YB. R.S.N RAYER - A.D.U.N. SERI DELIMA, PENANG

BUTTERWORTH: Red tape and bureaucratic procedures have prevented the state government from opening a trust fund to help wipe out hardcore poverty in Penang, said Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.
He said although it had been over a month since state Health, Welfare and Caring Society Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh discussed with state officials, a bank account for the fund has yet to be opened.

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KULIM: DAP chairman Karpal Singh yesterday called for the formation of a Royal Commission of Inquiry to ascertain whether there was misconduct by police in the shooting of six suspects in Kampung Kemunting in Kulim, Kedah on Tuesday. Present were Karpal's son Jagdeep Singh Deo, Seri Delima assemblyman and lawyer R.S.N. Rayer and Padang Serai Member of Parliament N. Gobalakrishnan.

Karpal said the establishment of the commission was vital to determine whether the police had acted within their parameters during the raid which killed S. Gurusamy, 50, S. Vadivalan, 29, Santana Eku Joseph, 34, R. Elanggovan, 42, Panir Selvam, 28, and R. Delit Kumar, 20.

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GEORGE TOWN: iGeorgeTown Penang has launched iGT Connect, a free e-newsletter which is published twice a month.

Linking readers to current items published on its website www.igeorgetownpenang.com, it is targeted at those who have an interest in developments in George Town and Penang. This e-newsletter is especially timely, in line with George Town’s status as a Unesco World Heritage Site.

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GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Municipal Council has identified several “Little Napoleons” and will decide on their fate soon.
They include department heads and a few senior officers who made life difficult for the public by being slow in attending to complaints.
They also abused their power and had a bad work attitude, said Penang Municipal councillor Yeoh Soon Hin, who is also the Paya Terubong assemblyman.

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BUTTERWORTH: Indonesia should waive its exit tax to promote greater travel among its citizens, especially those who frequent Malaysia for medical treatment, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said.
He said Indonesians now paid their government RM1,000 in exit fees each time they travelled abroad.

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A TOTAL of 299 empty lots at 13 Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) markets are up for rental.
Those interested to rent the lots can send in their applications to the council between 8am and 5pm daily from Feb 16 to Feb 20 at the MPPP Licensing Division counter on Jalan Padang Kota Lama.

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GEORGE TOWN: Altera Corp will spend US$20mil to US$25mil this year on its worldwide operations to grow new technologies and products.

Its president, CEO and chairman, John Daane, said the expenditure would be for software, servers, switches and test equipment.

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THE recent nationwide alert on dengue and chikungunya cases has prompted the Seberang Prai Municipal Council to come up with a simple yet effective way to keep mosquitoes at bay.

Using effective microorganism (EM) technology, the council’s LA 21 kitchen waste composting team has developed an insect repellent using homemade eco-friendly enzymes and lemongrass.

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GEORGETOWN: Chakra Biotech Sdn Bhd, a company specialising in screening new drugs, plans to invest US$8mil in Penang. Chakra Biotech is a joint venture between Malaysian Life Science Capital Fund and Malaysian Technology Dev-elopment Corp. A major stake holder in MLSCF is Burrill & Co, a US-based venture capital company.

Chakra Biotech chief executive officer Anthony Bishop said the company had allocated about US$8mil to kick off its operations in Penang.

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MORE Penangites are now setting up or joining vigilante groups to check crime in their areas.
The latest to be formed is the Seri Delima crime prevention team that patrols the state constituency’s seven housing areas from Batu Lanchang to Taman Tun Sardon.

Seri Delima assemblyman R. S. N. Rayer said the team patrolled thrice weekly on weekends and selected weekdays without a fixed schedule.

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GEORGE TOWN: With all signs pointing to a prolonged global economic slowdown, the state government wants to work with the Federal Government to cushion the blow for retrenched workers.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said he was seeking an appointment with Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop to see how funds could be channelled to those in need.

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KAVADI and milk pot bearers for this year’s Thaipusam festival in Penang will be charged less to fulfil their vows at the Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani hilltop temple on Waterfall Road.

The Penang Hindu Endowment Board, which manages the temple, has reduced the charges for paal sumbu (mini milk pot), paal kudam (big milk pot) and paal kavadi (mini kavadi) from RM10 previously to RM3.

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GEORGE TOWN: Samsung Malaysia Electronics Sdn Bhd will set up its fourth factory in the country in south Seberang Prai on the Penang mainland if all goes well.
Its vice-president (sales and product marketing) Chan Lock said the company had earlier put the plan on hold following rumours that the second Penang bridge would be scrapped.

“Now that the construction work of the bridge is continuing, we’re in the midst of discussion with the state government on the plan,” he told reporters before presenting a RM65,000 grant from Samsung Hope to the Children’s Protection Society (CPS) here yesterday.

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