Balik Pulau in News (DEC 2009)

abu academy accompanied amateur amused astronomers attraction azrul bala bashing become becoming bernama best blogger btn building bukit catch centre cheque chief children chinese chong cloudy committee concept course debate dec fertilizer first malaysia meteor mohd organic penang pkr politics says set show truth two valley way worm yusmadi yusoff

Bernama Brunei News, Brunei Headlines from Brunei fm Malay Mail Malaysia Kini Malaysia Star The Malaysian Insider

The auguries of change

The Sun Daily - Himanshu Bhatt - ‎Dec 30, 2009‎

Property prices in the idyllic back-waters of Balik Pulau, for instance, have been rocketing since the bridge's construction was confirmed, with a slew of ...

I REMEMBER WHEN... I lost five children in seconds

New Straits Times - Looi Sue-Chern - ‎Dec 26, 2009‎

... day goes by without him remembering the loss of five of his eight children to the deadly waves that hit Pantai Pasir Panjang in Balik Pulau, Penang. ...

Calm after the storm

The Star - ‎Dec 26, 2009‎

FIVE years ago, anyone visiting the Pulau Betong fishing village in Balik Pulau, Penang, after the Boxing Day tsunami would have been shocked at the sight ...

The Star

Theft of jet engine an inside job, says minister

The Star - ‎Dec 19, 2009‎

Centre of attraction: Zahid with some amused children looking at the weapons on display after launching the Kompeni Wataniah in Balik Pulau in Penang ...

Balik Pulau To Worm Its Way Into Becoming Organic Valley

Bernama - ‎Dec 8, 2009‎

PENANG, Dec 8 (Bernama) -- Balik Pulau is set to 'worm' its way into becoming an organic valley. A worm fertilizer academy, which was set up in Sungai ...

MALAYSIA'S BALIK PULAU DISTRICT SET TO BECOME ORGANIC FERTILIZER VALLEY

Brunei News, Brunei Headlines from Brunei fm - ‎Dec 8, 2009‎

PENANG, MALAYSIA, Dec 9 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Balik Pulau idstrict on the northern Malaysian island resort of Penang is set to “worm” its way into becoming an ....

Cloudy sky hampers viewing of meteor show

The Star - ‎Dec 14, 2009‎

He said amateur astronomers stationed at the Pearl of Orion Observatory, next to the Bukit Genting Hill Leisure Park and Restaurant in Balik Pulau, ...

Catch Geminid meteor shower on Sunday night Malaysia Star

all 277 news articles »

MCA Leaders, Members Urged Not To Debate Party Issues Publicly

Bernama - ‎Dec 3, 2009‎

... committee," he told reporters after handing over cheque for RM500,000 to Balik Pulau's SRJK (C) Chong Teik for its building fund, here on Thursday. ...

No more media debate on polls date, says Liow Malaysia Star

all 37 news articles »

Just tell the truth!

Malaysia Kini - Jeffrey Chew - ‎Dec 14, 2009‎

... Corporation (the best training and retraining school in Malaysia) and establishment of a 200-acre Education Hub of Excellence in Balik Pulau, Penang. ...

PKR raps DAP over 'frog doormat' stunt

The Malaysian Insider - Mustafa Kamal - ‎Dec 1, 2009‎

... concept of “new politics” and that it does not reflect Malaysia's political culture, something which was also echoed by Balik Pulau MP Yusmaidi Yusoff. ...

DON'T SUE!

Malay Mail - Najiah Najib - ‎Dec 8, 2009‎

Balik Pulau MP and blogger Mohd Yusmadi Mohd Yusoff said rather than taking the matter to court, he would have preferred if the two bloggers were given a ...

PKR Youth chief to help MACC find PI Bala

The Malaysian Insider - Neville Spykerman - ‎Dec 4, 2009‎

Shamsul was accompanied today by lawyer Yusmadi Yusoff, who is also the Balik Pulau MP. Yusmadi said Najib's mantra of "1 Malaysia, People First, ...

Malam Budaya Karyawan Seni Balik Pulau (26 DIS 2009)

Silalah beramai-ramai ke acara ini yang dianjurkan oleh Badan Sukan & Kebudayaan Balik Pulau (BASKEB).

