Media Penang roots out...

Besides the one page coverage mostly dedicated to mostly Balik Pulau parliamentary areas (inclusive of Pulau Betong, Teluk Bahang & Bayan Lepas) in Sinar Harian daily publication dubbed "Tanjung 2", truly local or dedicated publications still lack in this particular region or even the entire state of Pulau Pinang and perhaps most areas outside Klang Valley, except small scale ones within sporadic schools and other organisations.

With the year of 2010 being gazetted as the "Year of Creativity and Innovation" by the government of Malaysia, it's wise to recognize how Malaysians are generally not so creative and innovative as we'd otherwise be led to believe. This was among others highlighted in a small CEOs meetup called "CEO Breakfast" inaugurally organized in Penang by Technopreneurs Association of Malaysia (TeAM) & MAD, Inc and supported by Multimedia Development of Malaysia (MDeC/MSC Malaysia), which author also had the privilege to join.

Among contributors to this creativity illness, and later contributed to lack of innovations within our society and local organisations are lack of creative outlets, hence the local media which members of the society can participate in. Instead of joining the fast-moving bandwagon of co-creation trend brought along with the advent of new (social) media during this very decade, many Malaysians are still generally mostly consumers, not producers.

Balik Pulau-based Social Entepreneur Club or "Kelab Usahawan Sosial Balik Pulau (KUS-BP)" as it's locally known as has recognized this contributing issue, and besides sponsoring in-person dialogue activities, has spearheaded micro-effort of self-publishing. Not limiting its members to online-only interaction via the likes of email, facebook pages, online groups, blogs, chat forums etc, KUSBP has initiated larger reachout especially within the local community presently at only about 5% active Internet usage - a 2,000 copies of 28-page publication dubbed "myUsahawan Global" (MUG09) was released last November 2009 during the Global Entrepreneurship Week 2009.

MUG09 was first distributed to over 300 attendees to the GEW-Koridor Utara 2009 launch event at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), officiated by YB Dato' Mukhriz Mahathir, Deputy Minister of International Trade & Industry (MITI). Although MUG09 mainly covers the core efforts and activities by KUS Balik Pulau especially centred at the very region, additional coverage on the GEW 2009 activities in the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) areas were also included, and the micro example set in Balik Pulau and respective areas is hoped to be duplicated in other areas throughout northern Malaysia and beyond.

As a continuance, and to start the new year, KUS-BP recently launched its bi-monthly newletter publication, dedicated to its growing members (over 120 as of December 2009) and members of the local communities. The print-version is distributed both in physical and high-quality digital version via social web as detailed at http://usahawan.balikpulau.org/2010/01/berita-kus-1-jan-feb-2010.html

In addition to internal circulation over over 100 and several hundreds more to members of Pusat Internet Desa Balik Pulau (PID-BP), it is hoped that the overall circulation will surpass 1,000 within the few short weeks of its release. Chief editor Nasir who also serves as one of the volunteer committee member explains that the club welcome members to submit creative materials and stories to be included in subsequent releases.

"We hope that KUS can offer a 'free' creative outlet we've been desperately needing all these years, and each contributor and participants can maximize the growing network that KUS has established and will enhance via its huge national network of over 50,000 members and bigger via friendly organisations networks", says Nasir.

It's worth to note also that the not-for-profit distribution of KUSnews (Balik Pulau edition) is not alone in the effort to connect Balik Pulau community. For commercial organisations and more targetted marketing, Koperasi Usahawan Muda Pulau Pinang Bhd (KUMUDA), the fresh local cooperative organisation that was set up via one of KUSBP-sponsored event has been publishing its own periodic advertisement compilation as an alternative to billboard, banners, posters or flyers marketing. In fact, the money-saving booklet named 'InfoBiz' is hoped to help to keep Balik Pulau roads less polluted with eyes-poking ads on roadside trees and structures. For as little as RM60, members of the cooperative or just about anyone can reach thousands in Balik Pulau and beyond (via various social media outlets), hence at the cost of just 'sekupang' (10-sen) per reader!


To obtain copies of above publications visit Pusat Internet Desa Balik Pulau at Bangunan Pejabat Pos Malaysia Bhd (across Maybank and Shell Jalan Balik Pulau, next to Dataran Tuah) during office hours (9 am - 5 pm Monday to Friday except public holidays) or KUMUDA offices including at AMAN-KUMUDA Business Centre at No 4, Ruang Niaga Sri Genting (PERDA - across Kolej Kemahiran Tinggi MARA), Simpang Empat, Balik Pulau during store hours (10 am - 6 pm, everyday except public holidays).

Feel free to also send self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE with 50-sen or more Pos Malaysia stamp) for copies to above address (with "11000" as its postcode).

KuMuDa-InfoBiz002

For enquiries, refer respective websites or facebook pages at http://usahawan.balikpulau.org , http://kusbp.pp.my and http://kumuda.org or call KUSBP & KUMUDA respectively at +60 4-866-2706 and +60 4-866-0098 during normal business hours.

