Penang celebrates and ANSARABP to hold Silver Jubilee (25th Anniversary) Reunion Celebration for historic MRSMBP in Balik Pulau on 25-27jul08

It's OFFICIAL: The weekend of 25th until 27th of July 2008 will be filled with state-wide celebrations in Penang, the tiny (2nd smallest, but most densed and second-most urbanized, after Selangor - Dept of Statistics Malaysia, 2000) most popular state among the thirteen states of Malaysia (not including Malaysia's three Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya & Labuan).

The three days of celebration will be historic by themselves, when Penangites & friends celebrate George Town as the only two towns/cities of Malaysia (along with Melaka) being made into UNESCO-WHC's List of World Heritage Sites (for cultural category, in addition to the only two others in Malaysia so far -- for natural category: Gunung Kinabalu, Sabah & Gunung Mulu National Park, Sarawak) announced earlier this month (announced on 7th of July, 2008).

Impressive achievement if you'd ask me considering the following cultural criteria for selection set by World Heritage Centre (WHC):-

• I. "to represent a masterpiece of human creative genius";
• II. "to exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of time or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts, town-planning or landscape design";
• III. "to bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is living or which has disappeared";
• IV. "to be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human history";
• V. "to be an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land-use, or sea-use which is representative of a culture (or cultures), or human interaction with the environment especially when it has become vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change";
• VI. "to be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance. (The Committee considers that this criterion should preferably be used in conjunction with other criteria)".

As of 2008, The Straits of Malacca's George Town & Melaka are sharing spots in the prestigious list of 878 sites: 678 cultural, 174 natural, and 26 mixed properties, in 145 states... Consider these names that are on the same list: Pyramids of Giza (Egypt), Persepolis (Iran), the Statue of Liberty (United States), The Great Wall of China, Chichen Itza (Mexico), St. Petersburg (Russia), Borobudor (Central Java, Indonesia) and the Shinto Itsukushuma Shrine (Hiroshima, Japan)!

As the only other district of the two districts in Pulau Pinang (the Penang Island), folks from Balik Pulau (centre of Penang's southwest district, as well as one the thirteen parliamentary sections of Penang) would definitely join in the celebration for GeorgeTown (capital "city" of Penang as well as one of the major towns in the Penang's northeast district), along with folks from everywhere else especially those from Seberang Perai and nearby regions in northern peninsular of Malaysia.

To spice up Penang's celebration (accidentally, actually!), Persatuan Anak Sains MARA Balik Pulau (ANSARABP) is also pledging all of its thousands of (both official and non-official) members, current and former students of of Maktab Rendah Sains MARA (MRSM, ie. MARA Junior Science College - MJSC) Balik Pulau and staff (present and former teachers etc. of MRSMBP) to also gather at the historic school (one of the first educational institutions in this once remote town/forest-dominated small village) on the same weekend, starting on Friday afternoon, July the 25th, 2008 for its 25th Anniversary (Silver Jubilee) Celebration cum MRSMBP Students/Alumni Reunion 2008.

The following is an official invitation letter from the organizing secretariat for MRSM/ANSARA Balik Pulau Silver Jubilee 2008 Event:

24 Jun 2008

Tan Sri/Dato’/Datin/Tuan/Puan/Encik/Cik/Saudara/Saudari,

JEMPUTAN ‘SAMBUTAN JUBLI PERAK MRSM BALIK PULAU - ULANG TAHUN YANG KE 25 TAHUN’

Saya bagi pihak ANSARABP ingin menjemput Tan/Sri/Dato’/Datin/Tuan/Puan/Encik /Cik/Saudara/Saudari ke majlis Sambutan Jubli Perak MRSM Balik Pulau pada tarikh berikut:

Tarikh:
25 Julai 2008 (Jumaat 9.00 pagi)-27 Julai 2008 (Ahad)

Masa:
9.00 pagi-5 ptg setiap hari

Tempat:
Dewan Besar Maktab Rendah Sains MARA,
Jalan Pondok Upeh, 11000 Balik Pulau, Pulau Pinang

Kami amat berharap agar kehadiran pihak Tan Sri/Dato’/Datin/Tuan/Puan/Encik/ Cik/Saudara/Saudari dapat memeriahkan suasana sambutan majlis yang julung-julung kali diadakan..