Tarikh:	26hb Disember 2009
Masa:	8.00 malam - 11.00 malam
Lokasi:	SMK Seri Balik Pulau, Jalan Sungai Nipah, Balik Pulau, Penang

Budaya Kita, Warisan Kita

Another Mega Landmark for Balik Pulau - Judiciary Court Complex

It's ready!

The new Kompleks all set to join the many neighboring fresh landmarks of Balik Pulau, namely the Al-Mokhtar District Mosque, the Balik Pulau Public Library (operated by Perbadanan Perpustakaan Pulau Pinang) and the new Syariah Judiciary Court (under construction), all gracing Jalan Balik Pulau (also known as Jalan Besar, ie. Main Road).

Not far nearby, on the same road, is another construction in progress for a public school, Sekolah Menengah Pondok Upeh. And towards the end of the road near Simpang Empat Genting, another al-Mashoor school is pending construction as Balik Pulau gears to become an education hub - edu-tourism centre!


The gates in front of the main entrance of the court complex seems rather ugly though, and might be well be removed to ensure that the beauty of the building inside shows across the front street.

UPDATES (Fri, 15jan10) - views during dusk & evening hours with bright lights sparkling the entire building... (next to the court building is the Balik Pulau Branch of Public Library and the Barat Daya District Mosque)

Happy Holidays & New Year 2010!

Happy Holidays all.... and New Year 2010 soon!

Be merry... ho ho ho...

(and safe travel if you'll be driving/riding around!)



From Balik Pulau with love...

Proposed 200-acre Education Hub for Balik Pulau - Penang State Government

The buzzes during the past couple months.... but what is it specifically, and how will it actually be implemented?


Excerpts from Speech by Lim Guan Eng at The World Chinese Economic Forum in Palace Of The Golden Horses Hotel on Tuesday, 17^th November 2009 - Penang blueprint “11 points of light” for Penang’s development into an international city and a high-income economy

"The Penang state government is taking steps to improve both the quantity and quality of higher education and boosting technological readiness, particularly information and communications technology penetration. As a start, the proposed 200 acre Education Hub in Balik Pulau together with the expansion of the existing PSDC would serve as an incubator to develop knowledge, skills and human capital."

Remarks Made By Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng During His Meeting With Malaysian Professionals In The San Francisco City Bay Area On 12 December 2009 - Both Malaysia and Penang needs to urgently double our talent pool. For us to succeed, we must restructure and revamp our entire education structure:

The time has come for Malaysia to double our talent pool by focusing on excellence in education. Penang will do our part by expanding the Penang Skills Development Corporation and establishing the 200 acre Educational Hub of Excellence in Balik Pulau.

And speech press release - ASEAN-INDIA FTA IN GOODS: EMERGING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENHANCED INDIA-MALAYSIA BUSINESS ENGAGEMENT (27 OCT 2009)

WE ARE TAKING STEPS TO IMPROVE BOTH QUANTITY AND QUALITY OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND BOOSTING TECHNOLOGICAL READINESS, PARTICULARLY INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY PENETRATION. AS A START, THE PROPOSED 200 ACRE EDUCATION HUB IN BALIK PULAU TOGETHER WITH THE EXPANSION OF THE EXISTING PSDC WOULD SERVE AS AN INCUBATOR TO DEVELOP KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND HUMAN CAPITAL.

IN SHORT, WE FEEL THAT THE STANDARD DEVELOPMENT MODEL IS NOT ENOUGH. WE NEED TO ADD 7 MORE INSTITUITIONAL AREAS IF WE ARE TO TRANSFORM OURSELVES INTO AN INTERNATIONAL CITY THAT CAN COMPETE GLOBALLY.

Your comments?

(Kerajaan Negeri Pulau Pinang sedang mengambil beberapa langkah untuk mempertingkatkan kuantiti dan kualiti pendidikan tinggi dan meningkatkan kesediaan teknologi, khususnya penetrasi teknologi maklumat dan komunikasi. Sebagai permulaan, cadangan untuk Hub Pendidikan di Balik Pulau bersaiz 200 ekar bersama-sama dengan pengembangan PSDC (Pusat Pembangunan Kemahiran Pulau Pinang) akan dijadikan inkubator untuk membangun pengetahuan, kemahiran dan modal insan.)

Apa pendapat anda?

Organic Valley of Northern Corridor

PENANG, Dec 8 (Bernama) -- Balik Pulau is set to 'worm' its way into becoming an organic valley.