Round-a-bout...

Monumen roundabout di jalan Besar, Balik Pulau ialah seni bina asal yang dibinakan pada tahun 1882 oleh Koh Seang Tat (1833-abad 20an). Koh Seang Tat ialah seorang saudagar Hakka yang kaya, beliau telah dianugerah sebagai Kapitan Cina oleh kerajaan British. Kerja Kapitan Cina ialah menjaga kebajikan kaum Cina. Monument ini dibina untuk memperingatkan kunjugan Sir Federick Weld K.C.M.G Gabenor Selat Melaka.

Semasa penjajahan British, orang British telah memperkenalkan teknik-teknik menggunakan kereta kuda. Kuda digunakan oleh orang kaya seperti Koh Seang Tat dan orang British. Roundabout ini berfungsi untuk kuda dan lembu minum air. Kuda dan lembu digunakan sebagai pengangkutan untuk mengangkut cengkih, buah pala, getah, pisang, dan kelapa. (Fong Ten Sent)

Monument roundabout juga telah menjadi petanda di Balik Pulau. Pada zaman dahulu, orang menggunakan penunjuk arah untuk mengecamkan arah. Dua ukiran simbol singa didapati di bawah monumen. Simbol singa digunakan sebagai lambang British. Jadi, ukiran singa ialah untuk mengingati British. Selain itu, air akan keluar dari ukiran mulut singa. Menurut penduduk tempatan, air berasal dari gunung (O Keau Shua, Hokkien) di belakang sekolah Sacred Heart melalui sistem paip.

Kepercayaan bagi orang Cina ialah jika ada air orang Cina akan mendapat untung; jika tiada air, orang Cina akan malang. Dan orang Cina menganggap singa sebagai simbol hero.

Bahan asal monument ini dibina dengan menggunakan batu-bata.Penjagaan dan pembaiki roundabout diubahsuai dari masa ke semasa. Seperti sekarang 2006, sportlight, pancut air, peti elektrik dan mozek telah ditambah di roundabout. Lima tahun yang lepas, pokok kelapa plastic telah dipasang dan diturunkan kerana tidak cantik.

Kerajaan telah mengumumkan roundabout ini akan dikekalkan selama-lamanya.

From PID Balik Pulau - Roundabout Balik Pulau.

Is Penang still being occupied by British?

Yes, among the many states and territories of Malaysia, Penangites are probably the fanciest of English as a mean of everyday communication language, and especially for business and academic purposes, but do we really need to keep erecting notice and name boards in English? And even naming new shops, buildings and schools with names of English heritage to this very day after 52 years of nation independence?

Gurney Plaza, Queensbay Mall, Esplanade, The Lightfront, Suntech (tower), The One etc. -- instead of Plaza Gurney, Kompleks Queensbay (or rather a better local name!), Padang Kota, Persisiran Sinar/Cahaya/Nur, Suria, Satu, "dan sebagainya!"

Not enough with the naming of almost every newly built hotels from Teluk Bahang/Batu Feringghi all the way to Bukit Jambul/Bayan Baru (the latest including Eastin Hotel and B-Suite) and naturally spilled to new luxury & semi-luxury apartment and housing communities - eg. Goldcoast, this not so positive development has even spreaded to Balik Pulau which has for hundreds of years been occupied with local natives since before the arrival of Francis Light to Penang!

Banners & notices in English addressed to mostly Malay residents?

Take Botanica.ct, one of the largest land development for residentials and businesses in the island of Penang, perhaps even larger than the entire original township of Kongsi (small strip of Jalan Balik Pulau from the junction of Jalan Tun Sardon all the way south to Jalan Genting). The 300-acre project developed by MTT Properties & Development Sdn Bhd is being progressed at a steady pace for the past few years, and takes about ten years in total to complete.

To market this ambitious development in the heart of the island, which is rather far from existing city infrastructures like the local airport, seaports, and administrative centres of both local government and private entities (including over 200 multinational manufacturing plants in Bayan Lepas & Batu Maung free trade zone), the developer has forced Balik Pulau, long known for modest developments for educational institutions to welcome another major "international" school - but why in the world is the name "Prince of Wales Island International School" picked out of many other possible names bearing our own royals of Malaysia or nobles of Pulau Pinang? Or simply "Penang"!

Oh well, the school turns out to offer "British Curriculum" after all...

International school to begin enrolment in September

The school hoped to register about 140 students for a start. -NST

Sun, Jan 24, 2010
New Straits Times

GEORGE TOWN - The Prince of Wales Island International School, to be built within the Botanica. CT garden township in Balik Pulau here, will take in its first batch of students in September next year.

Costing RM95 million (S$40 million), the school will start its enrolment in September.

