Kompleks Mahal & Baru, Tapi Gersang...

FAKTA & NOMBOR Kompleks Pasar Awam MPPP Balik Pulau:

• Tarikh dibuka: 1 Disember 2007
• Tempoh pembinaan: 18 bulan ~ 1.5 tahun (Feb 2006 - Sep 2007)
  
• Kos pembinaan: RM 17 juta ~ hampir RM sejuta sebulan
  
• Jumlah ruang perniagaan: 287 (106 untuk peniaga pasar lama, 123 untuk peniaga baru) {Jumlah tapak pasar tani hari minggu: 150}
  
• Jenis ruang perniagaan: 4 (astaka, bazar, pasar basah, pasar kering)
• Kos sewa (bulanan dalam RM): 95-160 (pasar basah), 100 (pasar kering), RM120 (astaka), RM160 (bazar)
• Kos lesen MPPP: RM30 sebulan = RM360 setahun
  
• Cagaran/bayaran awal penyerahan gerai: 3 + 1 bulan (misalnya, RM190x3 = RM570 + RM190 = RM780)
• Kos pemasangan eletrik (TNB/kontraktor): RM500
• Anggaran untung bulanan setiap gerai: RM500 => Jumlah keuntungan semua peniaga selama setahun: RM1.7M ~ akan mengambil masa lebih 10 tahun untuk mendapatkan pulangan kos pembinaan kompleks (dengan syarat semua gerai beroperasi).
  
• Anggaran kutipan sewa gerai oleh MPPP: RM500,000 setahun (tidak termasuk sewa dewan, pejabat MPPP dsbnya) => 36 tahun untuk pulangan kos pembinaan kompleks (tidak mengambilkira kos operasi).
  
• Peratus kutipan sewa gerai oleh MPPP berbanding pendapatan tahunan: 2.5% (berdasarkan purata pendapatan sebanyak RM200 juta setahun).
  
  
• Kos tahun pertama berniaga di bazar: RM780 (cagaran + sewa bulan pertama) + RM500 (TNB) + RM190x11 (sewa)+ ~RM30x12 (eletrik) = RM 3,730 setiap gerai (tidak termasuk stok atau kos operasi lain). Taklah murah/mudah sangat, kan?
  

Berdasarkan rujukan dengan MPPP dan artikel-artikel akhbar termasuk artikel Sinar Harian seperti di bawah (9 NOV 2008) - Desak kurang sewa, hebatkan promosi:

BALIK PULAU - Kira-kira 180 peniaga di Kompleks Pasar Awam Balik Pulau mendesak Majlis Perbandaran Pulau Pinang (MPPP) mengurangkan kadar sewa bulanan yang dikenakan ke atas mereka.

Kompleks yang mempunyai hampir 270 ruang perniagaan pelbagai jualan iaitu astaka, bazar, pasar basah dan kering difahamkan dikenakan kadar sewa bulanan yang tinggi berdasarkan jenis perniagaan dan berbeza dengan pasar awam di kawasan lain.

Tinjauan Sinar Harian ke kompleks berkenaan yang telah beroperasi hampir setahun itu, dapat melihat kekecewaan peniaga di situ disebabkan kurangnya promosi daripada pihak berkenaan.

Suasana meriah dan keriuhan antara pelanggan dengan pembeli apabila menawar sesuatu barangan jualan hanya dapat dirasai apabila cuti hujung minggu dan cuti umum.

Yang Dipertuan Persatuan Peniaga-Peniaga Melayu Kompleks Pasar Awam Balik Pulau, Saleh Hassan berkata, kadar sewa bulanan yang dikenakan MPSP amat tinggi berbanding tempat lain.

“Bagi peniaga yang menjual barangan pakaian serta aksesori wanita, mereka dikenakan bayaran sewa tapak RM160.

“Peniaga astaka yang menjual makanan dan minuman pula dikenakan sewa bulanan RM120, peniaga pasar kering RM100 dan peniaga pasar basah pula minimum RM95 sehingga RM160 berdasarkan keluasan ruang perniagaan”, katanya.

Menurutnya, jika dicampur dengan sewa lesen tahunan dan kos elektrik, peniaga hanya mampu meraih pendapatan sekitar RM550 sebulan.

“Keuntungan yang diperoleh kami sekadar cukup untuk dibuat pusingan modal dan meneruskan perniagaan walaupun ramai rakan-rakan yang terpaksa berhenti memandangkan kurangnya sambutan.

“Beberapa kawan saya telah berhenti berniaga di sini dan tidak hairan kami yang masih mampu bertahan ini akan menjejaki langkah mereka," katanya ketika ditemui oleh Sinar Harian.

Tambahnya, aduan telah dikemukakan kepada pihak berkenaan untuk menyelesaikan masalah itu, namun sehingga kini tiada sebarang tindakan diambil.

“Perjumpaan kali pertama dengan pihak MPPP telah diadakan pada Februari lalu dan menurut mereka, tindakan akan diambil tetapi tidak dilaksanakan. Kami juga telah membuat aduan serta perjumpaan susulan tetapi sehingga kini tiada tindak balas," ujarnya.

Seorang peniaga bazar, Jamilah Abu Bakar menggesa majlis mengkaji semula kadar sewa bulanan yang dikenakan kerana ia amat tinggi.

“Keuntungan yang diperoleh sebulan jika ditolak sewa bulanan, kos elektrik dan pusingan modal, kami hanya mendapat RM500 sebulan.

“Mereka sepatutnya peka mengenai masalah ini dan bukan hanya sekadar mengutip sewa sahaja tetapi perlulah sama membantu meningkatkan pendapatan peniaga," katanya.


p/s: Malah, karnival mesra pelanggan yang diadakan pada 13 Disember lalu pun agak malap dan murung tanpa lampu-lampu yang sesuai atau mencukupi, mungkin tanpa sokongan padu pihak MPPP/kerajaan sendiri:

More schools coming - constructions, constructions

Balik Pulau is hosting many in-construction sites nowadays - drive every 500 metres or so along the main Jalan Besar/Balik Pulau Road and you'll see these red fields scheduled to host the next new buildings - for schools, a district judicial court, an islamic (syariah) court, more flats and houses etc.