A worm fertilizer academy, which was set up in Sungai Burung recently to guide farmers to produce their own fertilisers, would be the stepping stone towards achieving the target within five years.

Teluk Bahang assemblyman Datuk Seri Hilmi Yahaya said the academy, mooted about two years ago, had gone through many trial runs before it was set up.

He said the aim of the academy was to guide farmers to produce their own fertilizers.

"So far, 200 farmers make up the first batch in having registered for a three-month course to learn how to produce their own fertilisers, with participants needing only to spend about RM1,640 to buy related equipment for the course.

"Currently, we are giving priority to the cooperatives of the Sungai Burung community (to attend the course). Fertilizers produced during their training would be allowed to be put for sale or use it for their own.

"In the next five years, the Balik Pulau district would become an organic valley whereby, farmers would be sufficiently knowledgeable to produce their own fertilizers to use in their farms," Hilmi told reporters when met at the academy.

Hilmi explained that the use of worm fertilizers reduced the need for chemical fertilizers and helped farmers tap into the growing demand for organic food.

"Worms are also a green solution to food wastes as they are efficient digesting machines that eat over half their body weight in organic matter daily, leaving behind nutrient-rich worm castings which are completely natural," he said.

Hilmi said, apart from quality yield, worm fertilizers produced by earthworms would increase soil aggregate stability, aeration and reduce erosion.

"We have tested in many padi fields, and the result proves that its broad base of nutrients adds beneficial organisms, nutrients and minerals to sustain healthy plant life and stimulate growth," he added.

He said worm fertilizers cost less than chemical fertilizers as the growers only needed a third of the normal amount of chemical fertilizers, and farmers also needed to apply fertilizers less frequently.

For more information on the programme, contact Mohd Ali Othman at 012-578 8385 or Jaafar Masyar 016- 4945490.

-- BERNAMA - Balik Pulau To Worm Its Way Into Becoming Organic Valley

Balik Pulau in News (NOV 2009)

abbas abd abdullah act adb ago anwar azan aziz call chief claimed datuk development eng government guan hamid ismail issue kadir land langat lim macc mahkota minister mohd penang perda pkr pkr-balik proposed public question relations resign resignation sani sivarasa state statement truth umno wanted youth yusmadi yusoff zahrain zulkifli

Bernama Malaysia Star New Straits Times The Malaysian Insider

The truth about BTN — Mohd Azrul Abu Hassan

The Malaysian Insider - ‎Nov 26, 2009‎

In the first course in Balik Pulau, there were two Chinese girls in my group but that didn't stop the fascist facilitator from bashing the Chinese and ...

InvestPenang Is Here To Stay, Says Guan Eng

Bernama - ‎Nov 26, 2009‎

... Corporation (PSDC) as an incubator for new technology but also promote education in Balik Pulau to attract more schools and more centres of learning. ...

Government Does Not Propose Education Commission

Bernama - ‎Nov 25, 2009‎

He said this when replying to a question by Mohd Yusmadi Mohd Yusoff (PKR-Balik Pulau) who wanted the government to state its stand on political ...

Government Does Not Propose Education Commission

Bernama - ‎Nov 24, 2009‎

He said this when replying to a question by Mohd Yusmadi Mohd Yusoff (PKR-Balik Pulau) who wanted the government to state its stand on political ...

More hit out at Sivarasa

The Star - ‎Nov 11, 2009‎

... Abdullah Sani Abd Hamid (Kuala Langat), Mohd Yusmadi Yusof (Balik Pulau), Azan Ismail (Indera Mahkota) and Abd Aziz Abd Kadir (Ketereh). ...

Balik Pulau Umno Youth call for CM's resignation

The Star - Andrea Filmer - ‎Nov 11, 2009‎

GEORGE TOWN: The Balik Pulau Umno Youth wing has called for the resignation of Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng for allegedly misleading ...

Penang Umno Youth Tells Lim To Resign

Bernama - ‎Nov 11, 2009‎

BALIK PULAU, Nov 11 (Bernama) -- Penang Umno Youth has urged Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng to resign for "not doing what he claimed. ...

PKR rift worsens as Zulkifli challenges Sivarasa

New Straits Times - ‎Nov 10, 2009‎

Zahrain, Datuk Kamarul Bahrin Abbas (PKR-Teluk Kemang), Abdullah Sani Abd Hamid (PKR-Kuala Langat), Mohd Yusmadi Yusof (PKR-Balik Pulau), ...

