Latest news with #GeorgeTown
Free Malaysia Today
24 minutes ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
6 judges honoured with rare elevation ceremony in Penang
The six judges with presiding senior Justice Rozana Ali Yusoff after the elevation ceremony at the High Court in George Town. GEORGE TOWN : Six High Court judges were honoured at a rare judicial elevation ceremony here today, reviving a long-standing tradition with roots dating back over two centuries. Today's ceremony presided over by senior judge Justice Rozana Ali Yusoff was the first to honour six judges at once. They were: Quay Chew Soon, Anand Ponnudurai, Azizan Arshad, Kenneth Yoong Ken Chinson St James, Fathiyah Idris and Rofiah Mohamad. Penang Bar chair Gowri Subbaiyah said the elevation ceremony usually takes place only when judicial commissioners are confirmed as High Court judges, 'which usually takes two to three years'. However, some among the six judges had been confirmed over the past three years but had not been formally recognised. 'Since they are still serving here, we felt it was only right to include them,' she said. It is understood that the elevation ceremony was last held in 2017, when Justice Lim Chong Fong, now a judge at the Court of Appeal, was elevated to the High Court. After today's ceremony, Justice St James described his confirmation as both humbling and liberating. 'I'm beholden to no one now. Only to God, my oath, the Constitution, and the rule of law,' he said. Justice Quay said his time in Penang had been both challenging and rewarding. 'I've enjoyed the cases, especially the complex ones, as they test the mind. And I've enjoyed the food and the people even more,' he said, adding that Penang was 'the best station a judge could hope for'. Justice Fathiyah paid tribute to the senior lawyers who helped her grow when she was a sessions court judge in Ipoh. Justice Anand, best known for his work in employment law, said the variety of cases in Penang had pushed him to grow. 'I've had to learn Acts of Parliament I never knew existed. And it's been worth it,' he said. 'My guiding rule is simple. I must be honest with myself. If I sign a judgment, it's because I believe it's the right decision.' The elevation ceremony is believed to have its beginnings in 1808 when the colonial settlement received its charter of justice, which led to the founding of the first formal court. Elevation ceremonies used to include a procession where judges would walk in full regalia from St George's Church to the court building. Although public processions are no longer held, the 'ceremonial spirit lives on', according to lawyer T Tharumarajah, who said the ceremony is aimed at introducing new judges to the public. It also serves as a bridge between the bar and the bench. He said: 'Judges and lawyers are meant to engage (with one another), not keep apart. But after the scandals that rocked the judiciary in the early 2000s, that bond weakened. It shouldn't be that way.'
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Penang has enough land to meet industrial demand for next 15 years, CM says amid RM13b in Q1 investments
GEORGE TOWN, June 20 — Penang has sufficient land to meet industrial needs in the state for the next 10 to 15 years, according to Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow. He said today there was a perception that the state is short of industrial lands but in reality, the state still has lands that can be developed for use. 'Land is not an issue, currently, we have about 809.4 hectares (2,000 acres) of land in the pipeline in varying stages of completion,' he told reporters after launching the Penang Industrial Masterplan 2030 at Eastin Hotel here. He said the Batu Kawan industrial park that is about 404.7 hectares (1,000 acres) took about 15 years to be developed since 2008. Chow said the demand for industrial land was also not that high. 'On average, about 40.47 hectares of land are needed in a year,' he said. So the 809.4 ha of land will take a long time to be filled up, he added. He explained industrial lands do not only refer to new lands but included those being reclaimed, under request for proposal process and several other development stages before it can be used. He said not all new investments require new lands, as some are reinvestments by existing plants that are merely adding new facilities in the remaining sites of their plants. 'There were also other investors such as from China who prefer to start operations as soon as possible,' he said. He said these group of investors will buy existing unused plants or lease it from the previous owner. Additionally, he said there are private developers that are constructing new factories to be sold or leased to investors. 'So, not all investors need new lands, there are so many different types of investments that contribute to the state's economy,' he said. When asked about the revenue recorded by the state as a result of the sale of industrial lands, he said the revenue generated was minimum as it was not the state's main focus. 'What's important is the value of investments being brought in,' he said. He said in the first quarter of this year, Penang recorded investments totalling RM13 billion. Meanwhile, on the industrial masterplan, Chow said it is the way forward for the state to transform the state's industrial sector and strengthen its position as the Silicon Valley of the East. He said the masterplan considered important infrastructure projects such as the Penang International Airport expansion and development of a green and smart technology hub for the electrical and electronic sector.