Poised to become an education centre, with existing special schools and higher learning institutions such MRSM, KTKM, Pusat Giat MARA, Sekolah Menengah Teknik Balik Pulau (SMTBP), Politeknik Balik Pulau (PBU), Community College of Bayan Baru (temporary campus at SMTBP), Island College of Technology (ICT) and upcoming Tourism University, Balik Pulau is set to welcome a set of buildings for Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Pondok Upeh (photos below).
However, as we welcome 2009, this "another project by Barisan Nasional government" that was due to complete by October 2008 (with start of construction as early as May 2007) seems far from completion, with the field still being used for feeding cows.

Another year perhaps... just like how the district court that is to be situated next the public library building (and mosque), that was due for completion by end of 2007 is still not completed after a year later.


And I'm still waiting for the RM200-million road network to link Balik Pulau to rest of the world (to towns of Teluk Bahang & Bayan Lepas) that has seen stalled two-year works for nearly a year now - another five years perhaps before a re-start?


Meanwhile, across the street from Dataran Tuah (which is also undergoing its own renovation works), the popular Maybank outlet at Kompleks Balik Pulau (next to the Balik Pulau hospital) is getting its own facelifts too - perhaps to add main entrance door facing the main road instead to reduce the traffic crowd in front of current main door - or perhaps to add more ATMs in addition to the pair that see long queues every end of the months.


Happy New Year 2009, and happy building!

Mengindahkan Tuah

Dataran Tuah di Balik Pulau, sebuah "medan selera" (food court) yang dibangunkan oleh agensi kerajaan MARA ini tampaknya tak berapa bertuah sejak tahun-tahun kebelakangan. Makin hari, makin usang gerai-gerai di situ walaupun Maybank di seberang jalannya agak sibuk setiap hari. Yang kelihatan hidup hanya gerai burger di malam hari dan gerai-gerai jualan makanan untuk berbuka puasa semasa bulan Ramadan. Penulis sendiri pun tak pernah "ada selera" nak menjejakkan kaki ke dalam tapak ini walaupun sudah cukup dua tahun asyik berulang-alik di jalan raya bertepiannya.

Bila dah nampak usaha peningkatan imej/penaiktarfan menjengah tahun baru ini, barulah penulis tergerak nak menjenguk dan bertanyakan kepada pekerja-pekerja kontraktor di tapak tersebut, yang rata-ratanya dari negara seberang berdasarkan pelat mereka. Kata seorang daripadanya, nak dibuat restoran baru... Kalaulah tak dikerjakan sebegini, mungkin, langsung tak nampak gerai-gerai di dalamnya, yang rupa-rupanya ada menjual pelbagai barang am juga, bukan sahaja makanan dan minuman. Kelihatan stiker-stiker wakil jualan syarikat-syarikat jualan langsung seperti CNI dan sebagainya - Bila digoogle, terjumpa laman oleh salah seorang penghuni gerai tersebut di fadzil.bravejournal.com yang nampaknya juga dah berhenti mengemaskini blognya sejak lewat 2006.

Maklumat dari Google juga menonjolkan yang usaha peningkatan imej tapak Dataran Tuah ini sudah pun dirancangkan seawal bulan Ogos 2008 - rujuk kenyataan tawaran (tender) dari MARA bernombor 144.

Tak sabar rasanya nak tengok hasil renovasi ini. Harapnya, bakal seindah Taman Rimba Anjung Indah (di puncak Hutan Simpan Bukit Relau)... ;)

A Rural Ripple...

A noble idea, a simple start, big sustainable goals...

42 rural internet centres (RIC) or more known locally as "pusat-pusat internet desa" (PID) made history last November by collectively organizing over 350 entrepreneurial-centric activities during the full week of inaugural Global Entrepreneurship Week campaign (17-23 NOV 2008), as participated by thousands of organizations in 77 countries. Together with just a hundred shy partners of the Malaysian host, Warisan Global Sdn Bhd for "the Week", they helped propelling Malaysia to become the most active country in the world in terms of number of activities, besides the two countries of the organizing hosts, the United States and the United Kingdom.

As one of the 222 parliamentary districts in Malaysia, and a centre to one of the five of the state administrative districts of Penang, Balik Pulau is lucky to also host one of these 42 PIDs, or the only one in the island of Penang, or one of the only two in the state of Penang, the other one being in Tasek Gelugor, Seberang Perai on the Malaysian peninsula mainland.

Eight years in existence (since 2000), or five years in Balik Pulau (since 2003), only 1% of the Malaysian population, or about 300,000 individuals have benefitted directly from services offered by these PIDs, specifically via the basic ICT training sessions held on periodic basis at respective outlets or during various roadshows. Still, with a membership base nearly 50,000 nationwide, or over a thousand in Balik Pulau (pop: ~60,000) alone, PID network is poised to become an impactful force in bridging the digital divide and elevating social and economic status of respective communities. In fact, there have even been suggestions this year for the KTAK ministry to establish similar IT centres in each of the 222 parliamentary districts, over five times more in number based on existing network of PIDs.

About the programme:

The Pusat Internet Desa (PID) or Rural Internet Centre project, not to be confused with Medan Info Desa (MID), is a telecentre project initiated in April 2000 by the Ministry of Energy, Water, and Communication (MEWC/KTAK) of Malaysia -- MID on the other had, is a rural development program initiated by the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (KKLW) with at least 26 known centres, 19 of which are in the state of Terengganu.

The PID programme is currently being contracted by the ministry for a period of three years starting 2008 for facilicitation by Warisan Global Sdn Bhd, a Kuala Lumpur based company. Previously, MSD Technology Sdn Bhd, a Puchong-based company was assigned the task.

The following information is provided by Zulfikar from Warisan Global:

As of 2006, 42 centres have been established nationwide, in every state of Malaysia, except the Federal Territories and each centre is managed by two people, a manager and an assistant manager. It is one of the Malaysian Government’s initiatives to bridge the Digital Divide between the rural and urban communities through community-shared facilities with computers and internet access.

Typically, a PID is housed in an annex building of a Post Office specially built for the purpose in partnerships with the Pos Malaysia Berhad. Each PID usually has 5-7 computers, a printer, and internet connection. Recently, in 2008, under the PID improvement project all of them have received additional two notebooks, a projector, a fax machine, two webcams, and wireless equipment from MEWC.