Jika ada sebarang pertanyaan berkenaan majlis diatas, pihak Tan Sri/Dato’/Datin/Tuan/Puan/ Encik/Cik/Saudara/Saudari boleh menghubungi urusetia yang bertugas seperti tertera dibawah ini:

• Mohd Ramzi b. Mohd Sharif ( 019-2272694)
• Noor Azlina Bt. Zainal Abidin (012-3451069)
• Roslinda (019-28000061)
• Zaky SPM90 (019-4122994)

Sekian. Terima Kasih.

Yang Benar,

Mohd Ramzi b. Mohd Sharif
Ketua Cawangan ANSARABP
B/p: Ansara Balik Pulau

_______________________________________________________________________________

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE PROGRAM SUMMARY

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THIS FORM

THE FEE IS

Dewasa = RM 25.00/person Kanak-kanak= RM 10.00/person (8-12 tahun) and RM 20 for Malam Ala Kenduri Kahwin 26/07/08

PLEASE CALL THE RESPECTIVE PERSON FOR ACCOUNT NUMBER

KEEP PROOF OF PAYMENT FOR REFERENCE WITHOUT WHICH ANSARABP WILL NOT ENTERTAIN ANY PAYMENT CLAIMS

PLEASE FAX THE FILLED FORM TO 03-21684201 OR E-MAIL SOFTCOPY TO azlina@3treetrading.com AND SMS TO 012-3451069, TOGETHER WITH ANY REFERENCE/TRANSACTION NUMBER & AMOUNT TO ACKNOWLEDGE PAYMENT,TQ

‘SAMBUTAN JUBLI PERAK MRSM BALIK PULAU YANG KE 25 TAHUN”

ANSARABP
C/O: Noor Azlina bt. Zainal Abidin, 3Tree Trading Group Sdn Bhd. Level 40, Petronas Twin Tower 2, 50088 Kuala Lumpur. Tel: 03-21684476 Fax: 03-21684201 E-mail: azlina@3treetrading.com

Other related events on the same weekend in Penang include Japanese Film Festival 2008 @ GSC Gurney, a FREE Economic Forum entitled "The Petrol Price Hike - How It Affects Us" (with panelists including Dr Suresh Narayanan, Dato' OK Lee and Mr Anil Netto) organized by SERI @ Dewan Sri Pinang and SME Conference 2008 @ Gurney Hotel organized by ACCA Malaysia (and joint organized by SAMENTA & investPenang and supported by KENANGA, SSM, ORACLE, Penang Joint Chamber of Commerce and MCA ICT Resource Centre (MiRC)). Refer TechPenang.com's ICT Penang Calendar for more details or links to add to your Google or other web/desktop-based calendars.

Only half of Durians this time around...

Thus, more expensive too this year...

NST/AsiaOne: Durian Harvest May Drop

Penang's orchards are experiencing a low durian yield and the state stands to lose about RM20 million a year if the trend continues.

Concern is growing as 1,500 durian planters, who usually generate a combined 14,000 tonnes of durian a season (between June and July) can now only come up with half that amount.

State Agriculture Department director Abdul Nasir Hassan said planters could ideally produce up to six tonnes per hectare, but they were only generating three tonnes per hectare now.

To turn the situation around, Abdul Nasir has proposed that several measures be taken, including replanting by owners, the cleaning up of land after harvesting, and early treatment of disease-infected plants.

Abdul Nasir was speaking after attending a programme on durian disease and pest control at the Balik Pulau Sports Complex near here yesterday. Also present was state Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Committee chairman Law Choo Kiang.

A total of 3,800 hectares of land is being used to grow durians here.

Bernama/FreshPlaza.com: Fruit prices up five per cent in Penang

The prices of fruits, especially durian, have gone up by five per cent in Penang following the recent rise in fuel prices, State Agriculture and Agro-based Industry, Rural Development and Flood Mitigation Committee chairman Law Choo Kiang said today.

"Durian growers are facing a high cost of production inputs, such as more expensive fertiliser and equipment, as well as higher transportation costs. The rise in prices cannot be contained as durian is not a controlled item," he told reporters after launching a programme against durian blight and pests at the Balik Pulau Sports Complex here.