The Malaysian Insider

BN wants Guan Eng to come clean on land issue

The Malaysian Insider - ‎Nov 10, 2009‎

In his written reply to a question from Pulau Betong assemblyman Muhamad Farid Saad on the approval of applications for change of land status from leasehold ...

Zul Nordin and Sivarasa slug it out despite Anwar's warning

The Star - Lee Yuk Peng, Abd Rahman - ‎Nov 10, 2009‎

... Mohd Yusmadi Yusof (PKR-Balik Pulau), Azan Ismail (PKR-Indera Mahkota) and Adb Aziz Abd Kadir (PKR-Ketereh) issued a joint press statement refuting a ...

Some PKR leaders defend Zulkifli Noordin

The Malaysian Insider - Hadi Abdullah Sani - ‎Nov 10, 2009‎

Both Bayan Baru MP Datuk Zahrain Mohamed Hashim and Balik Pulau MP Yusmadi Yusoff also denied that Anwar had targeted Zulkifli. Two days ago, Anwar at the ...

No Truth In Penang Government's Statement On Proposed Development Projects - PERDA

Bernama - ‎Nov 9, 2009‎

... (PERDA) chairman Datuk Azhar Ibrahim said there was no truth in what was claimed by the Penang government on a proposed development plan in Balik Pulau. ...

Pakatan reps call BN man's graft charge a MACC gimmick

The Malaysian Insider - Hadi Abdullah Sani - ‎Nov 3, 2009‎

Balik Pulau PKR MP Yusmadi Yusoff also agreed the move was an act of public relations by MACC to improve its image. “It is purely an act of public relations ...

Police Arrest Four Suspected Armed Robbers

Bernama - ‎Nov 3, 2009‎

The men, aged between 30 and 35, were picked up in a special operation in Batu Maung, Sungai Ara and Sungai Nibong, said Balik Pulau OCPD Supt Mohd Hatta ...

Put people first in town planning

The Sun Daily - ‎Nov 2, 2009‎

For instance, the old market in Balik Pulau in Penang should not be a site for multi-storey buildings. It should be turned into an open space so that the ...

Special task-force to follow up on AG's report

Malaysia Star - ‎Oct 30, 2009‎

For example, Kolej Kemahiran Tinggi Mara Balik Pulau in Penang paid RM84,640 for two laptop computers and spent RM2.08mil on computer software that was not ...

Balik Pulau shined during Global Entrepreneurship Week 2009

In total, over 50 activities were held in Balik Pulau during KUS-PID Balik Pulau Global Entrepreneurship Month (GeM09 - 22 October until 22 November 2009), in conjunction with Global Entrepreneurship Week 2009 (MuG/GEW - 16-22 NOV 2009), as held in at least 85 countries, by over 3,000 partners hosting over 5,000 activities!

In Malaysia alone, GEW 2009 or "Minggu Keusahawanan Global-Sedunia" (MuG - The Week!) saw over 550 events held in the span of a week, by over a hundred partners both from government and private sectors. And Northern Corridor, spearheaded by Penang ICT Entrepreneurs Society (ICT Penang) and Balik Pulau Social Entrepreneurs Club (KUS-BP) organized various activities to promote entrepreneurship especially among young people. Northern Corridor also saw significant participations by Politeknik Seberang Perai (PSP), New INTI College, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and ITU-UUM by hosting several eventful activities during The Week.

Last Saturday, KUS Balik Pulau in support by Multimedia Development Corpoation (MDeC), Penang Malay Chamber of Commerce Malaysia (DPMMPP) and several other organizations organized a full-day workshop dubbed "Karnival Usahawan Muda Inovasi & Kreatif 2009 - KUMIK" for its members and the local public on social media and entrepreneurship at Island College of Technology, Sungai Rusa. The event was officiated by Dato' Haji Faudzi Naim Haji Noh, Vice President of Dewan Perniagaan Melayu Malaysia (DPMM) as well as ICT Penang Advisor. Also presence was YB Sr. Hj Muhamad Farid Hj Saad, the local state assemblyman for Pulau Betong who also delivered a talk on entrepreneurship. Muhamad Farid is also an advisor for KUS Balik Pulau as well as a patron for Pusat Internet Desa (PID) Balik Pulau.