PID offers various services including computer and internet access, basic ICT trainings, and development of local websites or blogs. A few of them have also started providing various e-services for the community. A number of ICT activities have also been conducted from time to time such as the community day with PID, workshops, and seminars. Thus far, the PID programme has increased the awareness and literacy of the rural community on Information and Communication Technology, increased access to the technology, and provided some digital opportunities.



PID program is now embarking on a mission to develop vibrant communities whereby learning and networking activities using PID facilities becomes a second nature for the communities and part of the KPI of this phase of the project is towards sustainability. To achieve its mission, PIDs implements social entrepreneurship principles and processes as well as participatory approach in community development. It is envisaged that with continuous support and trainings, the PIDs will eventually become sustainable by 2010 and create significant impact for the advancement of the communities.

Ultimately, the PID telecentre movement will be connected into the national, regional as well as the global telecentre network.

About PID Balik Pulau:

PID Balik Pulau started its operation in 2003, situated next to the post office at Jalan Besar (Main Road), near the main Kongsi town, at the centre of Balik Pulau.



Equipments available at this centre include:-

• 10 desktop computers sponsored by Dell and local communities.
  
• 2 laptop computers
  
• Streamyx broadband internet access sponsored by TM Berhad.
  
• 4 printers: 2 laser printers, 1 all-in-one printer, 1 bubble-jet printer
  
• a photocopy machine
  
• a computer scanner
  
• a digital camera
  
• a binding maching
  
• a laminating maching
  
• a fax machine
  
• an LCD projector with screen
  
• a set of 100W computer speakers
  
• other computer accessories

Services offered include:-

• Use of computer with Internet access. (Free for members)
  
• Basic ICT training - Introduction to Computer and Introduction to Microsoft Office Applications - Word, Excel, Powerpoint and Frontpage
  
• Web applications training - e-government, e-banking, e-learning and e-procurement (eperolehan)
• Digital/multimedia content development - web, blog and digital storytelling etc.
  
• Management of community programmes
  
• Registration of Business and/or ePerolehan service
• Office services - photostat, fax, laminate, bind etc.
• Computer maintenance, repair and supplies
  
• Marketing supplies - rubber stamp, banner and miscellaneous advertising.
• Consultation on ICT & Entrepreneurship matters
  

The centre opens daily on weekdays (Mon-Fri) from 9 am until 6 pm. It also opens on Saturday from 9 am until 12 noon during special class sessions (except on first weekend of every month).

PID Balik Pulau is currently supervised by Siti Huraizah binti Abdul Rahman (Ija). Visit PIDBP today, and tell Ija that Balik Pulau blog sends you ;)


SOURCES / FURTHER READINGS:

1. PID Balik Pulau (in Malay) by Siti Huraizah as posted at pid.net.my on Jun 18, 2008
2. Pusat Internet Desa (Rural Internet Centre/Telecentre) in Malaysia" by Zulfickar of Warisan Global as posted at telecentre.org on Oct 7, 2008
3. Our Network - Pos Malaysia Berhad.
4. Global Entrepreneurship Week/Malaysia
5. KTAK Videos. Malaysian Ministry of Energy, Water and Communication
   
6. ICT developments in Malaysia - KTAK’s view. Interview with Dato Dr. Halim Man I4Donline.net. Feb 7, 2007
   

Trailing Heritage of Balik Pulau

Launch of the first ever Cultural Heritage Trail Map of Balik Pulau

21 December 2008 (Sunday) 8.30am – 12noon
Kompleks Pasar Awam BALIK PULAU

“Discover Balik Pulau” is the first published heritage trail map of Balik Pulau. A point of interest is that it is designed by young residents of Balik Pulau who participated in a project entitled myBALIKpulau organised by ARTS-ED in partnership with the Penang Heritage Trust, Badan Warisan Malaysia, Pusat Internet Desa and KaKi Creative. The first edition is sponsored by DiGi Telecommunication.

The map includes a walking trail of the town and a trail in the surrounding rural villages which can be accessed by car or bike. Both trails showcase the outstanding cultural assets of Balik Pulau including historical buildings, local foods, trades, agricultural landscapes, cottage industries, local products etc.

Aim of the launch

• The official launch of the Balik Pulau Heritage Trail Map by young participants’ interpretation of their community’s heritage
• To celebrate the young people’s efforts in researching and mapping of history and heritage of Balik Pulau
• To distribute the map to residents and tourists in an effort to promote an understanding of the diverse cultural assets of Balik Pulau

About the project myBALIKpulau

MyBalikpulau is one of two community-based heritage education programs organised by ARTS-ED. A similar project entitled Anak Anak Kota is conducted in the World Heritage Site of George Town.

Both heritage education programs are designed to help young people connect with their community and environmental heritage through the process of mapping and interpretation of local cultural assets.

The project uses non-formal and ‘creative arts initiatives’ to raise awareness of the meaning and significance of cultural heritage (agricultural, architecture, trades, crafts, customs, food etc) among young residents aged 11-20 living in the local community.

Creating the DISCOVER BALIK PULAU TRAIL

Across Asia, there are many small communities – in villages, towns or within cities – that embody a traditional way of life and a priceless legacy of customs and beliefs. Such communities are desperately vulnerable to the pressures of rapid national development. The young are the most vulnerable of all. These days, most children grow up knowing little of their community’s history and taking no pride in it. To many children even their family history is a blank.

Balik Pulau is a small town on the west coast of the island of Penang, Malaysia. The Discover Balik Pulau trail is the outcome of myBALIKpulau project. As well as members of the Balik Pulau community, the project has brought together all kinds of people and organisations including local schools, the District Office, the local library, a rural internet centre, an artist, a design agency, university students and various heritage organisations since year 2005.

The Making of DISCOVER BALIK PULAU TRAIL

2005

The project kicks off with a series of three workshops for 20 children aged 11-12 from five different schools in the Balik Pulau district.

Each workshop equips the children with a particular skill: first IT, then photography, then research and interview techniques (including mind mapping). The workshops are followed by inquiry and documentation sessions that yield a specific artistic outcome using computer generated prints which contained information of self, family and town pictorial essay history namely my Self, my Family and my Town ( photo-essays of 20 sites/activities selected by the children including historic buildings, trades, food businesses, agriculture etc, )

2006

Continuing from 2005, 2006 has 4 phases:

Phase 1: The children create a Balik Pulau building inventory, identifying the age, type and style of the town’s heritage buildings, and what kind activities take place inside them.