Malay Mail
10 hours ago
- General
- Malay Mail
Argus Residence: Celebrating the memories of a former Eurasian ‘enclave' in George Town
GEORGE TOWN, June 20 — Every evening along a short narrow lane, just behind the Assumption Church in George Town, shrieks of laughter would fill the air as children ran and played. It was a time before there were many cars on the roads and that narrow lane was a playground for the children living in the row of five terraced houses. 'It was like a dead end because the road leads to a narrow back lane so cars didn't come in,' said Stan De Souza. The 86-year-old was one of the children who used to run and play along Argus Lane back when Eurasian families lived in that row of houses. That was between the 1930s to the early 2010s, a period of over 70 years. The five terrace houses, built in 1928 and owned by the Church of the Assumption, were rented to the Eurasian families. 'We were like one big family where everyone knew everyone who lived there,' De Souza said. Among those who lived there were the De Souza, Scully, Newman and Cutter families. De Souza, who lived in the first house of the row, said his parents lived there from the 1940s. 'We went through World War II here, watched the bombs drop, hid in our homes,' he said. He remembered going to school at the nearby St Xavier's Institution before it was bombed during the war. 'After that, school was in a small attap house next to Convent Light Street,' he said. He reminisced about going back to study in a newly built St Xavier's Institution when he was in Form Four. 'I came back in January this year, wondering what happened to my childhood home when I met the George Town Heritage Hotels (GTHH) people who were restoring the buildings,' he said. GTHH has leased the row of houses from the church and restoration started last year. Today, Argus Residence is an extension of Seven Terraces Hotel — also a part of GTHH — and they are connected by a back lane. Each of the houses is named after each Eurasian family who lived there; Dragone, Cutter, Newman, Scully and De Souza. According to De Souza, Dragone was his mother's maiden name. 'My mother was Sybil Dragone and she was a teacher at Convent Light Street,' he said. 'I hope to book a weekend in this house one day and bring my siblings and our families to relive our memories growing up here,' he said. The last of the Eurasian residents living there was Ann Cutter who died a few years ago. Her niece, Corinne Cutter, who used to live in one of the houses too, remembered the strong sense of community among those who lived there. 'We used to gather outside and sing Christmas songs during Christmas,' she said. GTHH founder Chris Ong said the residences are decorated in an eclectic Edwardian mid-century style. — Picture by Opalyn Mok GTHH unveiled the Argus Residence yesterday and invited some of the former residents to visit the newly restored buildings GTHH founder Chris Ong said the residences are decorated in an eclectic Edwardian mid-century style; a mix of modern furnishings and Ong's unique creations. 'We are honoured that the church approached us to restore these buildings,' he said. He said GTHH hoped to also collect stories from the Eurasian community who used to live in these houses. The Argus Residences are decorated in an eclectic Edwardian mid-century style. — Picture by Opalyn Mok 'We want to honour the memories of those who lived here and tell their stories too,' he said. The Argus Residence is now open for booking here.
Malay Mail
10 hours ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
Penang has enough land to meet industrial demand for next 15 years, CM says amid RM13b in Q1 investments
GEORGE TOWN, June 20 — Penang has sufficient land to meet industrial needs in the state for the next 10 to 15 years, according to Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow. He said today there was a perception that the state is short of industrial lands but in reality, the state still has lands that can be developed for use. 'Land is not an issue, currently, we have about 809.4 hectares (2,000 acres) of land in the pipeline in varying stages of completion,' he told reporters after launching the Penang Industrial Masterplan 2030 at Eastin Hotel here. He said the Batu Kawan industrial park that is about 404.7 hectares (1,000 acres) took about 15 years to be developed since 2008. Chow said the demand for industrial land was also not that high. 'On average, about 40.47 hectares of land are needed in a year,' he said. So the 809.4 ha of land will take a long time to be filled up, he added. He explained industrial lands do not only refer to new lands but included those being reclaimed, under request for proposal process and several other development stages before it can be used. He said not all new investments require new lands, as some are reinvestments by existing plants that are merely adding new facilities in the remaining sites of their plants. 'There were also other investors such as from China who prefer to start operations as soon as possible,' he said. He said these group of investors will buy existing unused plants or lease it from the previous owner. Additionally, he said there are private developers that are constructing new factories to be sold or leased to investors. 'So, not all investors need new lands, there are so many different types of investments that contribute to the state's economy,' he said. When asked about the revenue recorded by the state as a result of the sale of industrial lands, he said the revenue generated was minimum as it was not the state's main focus. 'What's important is the value of investments being brought in,' he said. He said in the first quarter of this year, Penang recorded investments totalling RM13 billion. Meanwhile, on the industrial masterplan, Chow said it is the way forward for the state to transform the state's industrial sector and strengthen its position as the Silicon Valley of the East. He said the masterplan considered important infrastructure projects such as the Penang International Airport expansion and development of a green and smart technology hub for the electrical and electronic sector.
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Penang's LRT Mutiara Line to begin construction in Aug — 21 stations across island & mainland
Penang's public transport scene is currently dominated by Rapid Penang buses, which cover a wide network across both the island and the mainland. You'll also find convenient alternatives like Grab for e-hailing, trishaws for short trips, and a free city bus called CAT that loops around George Town. But change is on the horizon. Come Aug 2025, Penang will begin building its first-ever metro system — the LRT Mutiara Line. Previously referred to as the Bayan Lepas LRT Project, this upgraded version gets its name from Penang's nickname, 'Pearl of the Orient,' and is all about easing traffic while better connecting the island and beyond. Spanning 29.5km with 21 planned stations, the LRT Mutiara Line will link key destinations across the island and mainland. It'll run between the new Penang South Reclamation Island A (also called Silicon Island) and major spots like KOMTAR and Penang Sentral. Trains will alternate routes, making it easier to get around without adding to road congestion. This LRT will feature Park & Ride options, transit-oriented development (TOD) zones, and smooth last-mile connections to support Penang's growth in a greener, more structured way. It'll even connect to important points like the Penang International Airport and Sungai Nibong Bus Terminal. Two main depots will support operations once construction of LRT Mutiara Line kicks off. With a maximum capacity of 10.9K passengers per hour in each direction, each train will carry at least 405 people — and select stations will include more than 1K parking spots for both cars and motorcycles. Expect about a 45-minute ride from Silicon Island to KOMTAR, and 49 minutes to Penang Sentral — a small price for skipping traffic and enjoying a more connected, sustainable Penang. While progress might appear slow in the early stages, it's worth noting that the project is scheduled for completion only by 31 Dec 2031 to give it a long but carefully planned timeline while ensuring everything runs smoothly. KL to JB ETS launches Aug 2025 — a new era for Singapore-Malaysia travel The post Penang's LRT Mutiara Line to begin construction in Aug — 21 stations across island & mainland appeared first on
