This Month in Balik Pulau (March 2009) - Drugs, Drinking, Debt, Deceit, Defeat > Death!

Not so quiet of village-town it seems!

Welcome to Bandaraya Balik Pulau, the center of actions (too), just at the backside of the world-famous island of Penang...

On the good side, entrepreneurial spirits, women power and massive developments (infrastructure-wise plus towards social & economic ones) are hailing rapidly from this small, remote town, some 10+ kilometres away from George Town, Gelugor or Bayan Lepas metro-like cities of Pulau Pinang.

Here's what being talked about, and had been in the media (THE BIG NEWS STORIES) during the full month March 2009:-

agaknya ahli akan akhirnya aku ara asar atas attractions bahawa barat baru batu beaches beautiful berada berbangsa berjanji bersetia berubah cina daerah dan daya dengan eileen few final hidangan hingga ini kami kenangan kepada krmbp kuala lagi membelasah pada penang pengakap pinang saya selamat skpdl sungai tahun terus wajah yang

Man found buried at beach

Malaysia Star - ‎‎Mar 27, 2009‎

By ANN TAN BALIK PULAU: A tourist had a shock when he stumbled upon a body that was partially buried in the sand on the Teluk Bahang beach. ...

Winners and Losers

The Malaysian Insider - ‎‎Mar 26, 2009‎

Datuk Norraesah Mohamad – the former banker was told by Abdullah that she would be appointed to the Cabinet if she won the Balik Pulau parliamentary ...

Foreigners with vital info can get witness protection

New Straits Times - ‎Mar 23, 2009‎

To a call by Yusmaidi Yusof (PKR-Balik Pulau) that an annual report be tabled in the house on the programme, he said this could not be done as it would ...

Balik Pulau’s online marketing bid

Malaysia Star - ‎Mar 22, 2009‎

By MANJIT KAUR BALIK PULAU: Housewives have a new reason to be tech-savvy – to buy poultry, fish and vegetables with a click of the mouse. ...

Malaysia Star

Tour agent faces 10 years’ jail

Malaysia Star - ‎Mar 19, 2009‎

BALIK PULAU: A travel agent claimed trial in the magistrate’s court here to cheating a man of RM22,300 by writing him a cheque for the sum from an account ...

Man Charged With Trafficking In Ketamine

Bernama - ‎Mar 19, 2009‎

BALIK PULAU, March 19 (Bernama) -- An Indian national was charged in the Magistrate's Court here today with trafficking in 13.676kg of ketamine. ...

Travel Agent Charged With Cheating

Bernama - ‎Mar 19, 2009‎

BALIK PULAU, March 19 (Bernama) -- A travel agent pleaded not guilty in the Magistrate's Court here today to a cheating involving RM22,300. ...

Buses to remain in Penang

New Straits Times - ‎Mar 18, 2009‎

The five depots are at Lorong Kulit, Tanjung Bunga, Sungai Nibong and Balik Pulau on the island and in Butterworth. However, state Local Government and ...

Malaysia Star

Nifty touch

Malaysia Star - ‎Mar 18, 2009‎

Hailing from Balik Pulau, Penang, Soong had already amassed a string of beauty titles by the time she was 19. A small-town girl with big dreams and steely ...

Speculation that Penang DCM Fairus on way out

Malaysia Star - ‎Mar 18, 2009‎

Balik Pulau division chief Dr Mansor Othman, Deputy State Legislative Assembly Speaker Tan Hock Leong and state PKR election director Mustafa Kamal Mohd ...

Rapid Penang denies threatening state govt

Malaysia Star - ‎Mar 18, 2009‎

"Currently, Rapid Penang has four depots for buses, with one each in Tanjung Bungah, Balik Pulau and Lorong Kulit and belonging to the Penang Municipal ...

3 M’sians, 2 Indonesians nabbed with 8kg ganja

Malaysia Star - ‎Mar 16, 2009‎

By LOOI SUE-CHERN BALIK PULAU: The police have arrested three Malaysians and two Indonesians and confiscated about 8kg of ganja in Sungai Ara in Bayan Lepas ...

Give Priority To Small Projects, Says Backbencher

Bernama - ‎Mar 11, 2009‎

Datuk Mohamad Aziz (BN-Sri Gading) and Mohd Yusmadi Mohd Yusoff (PKR-Balik Pulau) called on the government to ensure that the RM60 billion allocation would ...

Guan Eng thanks Najib for money, then asks where it will come from

The Malaysian Insider - ‎Mar 11, 2009‎

... such as the proposed RM500 million halal hub in Balik Pulau and Batu Kawan; RM200 million loan for its Heritage Rehabilitation Plan in Georgetown as a ...

‘Datuk Kabi’ hearing on June 24 and 30

Malaysia Star - ‎Mar 10, 2009‎

By K. KASTURI DEWI BALIK PULAU: A magistrate’s court has fixed June 24 and 30 to hear two charges against C. Kamaleshwaran, popularly known as “Datuk Kabi,” ...