Phase 2: The children identify outstanding heritage values of the sites and trades and conduct in-depth investigation into the using observation, interviews and hands-on activities; and document them both in writing and photographs.

Phase 3: A prototype map is created using the children’s photographs and illustrations.

Phase 4: A group of students from Universiti Sains Malaysia do a basic, manual cut-and-paste map layout.

2007 & 2008

The students from Universiti Sains Malaysia enhance the map, basing their computerised graphic layout on the ideas generated by the children of Balik Pulau. Both town and rural versions of the map are developed. The text of the brochure is drafted using the children’s research findings. Then a Penang-based graphic design agency lays out the brochure, improving the maps to make them really user-friendly.

The Making of DISCOVER BALIK PULAU TRAIL

Introduction to Site

Introduction of social & cultural context with various activities

Skills Workshop
Photography /Mind mapping/ Computer Skills - Young participants learnt how to do documentation by using various methods

Research, Observation, Interview & Documentation
Young participants interviewed, photographs, illustrated, with local traders and residents to collect information and then written out the research

Interpretation/ Output for Prototype
Presentation of researched material through creative product – A prototype for DISCOVER BALIK PULAU TRAIL

Enhancement of trail by university students and professional in layout design and writing - Pilot, Printing and Distribution
Log on to http://www.arts-ed-penang.org/images/aak/balikpulau/ruralmap.htm to view the digital version of the map

More programs alongside with the launch (free for all)

1. Pictorial Exhibition and Slideshow on the rich cultural and heritage assets of Balik Pulau
2. T-shirt Printing with exclusive Balik Pulau Designs and Illustrations by young participants. Interested individuals will need to bring their own t-shirts
3. Bicycle Exploration to village roads which will lead by young cyclists from Mountain & Village Crewz Balik Pulau aged 11-14. Interested individuals must bring their own bicycles

Contact:

Chen Yoke Pin
Program Officer
myBALIKpulau, ARTS-ED
www.arts-ed-penang.org
arts_ed_penang@yahoo.com
04-263 3471 / 012-361 9113

Photos etc. of Balik Pulau and its events will be posted at this Facebook Group: http://facebook.com/group.php?gid=6466449620 - Join it TODAY!

Karnival & Live Show @ Balik Pulau

Seperti yang diwartakan di pusat tak rasmi iklan-iklan se-Balik Pulau di bulatan "roundabout" jalan pekan Kongsi yang fames tu, Program Mesra Pelanggan anjuran Persatuan Peniaga-peniaga Melayu Melayu Kompleks Pasar Awam Balik Pulau, akan diadakan pada hari Sabtu, 13 DISEMBER 2008 bermula seawal jam 7 pagi hingga 2 petang untuk program Karnival dan seterusnya bermula jam 8:30 malam hingga 11 malam untuk "Live Show" -- ada waktu "break" tengah-tengah petang hangat, boleh rehat untuk makan-makan dan solat-solat wajib.

Antara aktiviti-aktiviti yang dijanjkan ialah "senamrobik, pertandingan mewarna kanak-kanak, gubahan sukaneka dan permainan rakyat, serta pelbagai lagi aktiviti-aktiviti yang menarik."

Untuk maklumat lanjut, sila hubungi saudara-saudara yang berusaha berikut:-

• En. Yus (019-544 6122)
  
• En. Saleh (012-442-2151)
  
• En. Zarul (013-446 4487)
  
• En. Ahmad (012-565 7850)

Semoga lebih maju dah ceria Pasar Awam baru kita, dan boleh makmur sepanjang-panjang hari hendaknya, setiap hari, sepanjang tahun....

TAMBAHKAN ACARA INI KE KALENDAR ANDA atau rujuk laman Penang Portal untuk lain-lain program di Pulau Pinang. Untuk program-program pembangunan sosial dan keusahawan di balik pulau, rujuk laman Usahawan Balik Pulau (KUSBP).

Concerns on Penang hillside projects recorded

GEORGE TOWN: The Penang government will take preventive measures including issuing stop-work orders for hillside developments in the wake of the landslide tragedy that killed at least three people at Bukit Antarabangsa, Selangor, early Saturday morning.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said on Saturday he would personally request Penang Municipal Council president Datuk Zainal Rahim Seman view and inspect the hillside areas again, especially those in Batu Ferringhi.

“About three to four months ago, the council had issued stop-work orders against developers of five hillside projects for failing to comply with certain conditions imposed by the council.

“That order was recently lifted after the developers concerned had carried out remedial works on the land,’’ he told reporters at a press conference after the two-day “New Economic Vision for Penang and Malaysia’’ international forum here.

He was commenting on the landslide tragedy at Bukit Antarabangsa which left three dead and 15 people injured (as of 3pm Saturday).

Lim expressed shock over the incident and extended his condolences to those who had lost their family members in the tragedy.

He said so far there have been no other problems concerning hillside development projects in Penang but “this doesn’t mean there won’t be any’’.

He said the issue was not about landslides occurring at hillslopes but what was important was achieving sustainable development, which was to use resources in a manner that it would still be available in the future.

“Achieving sustainable development should be the benchmark in any development that takes place,’’ he said.

Zainal Rahim when contacted said the council’s inspection included hillsides where no development was taking place.

“The council inspects all hillside development projects and hilly areas including those in Balik Pulau and Teluk Kumbar every week without fail and a report is submitted to the Chief Minister,’’ he said.

He added that at the moment, the development at hillsides were under control and developers were complying with the council’s conditions.

“If any developer is found to have flouted any condition, a stop-work order is issued immediately until they take remedial measures such as taking care of the slope or building a retention pond is done,’’ he said.

Zainal Rahim said the council also wrote letters to owners of hilly lands to notify them of any irregularities on their land.

(K. KASTURI DEWI. "Penang to take preventive measures for hillside projects", The Star Online - 6 DEC 2008)

Inkubator telur ayam

SUNGAI RUSA – Tidak mudah berputus asa dan bekerja keras membuatkan, Awang @ Mansor Mat Hassan, 62 mampu tersenyum bangga apabila melihat usahanya kini berbaloi.

