Latest news with #Penang
Free Malaysia Today
21 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.'
Malay Mail
4 hours ago
- Malay Mail
JPJ finalising investigation papers for bus operator responsible for deadly UPSI accident
BUTTERWORTH, June 20 — The Road Transport Department (JPJ) is finalising the investigation papers for action to be taken in court against the bus company operator involved in the accident that claimed the lives of 15 Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students Its director-general, Datuk Aedy Fadly Ramli said the investigation is now in the final stages before being handed over to the Deputy Public Prosecutor to decide on the charge recommendation. 'There are two investigation papers that we are preparing (to take action) against the company operator and also the company that leased the bus. 'The investigation papers are still at the JPJ level and we expect to hand them over to the prosecution soon,' he said at a press conference after officiating the Penang-level MyLesen B2 Driving Licence Handover Ceremony here today. Previously, Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook had said that the JPJ would open an investigation paper against the bus company involved in the accident that claimed the lives of 15 UPSI students due to the company's failure to operate according to the stipulated rules and regulations. Regarding the allegation that the JPJ could not record the bus company's operator's statement because he suffered a heart attack, Aedy Fadly said his side was not informed about the matter. 'He (the bus operator) had a heart attack, it has nothing to do with the JPJ and I have not received any reports saying otherwise. We will still take action; if he goes to the hospital we will wait,' he added. In the incident on June 9, 15 UPSI students died when the bus they were in overturned in an accident at KM53 of the East-West Highway (JRTB), near Tasik Banding, Gerik. The bus carrying 42 university students was travelling from Jertih, Terengganu to the university's main campus in Tanjung Malim, Perak when it collided with a Perodua Alza before overturning. — Bernama
Free Malaysia Today
4 hours ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Strong investor interest, but Penang land take-up modest, says Chow
Chief minister Chow Kon Yeow launching the Penang Industrial Master Plan 2030. (Bernama pic) GEORGE TOWN : Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow said despite the state continuing to attract investors amid a global semiconductor boom, demand for new industrial land remains modest, with just about 100 acres (40ha) taken up each year. The state government, however, has over 2,000 acres (800ha) of industrial land earmarked for development, including sites under acquisition, reclamation or request-for-proposal stages, to ensure long-term availability for future growth. Chow was responding to a question on the availability of industrial land in the state to cater to future investors. 'At 100 acres a year, 2,000 acres will last us for decades. For example, one of our industrial parks, which spans over 1,000 acres, took more than 15 years to complete since it was initiated in 2008,' he told reporters here today. Chow said not all investors want land, adding that Chinese investors, for example, are content with taking up idle factories so they have a quick turnaround. He said these Chinese investors would rather purchase or lease existing factory sites and repurpose them instead of waiting for new land to be made available. 'They want to start quickly, so they look for idle or underutilised factories. Sometimes, these are leased or bought from companies with excess capacity,' he said. He also said there are factories with enough land to expand within their compounds, and they build new facilities there. 'These count as fresh investments, too,' he said. He said Penang recorded RM13 billion in approved investments recently, but this figure covers various areas, including brownfield sites, digital economy initiatives and existing infrastructure. Earlier, Chow launched the Penang Industrial Master Plan 2030, which will help expand and improve industrial land supply, infrastructure, and human capital, with a total of 44 projects estimated to cost RM41.2 billion. The plan covers both physical and non-physical industrial development, including zoning of new greenfield sites, upgrading existing greyfield and bluefield industrial areas, and rehabilitating brownfield sites. Greenfield areas are untouched land meant for brand-new industrial parks, while greyfield zones are older, underused sites that can be upgraded. Bluefield areas combine new development with the revitalisation of existing spaces, and brownfield sites are former industrial areas that may be polluted or abandoned, targeted for clean-up and reuse. Penang currently has 54 industrial parks and more than 8,900 manufacturing-related establishments, the majority located in Seberang Perai. Key industries include machinery and equipment, electrical and electronics, basic and fabricated metal products, and food processing technology. The plan forecasts a total of 5,310ha of industrial land available by 2030, with new zones identified for future development in Batu Kawan, Bertam, and Penang South Island (reclaimed island).
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.
