang tak kurang 'dibelasahkan' termasuklah laksa, mee rebus, bihun sup, koay teow goreng, kuih-muih, ketupat dan nasi minyak. Teh tarik, air bandung, dan cendol pun ada...

Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Fitri semua...



Ikhlas,

Nasir
BalikPulau.org

Balik Pulau to Air Itam in one ride, finally...

The good news in the Star today last weekend...

Rapid Penang to ply two more routes

By DERRICK VINESH

BUTTERWORTH: Rapid Penang will extend its network by two more routes - Balik Pulau - Air Itam on the island and Kepala Batas - Pinang Tunggal - on the mainland, effective tomorrow.

Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop said the new routes were aimed at providing better services to the people.

“The provision of an efficient, effective and comprehensive public transport system in Penang is our main objective,'' he said after opening a micro finance centre at BSN Bagan Ajam here yesterday.

Presently, Rapid Penang has 33 routes on the island and mainland.

Nor Mohamed said he was very happy with the performance of Rapid Penang since its buses hit Penang roads on Aug 1.

“Someone asked me for how long would Rapid Penang buses continue to be clean. And, my reply was that it would be forever.

“We have full-time cleaners to keep the buses clean at the Weld Quay depot. The lightings inside the buses are also bright to promote a safe atmosphere,” the minister said.

On the ticket price war among private bus operators in Penang, Nor Mohamed said: “That is quite normal. As long as the alternative bus services are comfortable and meet the people’s needs, we are happy.”

The other two bus companies, Milan and KGN also reportedly reduced their fares since the 'colonization' by Rapid Penang.