5 Rapid Penang depots more than sufficient, says exco man

New Straits Times - ‎Mar 9, 2009‎

Four of its depots are on the island, in Sungai Nibong, Lorong Kulit, Tanjung Bunga and Balik Pulau while the one on the mainland is in Butterworth. ...

Plumber allegedly beat daughter

Malaysia Star - ‎Mar 9, 2009‎

Balik Pulau OCPD Supt Mohd Hatta Mohd Zain said initial investigations revealed that the father might have beaten his four-month-old baby girl when he could ...

RapidPenang: No depot site, no 200 extra buses

New Straits Times - ‎Mar 6, 2009‎

The five depots RapidPenang are at Lorong Kulit, Tanjung Bungah, Sungai Nibong and Balik Pulau on the island and one in Butterworth. ...

Dead newborn found dumped in drain

AsiaOne - ‎Mar 4, 2009‎

By TAN SIN CHOW BALIK PULAU, MALAYSIA: A newborn baby boy with his umbilical cord still intact was found dead in a drain at KM55.3 of Jalan Teluk Bahang ...

Malaysia Star

Ying Ying’s mum to face two drug trials

Malaysia Star - ‎Mar 4, 2009‎

BALIK PULAU: Although the case of lodging a false missing person’s report about her dead daughter is now behind her, former sales executive Jess Teh Hooi ...

Former MP-contentest for Balik Pulau made as sole woman in UMNO Supreme Council Member

Malaysia Today's Winner and Losers - Day 2

"Datuk Norraesah Mohamad, the former banker was told by Abdullah that she would be appointed to the Cabinet if she won the Balik Pulau parliamentary constituency on March 8 2008. She lost and has been flirting with political oblivion till today, becoming the only woman to win a seat on the powerful Supreme Council."

More:

Norraesah Sole Woman In MT

Bernama - ‎6 hours ago‎

KUALA LUMPUR, March 27 (Bernama) -- Datuk Dr Norraesah Mohamad, who was the only women elected into Umno's Supreme Council (MT) in the party's polls today, ...

Malaysia Star

Shahrir: Count me out

Malaysia Star - ‎6 hours ago‎

The only woman elected into the supreme council, Senator Datuk Dr Norraesah Mohamad, said she was disappointed that the delegates seemed to have “forgotten” ...

WA today

Dream Team For Najib

Bernama - ‎6 hours ago‎

Veteran Supreme Councl member Datuk Dr Norraesah Mohamad will be the only rose among the thorns in the council. Well-known film director and actor Senator ...

Change Malaysians believe in The Malaysian Insider

Winners and Losers The Malaysian Insider

Death by (Loan) Sharks at the Beach

BALIK PULAU: A tourist had a shock when he stumbled upon a body that was partially buried in the sand on the Teluk Bahang beach.

V. Rajendram, 50, who was taking a stroll at 3am, said the man was still breathing when he tried to pull him out.

“There was smell of blood. Since I feared that I might cause more injuries, I immediately informed the police,” he said.

The victim, identified as Lee Hoay Chin, 53, died when police arrived at the scene.

Crime scene investigation: Police removing the body from the beach.

He is believed to have been drinking alone at the beach when he was set upon by assailants.

Police found Lee’s wallet nearby with only his MyKad in it.

Three liquor bottles, packets of peanuts, other food and a handphone, believed to belong to Lee, were found nearby.

Police said at least two people had attacked Lee and buried him.

State CID chief Senior Asst Comm (II) Wan Abdullah Tuanku Said, who visited the scene, said investigations showed that Lee’s back was hit with a hard object.

“There are injuries on the right side of his body but we have to wait for a post mortem to ascertain the cause of death,” he said.

SAC Wan Abdullah said the motive of the murder was still unclear and police were looking at robbery or financial disputes as possible causes.

Police have yet to contact the victim’s family.

Newsmen who went to the address stated in the MyKad at Bukit Mertajam found the door locked and sprayed with red paint.

Neighbours claimed that Lee could have been set upon by loan sharks due to his financial problems.

SOURCE: The Star (Ann Tan) - Man found buried at beach

Blog Bash jana ilmu IT Balik Pulau - Sinar Harian (24mar09)

Di bawah ialah imbasan daripada artikel yang diterbitkan dalam akhbar Sinar Harian edisi Utara di bahagian "Tanjung 2" (mukasurat U21), hari ini, Selasa 24 MAC 2009.

Berikut ialah teks penuh dari laman Web Sinar Harian tersebut:

BALIK PULAU - Masyarakat digalak agar bukan sahaja celik IT, tetapi mempelajari dengan lebih mendalam mengenai kecanggihan teknologi pengkomputeran yang boleh membawa keuntungan jika menggunakan saluran yang betul.

Kenyataan ini diakui oleh Timbalan Pengerusi Kelab Usahawan Sosial Balik Pulau (KUSBP) Nasir Sobri.

Beliau yang ditemui pada Forum Blog Bash 09@Penang City berkata, penggunaan Internet terutamanya blog dapat membangunkan sesebuah komuniti mahupun penempatan agar hubungan antara kawasan akan lebih berkembang.