Mansor merupakan penternak ayam piru terbesar di sekitar Balik Pulau.

Dia yang sudah 20 tahun berkecimpung dalam bidang perniagaan itu telah melalui segala rintangan dan halangan untuk berjaya.

"Saya mula berjinak–jinak dalam dunia perniagaan setelah bersara daripada tentera dengan memulakan penternakan ayam daging berbekalkan modal RM196,000.

"Bagaimanapun, tidak lama lepas itu, perniagaan tergendala seketika apabila isteri kurang sihat membuatkan saya lebih menumpukan perhatian terhadap keluarga," katanya.

Sesudah itu, dia mula menjual nasi dan lauk-pauk menggunakan bekalan ayam daging yang ada ketika itu, iaitu kira-kira 500 ekor.

"Saya memang gunakan bekalan ayam yang ada kerana berhasrat untuk memulakan perniagaan ayam piru.

"Niat bagaimanapun terbantut bila harga anak ayam piru mencecah RM8 hingga RM9 seekor," katanya.

Menurutnya, dia mula berkira–kira kerana pada tahun 80-an, harga sebegitu dianggap mahal.

"Memang saya tidak mampu membeli banyak ayam piru dengan harga sebegitu. Bagaimanapun, tiba–tiba muncul idea untuk menghasilkan inkubator penetasan (hatchery incubator) sendiri.

"Saya mula merangka idea dan dengan bantuan anak, kami sama–sama berbincang dan membentuk idea untuk menghasilkannya.

"Saya sendiri yang menghasilkan inkubator tersebut. Di dalamnya terdapat mentol lampu yang menyala selama 24 jam, dan kipas kecil untuk peredaran udara," katanya.

Selain itu ujarnya, terdapat juga termometer yang akan memantau suhu inkubator agar sesuai dengan jenis telur.

Pelbagai jenis telur spesies unggas yang boleh digunakan seperti telur angsa, puyuh, merak dan ayam piru. Proses penetasan pula berbeza–beza mengikut jenis telur.

"Alhamdulillah, inkubator penetasan ini mula mendapat perhatian penduduk kampung apabila telur yang dieramkan berjaya menetas dengan bantuan inkubator tersebut.

"Setiap inkubator akan dicatat tarikh mula pengeraman dan tarikh dijangka akan menetas agar memudahkan pemantauan dibuat," katanya.

Sejak itu, Mansor mula menetaskan telur ayam kampung sebanyak 15 biji dan semakin meningkat dari hari ke hari.

Dia terus menambah bilangan inkubator kerana yang sedia ada tidak dapat menampung penetasan telur yang semakin meningkat.

SOURCE: Sinar Harian - Cipta alat eram telur ayam

Community Fasalitators

Balik Pulau MP-elect, YB Yusmadi Yusof publishes the following list of appointed community fasalitators on his blog yusmadiyusoff.blogspot.com (as his liason representatives due to his commitment in Kuala Lumpur during on-going parliamentary sessions from Monday until Thursday):-

PEMUDAHCARA-PEMUDAHCARA MASYARAKAT PARLIMEN BALIK PULAU

Memandangkan sesi Parlimen di Kuala Lumpur berlansung [sic] dari Isnin hingga Khamis, saya berada di kawasan 3 hari seminggu (Jumaat, Sabtu dan Ahad):-

(Pejabat)
Pusat Pemudahcara & Maklumat Masyarakat (PPMM)
739, MK D, Jalan Bahru, 11000 Balik Pulau
Pulau Pinang.
E-Mail: parlimen53@yahoo.com

(Lawatan Kerja Mingguan)
DUN Pulau Betong
Hari: Jumaat
Jam: 9.30 pagi - 11.30 pagi
Tempat: Pusat Pemudahcara Masyarakat & Maklumat (PPMM), Kg. Jalan Bharu
Pemudahcara Masyarakat:
Rohaizan Saad (Tel: 012-4143191)
Edward @ Ah Chun (Tel: 0194704499)
Cikgu Bashah (Tel: 012-4223900

DUN Teluk Bahang
Hari: Sabtu
Jam: 9.30 pagi - 11.30 pagi
Tempat: Dewan JKKK Teluk Bahang
Pemudahcara Masyarakat:
Rohaizan Saad Tel: 012-4143191
Ismail Pak Don Tel: 013-5186989

DUN Bayan Lepas
Hari: Ahad
Tempat: Dewan JKKK Bayan Lepas
Pemudahcara Masyarakat:
Hazril Hassan (Tel: 012-4751739)

Untuk maklumat dan bantuan mengenai Parlimen Balik Pulau sila hubungi mereka yang berikut:-

Rohaizad Saad
Pemudahcara Masyarakat
Hal-Ehwal Masyarakat DUN Pulau Betong & Teluk Bahang
Tel: 012-4143191
E-mail: parlimen53@yahoo.com

Hazril Hassan
Pemudahcara Masyarakat
Hal-Ehwal Politik dan Masyarakat
DUN Bayan Lepas
Tel: 012-4751739
E-mail: hazril.hassan@gmail.com

Kamarulzaman
Pemudahcara Masyarakat
Hal Ehwal Parlimen & Koordinator Program
Tel: 0196009823
E-mail kamarul75@yahoo.com

Halil Hamid
Pemudahcara Masyarakat
Tugasan Khas
Tel: 012-4548641

Or you may also contact YB Yusmadi directly via email at yusmadi.yusoff@gmail.com

So, for constituents of Balik Pulau, be sure to maximize availability of above platform to ensure that your concerns are taken care of, and expedited accordingly.

Balik Pulau getting entrepreneurial...

Gerak Usahawan (an "entrepreneurial movement" programme) is an annual carnival (seminar and expositions) supported by the Malaysian Ministry of Entrepreneur & Cooperative Development (MeCD), geared as a platform for entrepreneurs to learn (from successful ones) and network among each other. This year, BP-ites is getting a taste of their own at the neighborhoods for the first time, this weekend (29-30nov08) -- with previous Gerak Usahawan having been held in Bayan Baru (@Penang International Sports Arena - PISA, July 2006) and Kepala Batas (@ Dewan Milenium, August 2007), some 20+ and 40+ minutes away respectively by driving from this remote town of Balik Pulau.