However, he said, the higher price of the fruit did not affect sales as demand was still high. Law urged fruit farmers in the state to use the available technology to step up their competitiveness.

State Agriculture Director Abdul Nasir Hassan said the durian harvest for this season was lower than the previous season, around 6,000 tonnes compared to 7,000 tonnes due to climatic conditions.

More durian eating sightings available at ShahsRamblings's blog site.

Going Bananas: Program Komuniti USM Untuk Pembangunan Penduduk Balik Pulau

T.Y.T. Tun Dato’ Seri Utama (Dr.) Haji Abdul Rahman bin Haji Abbas akan merasmikan Projek Kemasyarakatan Universiti Sains Malaysia/Koperasi Usaha Kampung Balik Pulau (KUKAM) tersebut pada hari Ahad, 29 Jun 2008 di Kampung Perlis, Balik Pulau.

Program ini yang bermula sejak tahun lalu bertujuan untuk membawa hasil penyelidikan USM kepada masyarakat dalam bentuk yang mampu dikomersilkan dan memberi nilai tambah kepada ribuan penduduk di sekitar kawasan Balik Pulau. Menerusi program ini, USM turut sama membina sebuah makmal dan bengkel bagi pembuatan kertas dari batang pisang, kurtur tisu dan pembuatan makanan.

Untuk maklumat yang lebih lanjut bolehlah menghubungi Izam Fairus Kamaruddin.

New Syariah Lower Court Coming...

Another landmark for Balik Pulau is just weeks away from completion, situated across the street from the big Masjid al-Mukhtaar: Mahkamah Rendah Syariah for Penang's Southwest District...


A construction project started as early as late 2006, and more actively beginning late 2007.



This district mosque itself is only a few years old, and had been recently renovated to include khat-decorated wall in the praying area and several recreational huts on its frontyard.

And next to the Islamic mosque is the district library that only opens five days a week from morning until 6pm, Wednesday until Sunday (closed on Monday and Tuesday):

I'd wish that this library be opened on evening hours too so people can do light reading at night instead of being forced to resort only to lame DVDs and TV programmes. BTW, I wonder if there's any 24-hour libraries in Penang, or the whole Malaysia... and if not, why not?? Not much of a reading society are we?

And the new market again: bunch more photos of the facility can be found at SamYeap.com.

Eyes in the Sky are coming to Balik Pulau

RM4-million is being budgeted to bring 24 cameras to Balik Pulau/southwest district of Penang including six in Bayan Lepas area:

Council to install 24 CCTVs in district

By TAN SIN CHOW

TWENTY-FOUR closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras will be installed at the south-west district areas and Bayan Lepas free industrial zones (FIZ) as a move to increase surveillance on traffic flow and combat crime.

Penang Municipal Council president Datuk Zainal Rahim Seman said the Housing and Local Government Ministry had agreed to fund the project at an estimated cost of RM4mil.

He said the council and police have consulted each other on where to place the cameras.

Six cameras will be placed at Bayan Lepas FIZ while the rest will be installed at strategic locations in Balik Pulau.

“We submitted our proposal early this year and the ministry gave us the green light two months ago.

“The ministry has yet to decide on the date of installation,” he said over a telephone interview.

...

Hmm, that's RM 166,666.65 (rounded) per camera! Quite a large sum if you'd as me. I wonder which company is getting the big money....

Though, I'd be okay if installation of those mega expensive cameras (can buy four Proton BLMs per camera) also comes with wifi access points providing free broadband internet for nearby residents/businesses!

And would it be okay to ask that the public get access to the camera views as well? After all, for the big cost off people's coffers (via the Housing and Local Government Ministry) on setting up those cameras, it'd be good if people can make use of them too, for instance, to decide on which road to take to commute between Balik Pulau and towns elsewhere, either through Bukit Genting, Jalan Tun Sardon or Teluk Bahang. And crowdsourcing crime prevention might work too, as it has work various other localities around the world.

Read the rest of the article at the Star (17 JUNE 08)...

Oya, for motorcyclists forgetting to wear helmet or carrying more than two persons, WATCH OUT!! You're on cops' cameras...