MTT & Priority Group of Companies group executive chairman Datuk Kenny Ong said the school hoped to register about 140 students for a start.

He said there would be places for local students as well as those from abroad, especially Asian countries.

He said MTT had established the MTT Learning Academy Sdn Bhd as a subsidiary, to own, manage and operate the school.

"We expect to begin operation by the third quarter of next year, pending proper compliance with the relevant rules and regulations.

"Our main aim is to provide a balanced education, not only academically, but also in terms of fundamental life qualities with the aim to develop students into complete and wholesome individuals," he said at the groundbreaking yesterday.

Present was the British High Commissioner Boyd McCleary.

At the event, Ong's mother, Datin Looi Woon Yin, also planted a tree -- "Tree of Wisdom" -- to symbolise the birth of a new beginning.

Ong said the school would have a low teacher-student ratio of one teacher to a maximum of 25 students.

It will offer Year Seven to Year 13 British curriculum programmes for students aged 12 to 18 by experienced teachers, a majority of whom will be from the United Kingdom.

To be located on a 2.8ha site with 40.6 per cent open areas, the school with full boarding facilities, will be equipped with state-of-the-art facilities that can cater for up to 800 students.

There are air-conditioned classrooms and tutorial rooms, specialised science laboratories, specialised workshops, a cafeteria, a multipurpose hall, a library, a drama and music hall, a natural acoustic concert auditorium and low density air-conditioned boarding homes.

There will also be a wide range of outdoor facilities, including a football field, a courtyard with netball courts, tennis courts, a swimming pool and changing rooms.

Ong said the school was given the name Prince of Wales Island International School to revive a part of Penang's heritage by using its historical name.

Penang is currently home to several international schools, including the International School of Penang (commonly known as Uplands School), St Christopher's International Primary School, Fairview International School, Tenby International School and Dalat International School, which are all located in its north-east district.

McCleary said MTT's intention to establish an international school was a noble one.

MTT, a Penang-based property developer which is building the 120-ha Botanica. CT garden, will launch phase three of the project in March, consisting of terrace and semi-detached homes, located just behind the school.

The school is the first non-residential phase within the township.

So, not enough with almost the entire east coast of Penang island being practically colonized by English ghosts, let's make Balik Pulau a refreshed British settlement?

Terlanjur perahu boleh undurkan, terlanjur noda...

Sudahlah ternoda di awal usia, berdosa dengan kurnia ilahi pula... Untuk ibu-ibu & bapa-bapa yang punya anak muda berkerja mahupun masih di bangku sekolah, lebihkanlah pengawasan dan perhatian. Biar cegah dulu sebelum menyesal di hari kemudian...

PENANG, Jan 11 (Bernama) -- A teenage factory worker was charged in the Balik Pulau magistrate's court for allegedly killing her child who was found in the toilet of a factory in Bayan Lepas last year.

Nurul Syuhada Shamsudin, 19, from Parit Buntar in Perak, is alleged to have committed the offence in the toilet of an electronics factory at Phase 4, Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone, at 12.30am on Dec 30, 2009.

No plea was recorded and bail was not allowed since the offence was punishable under Section 302 of the Penal Code which carries the mandatory death sentence upon conviction.

Nurul Syuhada was not represented.

Magistrate Norhayati Johar fixed Feb 19, for mention, pending post-mortem and chemist reports.

The baby, believed to be a month old, was found protruding from the hole of a toilet bowl, by a cleaner who was trying to repair the clogged toilet at about 2.15pm on Dec 30.

-- BERNAMA - Teenage Mum Charged With Murder

Also on the Star - Teenage mum charged with killing baby

Welcome back to School, with RM50 Netbook!!

BALIK PULAU, Penang (5 JAN 2009) - The first program from Mutiara Smart Computing (formerly MIMOS Smart Computing) & Celcom Axiata arrived in Balik Pulau in its inauguration program for students at Maktab Rendah Sains MARA here at Jalan Pondok Upeh.

The light RM1,080 netbook (or affordably at just RM50 for 24 months) computers that come in two colors - pearl white and black, are envisioned to empower at least 100 students in each secondary school with flawless, anytime, anywhere access to the Internet with included, built-in HSDPA 3G modem and unlimited prepaid broadband access from Celcom.

Officiating the launch earlier this morning was Dato' Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya, State Legislative Member (ADUN) for Teluk Bahang. Mutiara Smart Computing was represented by its CEO En. Muhamed Ali Hajah Mydin and Celcom Axiata was represented by its Northern Regional Vice President, En. Saiful Bahrin Abdul Ghaffar.

For MRSM Balik Pulau students and staff, the broadband-enabled netbook package will be distributed the school cooperative - KOPAKAT, and students will be offered training for in-campus maintenance servicing.

More photos on Facebook Album:

Mutiara Smart Computing & Celcom Axiata launched 1 Student 1 Netbook @ MRSM Balik Pulau