What a better time for Balik Pulau having seen aggresive development in its local commerce scene, with a new market complex and a brand new Rapid Penang bus hub opened just late last year, and just months ago, seeing for the first time, chain restaurants like Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) and Kassim Mustafa (KM) opened in town! In fact, in recent weeks, more locals are seen to have opened new eateries including at Simpang Empat (Genting), Taman Sri Indah and near Rapid Penang bus hub, perhaps to supplement their monthly income due to recent price hikes for food and other necessities.

Not minding the brouhahas off the change in local (state) government, affecting even the organizing party for this year's Gerak Usahawan, shifted from state-owned Penang Development Corporation (PDC) to the newly set up Majlis Pembangunan Usahawan Daerah (MPUD - District Entrepreneur Development Council), entrepreneurs ("wira usaha" = "heroes", according to Indonesians) are all out to save the day, to protect local economy, if not global's. [Note however that PDC will still be running a booth at the venue this time, showing its support to the local entrepreneurs via its own set of entrepreneur development programmes].

And the local group to watch is Kelab Usahawan Sosial Balik Pulau (KUSBP) or Social Entrepreneurs Club of Balik Pulau (SECBP) with its base at the Pusat Internet Desa Balik Pulau (Rural Internet Centre - PIDBP), poised to catalyze economic and social development in the Southwestern District of Pulau Pinang by promoting and nurturing entrepreneurship skills & passions among the locals:



KUSBP is presently facilitated by Pusat Internet Desa (PID) Balik Pulau as supported by the Ministry of Energy, Water & Telecommunications (KTAK) and assisted by KTAK-appointed Warisan Global Sdn Bhd. For this event, two of Warisan Global staff are present to assist the PID and KUS teams. Visit them at Booth #C10 (in front of the main entrance of Municipal Council (MPPP)'s office) this weekend, Saturday & Sunday, 29th until 30th of November 2008, 9am until 7pm.


Gerak Usahawan 2008 will be officiated by Minister of Entrepreneur & Cooperative Development, Yang Berhormat Dato' Noh bin Haji Omar.

If this will be your first time to Balik Pulau, just drive/ride a bike along the curvacious and hilly Tun Sardon Road via Relau/Sungai Ara or Paya Terubong and once you reach the bottom end from the peak of Anjung Indah Observatory point, you'll see the white tents and the huge market complex (the largest in Penang!) on your right side of the road.

If you'll be on foot, just take a Rapid Penang bus #U401 or #401E from Weld Quay Jetty (ferry stop)/Komtar or other buses (Rapid Penang or Yellow Bus) from any bus stop on the island, and it'll take you through a 60-90 minute ride either from/via Teluk Bahang, Ayer Itam or Teluk Kumbar all the way to the Balik Pulau bus hub, situated just next to the new market complex/site for the Gerak Usahawan event -- BTW, if you need to find out how soon will a Rapid Penang bus reach you at a bus stop, call this number: 04-2381313 (Control Room).

Here's a Google map of Balik Pulau:-


To catch up on this event (posts, photos etc.), live on your mobiles, visit http://m.balikpulau.org

BP-ites participated in the inaugural Global Entrepreneurship Week

The event... (Global Entrepreneurship Week -- biggest celebration ever on "entrepreneurship", as held in 77 countries, with 13,000 activities including by over 100 partners in Malaysia during the week of 17th until 23rd of November 2008):


The photos with Balik Pulau young entrepreneurs and would-be entrepreneurs hosting own activities throughout "The Week" as well as coming down to Universiti Sains Malaysia during the final showcase day in Penang on 22nd of November 2008:-










Keep the spirit on... Join Kelab Usahawan Sosial (Social Entrepreneurs Club) TODAY:

To register, visit any one of the 42 Pusat Internet Desa (PIDs), including one of the two in Penang, located at Pejabat Pos Balik Pulau, Pekan Kongsi, Daerah Barat Daya (DBD), Pulau Pinang and Tasek Gelugor, Seberang Perai Tengah (SPT). Get benefits including membership with PID (monthly bulletins, discounted computer/internet access, workshops, seminars, retailed items etc.) and Health Club of Balik Pulau.

Rain, rain, go away

By WINNIE YEOH

Only one of the two lanes in Jalan Tun Sardon is currently opened to the public as repair work is underway to build retaining wall and gabion wall to prevent further landslides.

RESIDENTS in Balik Pulau, Penang, are living in fear every time it rains.

Landslides, uprooted trees and water gushing from the hillslopes are a common sight.

Jalan Tun Sardon and Jalan Teluk Kumbar also turn hazardous when it rains.

The rain last week caused several parts of the roads to sink.

The residents said they had no choice but to use the roads which led to Bayan Lepas and George Town.

Thousands of motorists take this route daily to get to their workplace.

Yusoff Hassan, 48, from Sungai Burung, Balik Pulau, said he would be in a dilemma when it rained as he had to travel on Jalan Tun Sardon to get to his workplace in Batu Maung.

“Fortunately, heavy rain on Hari Raya eve was not as serious as the previous one and one of the lanes on Jalan Tun Sardon was still open to the public.

“The landslides early September forced the road to close.

"I had to go round the island through Teluk Bahang, passing George Town to go to work and another round to go home after work,” he said.

Another motorist who wished to be known only as Pak Wan from Pondok Upeh said it was dangerous to travel on Jalan Teluk Kumbar, especially at night.

“It is dark at night and the water gushing from the hills would cause several huge potholes on the road. I ran into a pothole that caused one of my tyres to puncture last week,” he said.

For fisherman Lim Teik Seng who lives in Bayan Lepas, travelling to Balik Pulau for his daily subsidised fuel through Jalan Teluk Kumbar was risky as the bumpy ride would cause his petrol container to fall.

“There was once when my container fell in the middle of the road and a van ran over it.

“The empty container costs me RM25 and the petrol costs me RM28.60. I really hope the autho-rity can fix up the problems soon so we could travel more safely,” he said.

Road contractor Amir Propel said repair work on the road was expected to be completed in a couple of days.

“We are filling the sinkholes with rocks, red earth and granite. We will lay the premix so that the road can be opened to the public soon,” he said, adding that it would take another week to complete building the retaining wall and gabion wall on Jalan Tun Sardon.