For more information about KUS & PID Balik Pulau and Global Entrepreneurship Week, refer the special book published last week, as below (also downloadable):

myUsahawan Global 2009/Koridor Utara (launched @ USM on 19 NOV 2009)

To obtain a print copy, kindly visit Pusat Internet Desa Balik Pulau at Pejabat Pos Malaysia, Kongsi, 11000 Balik Pulau, Penang, Malaysia - or send a self-address RM1 stamped envelope to PID. For more information, contact +60 4 866-2706.

{WHILE STOCKS LAST}

Several copies are also available for pickup at KUS-KUMUDA booth at Ekspo Jualan Karnival Riang Ria Balik Pulau at the vicinity of Southwest District al-Mokhtar Mosque at Jalan Balik Pulau (Main Street). The retail exposition opens every day including during Eid al-Adha until Tuesday, 1 DEC 2009. Meet the sociopreneur crews there!

Global Entrepreneurship Week 2009 - Balik Pulau is in!

It's here! World's largest movement on entrepreneurship will also be in Balik Pulau, BIG TIME! In fact, Balik Pulau will be the most active district/town in Penang on the week starting the 16th until 22nd of November 2009.

This full-day event is organized by Balik Pulau Social Entrepreneurs Club (KUS-BP) in collaboration with Pusat Internet Desa Balik Pulau (PID-BP) and Multimedia Development Corporation, and supported by YB Hj Muhammad Farid Hj Saad, ADUN of Pulau Betong, Balik Pulau. Other corporate supporters include Penang Malay Chamber of Commerce, TechBiz Penang, Alpha Catalyst Consulting, PBA Resources Sdn Bhd, JAP Group and Asmana Group.

See you there! Reserve your seats today, as they are limited due to space constraint.

Balik Pulau in October 2009

Special task-force to follow up on AG's report

Malaysia Star - ‎Oct 30, 2009‎

For example, Kolej Kemahiran Tinggi Mara Balik Pulau in Penang paid RM84,640 for two laptop computers and spent RM2.08mil on computer software that was not ...

When right is wrong

The Malaysian Insider - ‎Oct 27, 2009‎

... to the nation as thieves, robbers, white-collar criminals and some guy who sold Kolej Kemahiran Tinggi Mara Balik Pulau two Acer laptops for RM86,000. ...

Billions gone due to bad spending

Malaysia Today - ‎Oct 26, 2009‎

Kolej Kemahiran Tinggi Mara Balik Pulau in Penang paid RM84,640 for two laptops or RM42,320 per laptop and spent RM2.08mil on computer software that was not ...

UFO in Penang?

AsiaOne - ‎Oct 25, 2009‎

PENANG, MALAYSIA - A 'burning fireball' was seen at Balik Pulau, where an unidentified object was rumoured to have whizzed across the sky earlier. ...

AG's 2008 report shows project delays, lack of oversight continue to cost govt ...

Malaysia Star - ‎Oct 25, 2009‎

For example, Kolej Kemahiran Tinggi Mara Balik Pulau in Penang paid RM84,640 for two laptops or RM42,320 per laptop and spent RM2.08mil on computer software ...

Bosses held accountable

The Sun Daily - Terence Fernandez - ‎Oct 25, 2009‎

Among the observations of this year's AG's report which raised eyebrows is Kolej Kemahiran Tinggi Mara Balik Pulau's purchase of two laptops for RM42,320 ...

Malaysia Star

Where's the action?

Malaysia Star - Joseph Loh - ‎Oct 24, 2009‎

The gross expenditures mentioned above were made by Kolej Kemahiran Tinggi Mara Balik Pulau

that time of the year again

The Malaysian Insider - ‎Oct 22, 2009‎

This year the honour must go to a college in Balik Pulau, Penang, which bought two laptops for RM42,320 a piece, according to a mainstream newspaper. ...

Straits Times

$17424 for a laptop

Straits Times - ‎Oct 21, 2009‎

Kolej Kemahiran Tinggi Mara Balik Pulau in Penang not only paid the price but bought two units of the same brand - Acer Aspire, at a whopping price of RM84 ...

Deferred trainees to attend NS programmes next year

New Straits Times - Audrey Dermawan - ‎Oct 16, 2009‎

BALIK PULAU: Some 20000 people who had deferred their National Service training since 2004 have been told to attend the programme next year. ...

