Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
| Penang government’s highways-tunnel vision a big step backwards Posted: 01 Mar 2013 03:20 PM PST During a two-hour meeting with state government representatives, including the Chief Minister, and the press, the activists registered their serious concern and opposition. By building more highways and a road-based tunnel, the state government will be facilitating the movement of more cars instead of encouraging people to use public transport. The Pakatan's manifesto promises better public transport, but the state government plans to spend RM27bn in the coming years, according to the Penang transport master plan. Out of this, RM17bn will be for highways and only RM10bn for public transport. Surprisingly, the state government was not even aware of these figures. These figures have not been disclosed to the public. It is a great pity that most of the money will be to create even more dependency on public transport. Building highways and a road-based tunnel is at best a short-term solution. What happens when these get congested. The Jelutong Expressway itself is rapidly filling up – and that is even before the second Penang bridge is completed! The state government says the highways and tunnel will only proceed if the EIA is approved. But how independent is the EIA process when consultants are appointed by developers and contractors? We still don't have a state-wide hydrological study. The public has not yet been told who the local partners are in Zenith Consortium, along with the firm from China. Who are the key local people behind the five companies in the consortium? Again this information – an important part of the deal – has not yet been provided. Who are the real local interests? The state government seems to think that "the people want these projects". But "the people" are not being presented with serious alternatives. They are being told: "It is either congestion or accept these highways and tunnel." Of course they will choose what they are being told is the solution. But they are not being given a real choice between sustainable public transport or more highways. In fact, the Penang Transport Masterplan consultants' own public survey showed that a large majority of the people want a public transport-based solution and not more highways. Some believe these highways and tunnels are more about property development and construction contracts than transport. It is more about Big Business contracts than about public transport.
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| North Borneo (Sabah): An annotated timeline 1640s-present Posted: 01 Mar 2013 11:17 AM PST 1640s Spain signed peace treaties with the strongest sultanates, Sulu and Maguindanao, recognizing their de facto independence.[1] 1704 Sultan of Sulu became sovereign ruler of most of North Borneo by virtue of a cession from the Sultan of Brunei whom he had helped in suppressing a rebellion. There is no document stating the grant of North Borneo from Sultan of Brunei to Sultan of Sulu, but it is accepted by all sides.[2] March 17, 1824 Treaty of London signed by the Netherlands and Great Britain Allocates certain territories in the Malay archipelago to the United Kingdom and the Netherlands (Dutch East Indies).[3] September 23, 1836 Treaty of Peace and Commerce between Spain and Sulu, signed in Sulu Granting Spanish protection of sultanate, mutual defense, and safe passage for Spanish and Joloan ships between ports of Manila, Zamboanga, and Jolo.[4] Ortiz: Spain did not claim sovereignty over Sulu, but merely offered "the protection of Her Government and the aid of fleets and soldiers for wars…"[5] 1845 Muda Hassim, Uncle of the Sultan of Sulu, publicly announced as successor to the Sultanate of Sulu with the title of Sultan Muda: he was also the leader of the "English party,"(today the term for Crown Prince is Raja Muda)[6] The British Government appoints James Brooke as a confidential agent in Borneo[7] The British Government extends help to Sultan Muda to deal with piracy and settle the Government of Borneo[8] April 1846 Sir James Brooke receives intelligence that the Sultan of Sulu ordered the murder of Muda Hassim, and some thirteen Rajas and many of their followers; Muda Hassim kills himself because he found that resistance is useless. [9] July 19, 1846 Admiral Thomas Cochrane, Commander-in-chief of East Indies and China Station of the Royal Navy, issued a Proclamation to cease hostilities ("piracy," crackdown versus pro-British faction) if the Sultan of Sulu would govern "lawfully" and respect his engagements with the British Government If the Sultan persisted, the Admiral proclaimed that the squadron would burn down the capital of the sultanate.[10] May 7, 1847 James Brooke is instructed by the British Government to conclude a treaty with the Sultan of Brunei British occupation of Labuan is confirmed and Sultan concedes that no territorial cession of any portion of his country should ever be made to any foreign power without the sanction of Great Britain[11] May 29, 1849 Convention of Commerce between Britain and the Sultanate of Sulu Sultan of Sulu will not cede any territory without the consent of the British. [12] Read more at: http://www.quezon.ph/2013/03/01/north-borneo-sabah-an-annotated-timeline-1640s-present/
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