He said many huge boulders had been removed from several sections of Jalan Tun Sardon.

Heavy rain last week caused landslides which damaged parts of Jalan Tun Sardon and Jalan Teluk Kumbar.

Presently only one lane on both roads is open to the public.

SOURCE: The Star Malaysia (Online), Sat, 11 OCT 2008

Consensus ('Muafakat') @Balik Pulau

BALIK Pulau MP Yusmadi Yusoff wants to give an infusion of new life to his constituency by launching a project known as Consensus @Balik Pulau (Muafakat@Balik Pulau).

He said the project was designed to improve the livelihood of the locals.

He was currently working on the initial stage of the project.

“I have to finalise the support system, get the right people to work with me on the project and also collect sufficient information regarding the local socio-economic pattern,’’ he said at his Hari Raya Open House held at the Balik Pulau Public Facilitator and Information Parliamentary Community Centre grounds recently.

Yusmadi said he had set up a People’s Academy (Akademi Rakyat) where locals could attend legal literacy classes and youth religious classes weekly.

“I want to focus on community empowerment and capacity building for the locals so as to equip them with basic knowledge and other skills."

“Apart from this, I want to create an environment to nurture a harmonious relationship among the different races in the community,’’ he added.

He said the open house was put together by villagers from Kampung Jalan Bharu and Kampung Sungai Burong.

“The open house reveals the true muhibbah (goodwill) spirit as locals of all races come together and contribute by providing food and other assistance,’’ he said.

Some 3,000 people attended the open house held from 11am to 4pm.

SOURCE: The Star Malaysia (Online), MP launches project to improve locals’ livelihood (Monday, 6 OCT 2008)

Salam Aidilfitri dari Balik Pulau

Eid Mubarak to all those celebrating the 'winning day' of 1 Syawal 1429H (end of the full fasting and tarawih month of Ramadan) and along with Muslims, celebrate the joyous occassion of strong brotherhood, friendship, unity and forgiveness...

Berhati-hati di jalan raya khususnya di Jalan Air Itam-Balik Pulau dan Teluk Kumbar-Genting di musim hujan ini - Pandu Cermat Jiwa Selamat. Utamakan keluarga anda yang tersayang dan sentiasa bertawakkal dengan usaha yang bersungguh-sungguh!

Pohonan ampun maaf dari kami sidang editor di BalikPulau.org...

Merdeka & Ramadan datang lagi!

Tiba malam hari sambutan Merdeka ke-51 (31 AUG 2008), Muslimin dan Muslimat seluruh Malaysia dan banyak negara-negara lain menyambut ketibaan Ramadan 1429H yang mulia menandakan bermulanya ibadah berpuasa setiap hari sepanjang 29-30 hari berikutnya, dan kali ini bermaknya sepenuh-penuhnya bulan September 2008!

Here are some recent snapshots around Balik Pulau off my camera/mobile phone showcasing decent developments and preserved agricultural bases (enjoy the slideshow!):



Will post more of Ramadan scenes later...

Too all Malaysians, enjoy the celebrations of Nationhood (17aug08 - 16sep08) up to this year's 45th Malaysia Day (16 SEP) and beyond!

Socializing Entrepreneurship in Desa Balik Pulau

The movement has begun. And the virus will spread across the country bringing the message of development for both urban and rural areas of Malaysia - self-development that is! Less than three months from today, Global Entrepeneurship Week will run across over 60 countries, with thousands of activities at regional and national levels to promote entrepreneurship as a mean to elevate economic and social status of affected communities. And these activities will not be run entirely by government or big corporations. In fact, most of these activities will be run by smaller organizations and groups of entrepreneurial people. These individuals and groups of people will strive to bring significant impacts to the local and global communities they would respectively cater to. How better can you learn entrepreneurship, besides actually getting your hands 'dirty' deep in it?

Today marked the day when the smallest ripple will spread out and virally infect the entire pool with synergized movements to create a better impact to the society, at least, in Balik Pulau. And I'm sure many more small ripples are being initiated in various villages and towns at this very moment to move the entire nation, and when nations collaborate, the entire world will vibrate. We started with a formation of Kelab Usahawan Sosial (Social Entrepreneurs Club - SEC/KUSBP) where a dozen local citizens of Balik Pulau congregated and one of the only two Pusat Internet Desa (Rural Internet Centre) in Penang (with another one in Tasek Gelugor, Seberang Perai) and agreed to push forward with its establishment as fast as possible.

En. Yuhezri Mohd Yusoff agreed to serve as a the Protem Chairman and he is to be assisted by Sarina Ishak as the Protem Honorary Secretary. The other ten attendees will serve as the committee protem executives. This small group of 'enterprising' individuals come from various walks of economic life including a farmer, a shop operator, a financial consultant, a telecentre supervisor, an IT engineer, an Microsoft-certified IT administrator, a gym operator, a government worker, a kindergarten teacher etc.

Next week, the committee will welcome representatives from Kuala Lumpur-based Warisan Global Sdn Bhd, host for Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) Malaysia 2008. And in weeks ahead, expect intense discussions on activities planned for GEW Penang/Malaysia and back-to-back trainings for would-be social entrepreneurs ("usahawan sosial", as an opposed to commercial/for-profit-only entrepeneurs).

Read more about social entrepeneurship at:-

1. Wikipedia
2. WikiVersity
3. GKP's Young Social Enterprise Initiative (YSEI)
   
4. UK-based School for Social Entrepeneurs (SSE) and Canada-based University of Alberta School of Business's CCSE.
   
5. Palo Alto, USA-based Skoll Foundation and its Social Edge portal
   
6. Switzerland-based Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship
7. Inspired Pragmatism Blog by Madhukar Shukla
   
8. New York University (NYU) Catherine B. Reynolds Foundation Program in Social Entrepreneurship
9. Telecentre.org
10. And supporting agencies including Canada-based IDRC, Swiss-based SDC, Microsoft (Unlimited Potential Program) and Global Knowledge Partnership (GKP, with Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia based Secretariat)
    

Simpang Tiga Maut Taman Sri Indah

Lebih kurang jam 10.30 malam tadi (Isnin 19 OGOS 2008), terdengar bunyi perlanggaran kenderaan yang begitu kuat dari simpang tiga ngeri yang hanya kurang daripada 20 meter tempat saya baru nak menikmati mee goreng mamak (di Restoran 24-jam Taman Sri Indah). Saya pasti ianya satu lagi kemalangan yang hampir sama dengan beberapa kemalangan yang sama di situ - sebuah kenderaan menghala masuk ke Taman Sri Indah dan sebuah lagi pasti meluncur laju dari arah Kongsi ke arah Simpang Empat Genting di barat daya.