National Service: 20000 who deferred training to be called next year

The Sun Daily - ‎Oct 16, 2009‎

BALIK PULAU (Oct 16, 2009): A total of 20000 trainees who were allowed to defer their National Service (NS) training to further their studies will be called ...

UFO visited Balik Pulau !! ??

PENANG, MALAYSIA - A 'burning fireball' was seen at Balik Pulau, where an unidentified object was rumoured to have whizzed across the sky earlier.

However, the prank was exposed after the residents' careful observation and found that the shape of the 'fireball' was similar to a burning 'cup lump (naturally coagulated latex)'.

Residents started to gather around the oil palm estate since the rumour of spotting an UFO was spread over Kuala Sungai Pinang and Sungai Rusa. They kept on looking at the sky, hoping to see the rumoured flying object.

A Sin Chew Reporter went to the oil palm estate at Sungai Rusa and waited for more than two hours after setting up the tripod and camera. Suddenly, a floating 'fireball' appeared on the sky.

However, the 'fireball' was not whizzing across the sky as the rumour said. Instead, it was moving up and down above a coconut tree.

The flame caught the residents' attention and everyone was shouting when they saw the 'UFO'. A few young men immediately climbed onto the motorcycles and rushed to the location where the 'fireball' was.

The residents were nervous at first. They then realised that they had been fooled after a careful observation as the 'fireball' was actually moving up and down straightly. The inferred that it was actually a cup lump as it kept dropping blaze.

When they realised that it was a prank, they tried to get into the jungle to look for the person. However, as the only way to get in was through a deep marsh, they could only observe outside the jungle.

The "farce" lasted for about 15 minutes when the prankster stopped pulling the 'fireball'.

However, the 'fireball' continued burning and some residents stayed over as they were worried that it might cause a fire.



SOURCE: Sin Chew Daily/Asia News Network - UFO in Penang?
(Translated by YOU HSUEH LIN/ Sin Chew Daily)

Balik Pulau Social Entrepreneurs Club (KUSBP) got her new sets of wings...

by Nasir Sobri, Vice Chairman of KUS Balik Pulau (2009/2010)

BALIK PULAU - Kelab Usahawan Sosial (KUS) Balik Pulau organized its 2009 Annual General Meeting (AGM) yesterday at Balik Pulau Sports Complex, that was attended by over 50 people from various walks of life, including kids as young as under 5 years of age to senior citizens over 65 years of age - of course, only those over 18 years old legally participated in the election of its 2nd pro tem committee en route to become a registered society towards empowering the local community with entrepreneurial and socially-benefitting activities and ventures.

KUSBP's incumbent Chairman, En. Yuhezri bin Mohd Yusuff, 39, of Landsea Enterprise was re-elected to continue chairing the pro tem commitee, and he will be assisted by nine other committee members including four other sitting committee members namely Cik Sarina, Cik Fardilah, Puan Siti Huraizah and En. Nasir. The newly refreshed committee of KUS Balik Pulau now includes members from as young as 23 and as senior as 69 representing various adult generations in Balik Pulau.

During the first committee meeting for 2009/2010 session held afterwards, Cik Sarina bt. Ishak of Challenger Enterprise (as well as presently serving as Assistant Manager for PID Balik Pulau) and Puan Rosidah bt. Mohamad Ismail, 36, of Kesidang Rose Enterprise (maker of Kesidang Rose carbonated beverage as marketed at KUMUDA-AMAN centre) have been appointed as KUSBP's pro tem Honorary Secretary, and Honorary Treasurer respectively.

Photos from above slideshow movie can be viewed on Facebook, as linked from KUSBP's Facebook Page.

Prior during the AGM session, a Member of Penang State Legislative Assembly (ADUN) for Pulau Betong, Balik Pulau, YB Hj Muhamad Farid bin Hj Saad delivered a keynote and later officiated the meeting. In his speech, he rallied members of KUSBP to also join and support a new cooperative corporation - Koperasi Usahawan Muda Pulau Pinang Bhd (KUMUDA) that KUS has been instrumental in setting it up and supporting its early months of activities, following several meetings and dialogues since March 2009 which Muhamad Farid also participated in - KUMUDA was officially registered with Suruhanjaya Koperasi Malaysia (SKM) in June 2009, facilitated by KUS and a pro tem committee/board of directors secretariat based at PID Balik Pulau.