“Kita akan dapat mengembangkan sesebuah komuniti dan kampung dengan hanya menggunakan blog sahaja.

“Dengan adanya program seumpama ini, penduduk akan mendapat pengetahuan dan manfaat untuk membangunkan perniagaan, meningkatkan jualan dan menggunakan kecanggihan IT sebagai punca pendapatan,” katanya.

Program selama sehari itu menggabungkan forum, seminar dan bengkel mengenai laman web teknologi media di Dewan Balora Mastika dan dirasmikan Pengerusi MPUD-DBDPP dan Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) Pulau Betong, Muhamad Farid Saad.

Program itu yang bertemakan Peranan dan Penggunaan Media Baru Dalam Pembangunan Ekonomi dan Sosial Setempat telah dihadiri lebih 70 peserta dari Baik Pulau dan sekitarnya.

Peserta didedahkan dengan penggunaan laman web terkini seperti Facebook dan Twitter.

“Ia adalah program pertama yang memperkenalkan penggunaan Twitter, iaitu sebuah laman web ‘social microsharing’ yang menjadi kegilaan masyarakat global kini.

“Penggunaan laman web ini merangkumi 10 juta terutamanya dari Amerika Syarikat, Korea, Jepun dan Australia.

Penggunaan di Malaysia juga semakin meningkat dan ini adalah salah satu platform untuk memperkenalkannya kepada umum,” kata Nasir.

Kita akan dapat membimbing masyarakat setempat bagi memastikan pengetahuan IT dapat didalami untuk mewujudkan ahli perniagaan berilmu pengetahuan terutamanya kaum Bumiputera,” katanya.

Ahli panel yang berpengalaman luas dalam bidang teknologi maklumat dan bidang perniagaan turut terlibat dalam memberikan pandangan.

Antaranya ialah Pengurus Besar [Bahagian Pembangunan Usahawan Teknologi] Multimedia Development Corporation (MDEC) dan penjaga MSC Malaysia, agensi kerajaan di bawah Kementerian Sains, Teknologi dan Inovasi (MOSTI) Roslan Bakri Zakaria dan Pengurus E- Perhubungan Awam Yayasan Kemajuan Sosial Malaysia (YKSM), Elia Mastura Kamaruddin.

Program yang julung kalinya diadakan ini telah dianjurkan KUSBP dan Pusat Internet Desa Balik Pulau (PIDBP) iaitu inisiatif daripada Kementerian Tenaga, Air dan Komunikasi.

Ia turut mendapat sokongan daripada Persatuan Usahawan ICT Pulau Pinang dan Technopreneur Development Division (TeDD) of the Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC/MSC Malaysia) dan Southwest District of Penang Council for Entrepreneur Development (MPUD-DBDPP).

Untuk maklumat lanjut tentang individu-individu yang disebut, rujuk album Blog Bash @ Penang City di Facebook.

Untuk video, laporan dan kandungan seminar & form, rujuk laman Kelab Usahawan Sosial Balik Pulau.

Untuk mengaktifkan komuniti anda, hubungi Skuad Cakna di kawasan anda.

WebVan/Peapod the Balik Pulau way... (clicking their way for groceries from village homes)

BALIK PULAU: Housewives have a new reason to be tech-savvy – to buy poultry, fish and vegetables with a click of the mouse. They can soon do their marketing online on a website that’s being set up for them by the Balik Pulau Village Initiative Co-operative Bhd.

Pulau Betong assemblyman Muhamad Farid Saad said the co-operative hoped the website would be up and running in two months.

He said people could order the produce online and pick up their shopping at stalls set up in designated areas.

“The co-operative is currently selling these items, which are especially popular with students, in front of the Universiti Sains Malaysia’s mosque from 4pm to 6.30pm from Tuesdays to Fridays.

“Once the website is up, we hope to capture the market of those staying in apartments and flats around Balik Pulau before venturing to other areas in the state,” said Muhamad Farid, who is also the co-operative’s executive adviser, after launching the Blog Bash ’09 forum yesterday.

Asked what was the purpose of getting people to buy the essential items online when they could go to the nearest market, he said there were many people who had no time to go to the market.

“We are helping vegetable and livestock farmers and fishermen in Balik Pulau as well, as the co-operative purchases the items from them direct and sells to the public.

“There will be no extra charge, and the items will be sold according to the market price. We want to make things convenient in this Information, Communications and Technology era,” he added.

Muhamad Farid also said the forum was a good initiative to educate people in rural areas on ICT.

The event was organised by the Balik Pulau Social Entrepreneurs Club with the support of the Balik Pulau Rural Internet Centre (under the Energy, Water and Communications Ministry).

The programme themed “Community Media for Local Socio-Economic Development” was held to acculturate the local community with entrepreneurship skills and ICT knowledge in order to generate more progressive entrepreneurs.

SOURCE: The Star - Manjit Kaur, "Balik Pulau’s online marketing bid"