Kurang daripada tujuh bulan yang lalu, saya sendiri menjadi mangsa simpang tiga 'berhantu' ini - kurang daripada sesaat membezakan kecederaan kecil dan kecederaan parah/maut bagi saya apabila dilanggar sebuah kereta meluncur laju ketika saya menunggang motosikal.

Puluhan orang ramai yang sedang berehat atau membeli-belah di kedai-kedai berdekatan terus bergegas di tempat kejadian, menghulurkan bantuan kepada kedua-dua mangsa serba-sedikit. Dari jauh, kelihatan dua buah motosikal yang hancur berderai. Khabarnya dan kelihatannya, kedua-dua motosikal tersebut baru lepas berlanggar depan sama depan. Kedua-dua penunggang motosikal berasingan terbaring di jalan raya, mengerang nampaknya kerana kesakitan yang amat. Pak Cik berumur dalam lingkungan umur 50-an parah di bahagian kaki, dan pemuda dalam lingkungan umur 20-an terbaring berlumuran darah di kepala.

Kurang daripada lima minit kemudian, siren ambulan kedengaran dan sebuah van tiba membawa paramedik dari Hospital Balik Pulau yang terletak kurang daripada dua kilometer dari tempat kejadian, yang terus mengusung "pak cik" dengan kereta roda. Mangsa kedua ditinggalkan buat sementara waktu untuk diambil dalam 'trip' kedua. Kedua-dua mangsa nampak masih hidup, tapi, parahnya kecederaan mereka hanya akan diketahui selepas pemeriksaan doktor di wad kecemasan Hospital Balik Pulau.

Banyak sebab kenapa kemalangan sebegini terus berulang di tempat yang sama, melalui senario yang hampir sama setiap kali. Tapi nampaknya tiada tindakan positif daripada pihak berkuasa selama bertahun-tahun lamanya. Kawasan simpang tiga di Jalan Balik Pulau tersebut cukup gelap dengan lampu jalan yang tidak berfungsi, termasuk beberapa lampu-lampu jalan yang lain yang begitu malap atau langsung tidak berfungsi, walaupun jalan tersebut cukup dekat dengan Ibu Pejabat Polis Daerah Barat Daya (kedua terbesar di Pulau Pinang) - kurang daripada sekilometer, tapi lebih 20 minit selepas kemalangan tadi, masih tak kelihatan langsung seorang pun pegawai polis di tempat kejadian -- khabarnya hampir semua pegawai polis dikerahkan ke Permatang Pauh di Seberang Perai (sama ketika saya mengalami kemalangan di situ - tak seorang polis pun yang datang menjenguk!).

Malah ada pejabat-pejabat operasi politik untuk kedua-dua 'parti pemerintah' Barisan Nasional dan pembangkang Pakatan Rakyat di rumah-kedai Taman Sri Indah - apakah pemimpin-pemimpin politik Balik Pulau tidur, atau terlalu sibuk dengan kegamatan di Permatang Pauh sampai lupa tempat sendiri? Sampai bila penduduk di situ wajar terus menunggu sehingga lampu-lampu jalan diperbaiki atau ditambahkan lampu trafik? (atau dibuangkan terus pembahagi jalan yang menghalang kenderaan-kenderaan mengelak ketika keadaan terdesak).

Apa perlu lebih banyak kemalangan ngeri dan meragut nyawa berlaku baru wakil-wakil rakyat dan jabatan kerajaan terbabit nak buat sesuatu? Apakah pihak polis (trafik) akan terus membisu dan akan terus berpeluang meminta wang suap setiap kali kemalangan berkomplikasi sebegini berlaku?

Western Fast Food has landed on Balik Pulau!

Some have obviously listened... and realized the opportunities for a huge eatery at the "New Balik Pulau"... So the question I posted over a year ago has now been answered. It's Kentucky Fried Chickens (KFC) who has stepped up to the "plate" to bring hot, spicy, fried chickens and ala-western burgers to one of the most strategic business location in Balik Pulau! (It's the corner shoplot, next to the new Ambank - after having moved from the centre of the old & crowded Kongsi Town just weeks ago, where at least one traditional "Ramly" Burger Stall/Cart is operating just a few dozen metres across the street).


Ironically, I've been urging my brother all these months to open up a fried chicken stall, because no one else are doing so except one stall at "Genting" Simpang Empat (in front of Umno & MARA offices) and at Pasar Malams on Wednesday & Sunday (also near Simpang Empat). Now, new ventures for "fried chickens" would have to go head to head with the big old uncle of KFC...


This is obviously a huge bet by franchisee (if any) or owner of this KFC outlet to serve a region of much less than 100,000 people (but with a handful of weekly visitors), but I'm sure they have done a comprehensive study before willing to put up an investment that could run into millions of ringgit over the course of a year of so... And if KFC will manage to survive, I'm sure many others will follow to "invade" Balik Pulau, including KFC's conventional competitors like McDonald's and other local franchises like KLG or Marrybrown, assuming that business will boom at the site, perhaps with a newcomer from the category of a "supermarket" or "mini hypermarket". (Sunshine, Giant, Tesco, Carrefour etc., are you there?)

I doubt this KFC outlet will open 24 hours daily though (like the ones in Bayan Baru and near USM's Sg. Dua Gate). But I hope, KFC will offer free Wi-Fi for its patrons, so, the locals and Balik Pulau visitors can benefit from it more than just great food. After all, if a Tomyam restaurant on Jalan Balik Pulau (e.g. Azlan Tomyam, near Taman Indah) can offer Wi-Fi Internet Access, why can't a big million-ringgit restaurant offer the same courtesy?


Say, how about adding "KFC" or "Kedai Makan Ayam Goreng" to above already crowded direction sign board?

Mari-mari! So many things to see and do in Balik Pulau!!