Besides financial contribution totalling RM1,500 to KUSBP in 2009 particularly for the Blog Bash @ Penang City, a social media sharing event held in Kongsi earlier this year, Muhamad Farid also pledged double the monetary support to at least RM3,000 for KUSBP activities in 2010. YB Farid, as he's affectionately refered to, is also a patron of PID Balik Pulau as well as an advisor for KUS Balik Pulau and KUMUDA.

The meetup at Kompleks Sukan Balik Pulau MPPP also includes a presentation by En. Hazhari from Penang Rural Development Authority (PERDA), a briefing on PID Global Entrepreneurship Month 2009 by Siti Huraizah from Pusat Internet Desa (PID) and a talk on Karnival Usahawan & ICT KUS 2009 by En. Nasir who is also the Honorary Secretary for Persatuan Usahawan ICT Pulau Pinang (ICT Penang), regional host for Global Entrepreneurship Week 2009/Malaysia.

KUS Balik Pulau has registered paid members totalling over 90 by 30 September 2009, as detailed in its AGM 2009 report. Besides, it has also received over 30 online registrations via its blog site - memberships pending confirmation and joining fee completion. KUSBP plans to register over 1,000 members within twelve months from today by not limiting it to just residents of Kongsi town/Pulau Betong village area of Balik Pulau, in order to represent at least 2-percent of adult population in Balik Pulau parliamentary area - including DUN areas of Teluk Bahang, Pulau Betong and Bayan Lepas (not including Bayan Lepas Industrial Zone and Bayan Baru) or Southwest District of Penang State - half the size of Penang island.

KUS-BP currently maintains its online presence at http://balikpulau.org (or http://bp.pp.my) and http://kusbp.pp.my besides at various social media sites with its Facebook page newly set up in October garnering dozens of fans, its Balik Pulau Group on Facebook has been joined by over 200 members, and its "@BalikPulau" Twitter identity set up eight months earlier is being followed by over 1,400 users making it into top-400 most popular Twitter identities in Malaysia (or Top-55 as of 25 OCT 2009, according to TwitterHolic). KUS-BP welcomes everyone to join its Balik Pulau Facebook Group towards populating it with at least 1,000 users by or before 10/10 '10.


What are you waiting for?
Let's activate the community and fly high, locally, nationally and globally!

Join KUS Balik Pulau TODAY:

Enter your national identification/MyKAD number to join KUS Balik Pulau and submit payment, online, for the registration fee (applicable once your membership request has been approved during subsequent official committee meetings).

(Joining fee, including first annual fee is only RM20 - includes membership and privileges (until 2010) to services at any of the 42 PIDs throughout Malaysia, worth RM10. Members of KUSBP are entitled for participating in AGMs, notifications on all activities organized by KUSBP, discounts on KUS merchandises & services, and many other benefits. Fees can be paid online using any major credit card (via Paypal) or Maybank2u etc - Refer http://usahawan.balikpulau.org for more information.)

EXTRA NOTES: The new committee with its volunteer team members are supporting back-to-back events organized by PID Balik Pulau during its Bulan Keusahawanan Global PID (22 OCT - 22 NOV 2009), as well as will host Balik Pulau's first ICT & Entrepreneurship Carnival (K-U&I) set for the weekend of 7 & 8 November, 2009.

The Carnival, which will include awards & competitions, multimedia workshops, entrepreneurial talks, flea market & computer fair, family fun day, cultural and musical shows etc. has been organized in conjuction with Global Entrepreneurship Week 2009 campaign (the 7-day week starting Monday, 16 NOV 2009) as to be held at over tens of thousands venues by over 10,000 host-partners, in over a hundred countries - including by over 300 host-partners in Malaysia.

Bulan Keusahawanan PID @ Balik Pulau 2009 (22 OKT - 22 NOV)

KUS Balik Pulau welcomes more activity partners and/or sponsors for this first-ever event of its kind in Balik Pulau, set to be the biggest GEW/MUG 2009 celebration in northern region of Malaysia. Targetted audience is 2,000+ attendees on site and over 40,000 people via online and offline media. For details and progressive updates, refer http://karnivalusahawan.eventbrite.com and http://kusbp.pp.my, or contact KUS-PID Balik Pulau Secretariat (Pn Ija/Cik Sarina) at +60 4 866-2706 [phone/fax].