Latest news with #MBPP
The Star
20 hours ago
- Health
- The Star
Bukit Gambir residents join hands for clean-up to beat dengue
CONCERNED residents in Taman Jade View, Bukit Gambir, banded together for a gotong-royong in a bid to contain the dengue outbreak in their area. The high-rise residential property located in Gelugor became Penang's sole hotspot after recording 17 dengue cases in just a month. The clean-up effort saw some 30 residents taking part to clear the apartment grounds, flushing drains, trimming overgrown trees as well as removing dead stumps and bulk waste, with assistance from the Penang Island City Council (MBPP). Hu hopes increased awareness among residents will help contain and halt the spread of joint management body (JMB) chairman Alan Hu said the 17 dengue cases were recorded within the past 30 days, all involving residents of the apartment complex. 'There are about 2,000 residents living in 496 units across seven blocks,' he said, while describing the outbreak as 'alarming'. 'We are also surrounded by four factories and two ongoing condominium projects. 'Rain, overgrown trees and stagnant water at the construction sites create the perfect breeding grounds for mosquitoes.' Hu expressed hope that the gotong-royong and increased awareness among residents would help contain and halt the spread of dengue here in Taman Jade View. Hu added that two residents tested positive for dengue through rapid tests conducted on 61 individuals recently. Health department officers also set up booths during the clean-up to educate residents on dengue prevention. One of the key messages shared was that the Aedes mosquito, which spreads dengue, can complete its life cycle in just a week under ideal conditions, while its eggs can remain dormant and active for up to six months in dry environments. MBPP councillor Chan Soon Aun said while the city council would increase surveillance and work with health authorities to destroy mosquito breeding spots, another concern was the irresponsible feeding of stray dogs in the area. 'We found food waste and containers left along the roads behind the neighbourhood. 'These containers collect stagnant water and become mosquito breeding sites, while the strays have been multiplying. 'We estimate there are at least 50 stray dogs roaming this area and scavenging for food,' he said. Penang youth, sports and health committee chairman Daniel Gooi Zi Sen said as of June 28, dengue cases in the state had dropped by 62% compared to the same corresponding period last year. 'A total of 1,025 dengue cases have been recorded this year, down from 2,685 cases during the same period last year. 'At the moment, Taman Jade View is the only dengue hotspot in Penang, and health authorities are keeping a close watch,' he said. Gooi also noted a slight decline in Covid-19 cases during the 26th epidemiological week from June 22 to 28. A total of 240 cases were reported in Penang, compared to 243 cases the previous week.
Malay Mail
3 days ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
Greener streets, cooler city: How Penang plans to refresh Unesco-listed George Town
GEORGE TOWN, July 20 — In George Town's historic core, one of Penang's oldest roads is about to get a major facelift, not just for heritage, but for the climate. Beach Street, once a waterfront artery for commerce and now a bustling financial centre, has been selected as the starting point for Penang's ambitious plan to cool down its inner city and return its streets to people, not just cars. The Penang Island City Council (MBPP) is launching a RM24.7 million pilot project that will transform a 1.76km loop around Beach Street into a climate-responsive, pedestrian-friendly zone. MBPP Mayor Datuk A. Rajendran said the aim is to reclaim public space and combat the heat island effect caused by concrete, tarmac, and the dense rows of old shophouses. 'We want to bring down urban temperatures by planting more trees and at the same time, increase the walkway width while reducing the carriageway,' he told Malay Mail in a recent interview. A map of the area identified for the PNBCAP @ Beach Street initiative, courtesy of MBPP The project is partly funded by a World Bank Adaptation Fund grant under the Nature-Based Climate Adaptation Programme for Urban Areas of Penang Island (PNBCAP), with MBPP covering the other half. 'This can be replicated in other streets in the city and it can be a model for other cities to replicate to bring down urban heat and improve walkability,' Rajendran said. He said stakeholder engagement sessions have so far been positive and the council has already awarded the contract, with work slated to begin on September 1 and complete by February 2027. The planned works will go beyond cosmetic upgrades. What to expect Footpaths will be widened, more trees planted, and new pocket parks added to encourage walking while reducing temperatures. The Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower, now surrounded by a traffic roundabout, will be transformed into a focal point for a pedestrian pocket park with safe street crossings. To make space for the changes, Beach Street and Church Street Ghaut will be converted into one-way streets, while the number of roadside parking spaces in the loop will be reduced from 293 to just 100. An artist's impression of the PNBCAP @ Beach Street initiative that will introduce wider walkways and more trees into George Town, Penang. — Picture courtesy of MBPP The project will also introduce clean energy solutions. These include solar panels to power street lights and phone charging stations, and a kinetic walkway that captures energy from footsteps to power low-energy infrastructure. Soil cell systems – underground structures that help trees grow healthy roots without damaging pavements – will be used to support the new trees. But for all its future-looking ambitions, this project is deeply rooted in George Town's past. An artist's impression of the PNBCAP @ Beach Street initiative that will introduce wider walkways and more trees into George Town, Penang. — Picture courtesy of MBPP Here is a closer look at the streets involved. Roads affected Beach Street, laid out in 1786 along with Light Street and Chulia Street, was among the first roads drawn up after Francis Light arrived in Penang. Originally hugging the eastern shoreline, it lost its coastal view after major land reclamations in the late 19th century pushed the sea further east. Today, it remains one of the busiest streets in George Town, lined with banks, offices, and heritage shophouses. But the upgrade will reach beyond Beach Street to the adjacent roads – each with their own layered stories. Weld Quay, for instance, was born of the same 19th-century land reclamation that distanced Beach Street from the sea. Named after Sir Frederick Weld, a former Governor of the Straits Settlements, the road once connected George Town to its thriving port and continues to serve as a vital link to Swettenham Pier, the Raja Tun Uda Ferry Terminal and RapidPenang's bus terminal. Chulia Street Ghaut, once a simple sandy track to the shoreline, emerged from that same wave of reclamation as an extension of Chulia Street, directly linking to Weld Quay. It now traces the old footprint of Yeoh Kongsi, a clan house once open to the waterfront. An artist's impression of the PNBCAP @ Beach Street initiative that will introduce wider walkways and more trees into George Town, Penang. — Picture courtesy of MBPP Pesara King Edward (also known as King Edward's Place), a short but significant stretch, connects Light Street to Weld Quay and was created during land reclamation between 1880 and 1904. It is home to early 20th-century godowns and post-war office buildings, and leads directly to Swettenham Pier and Penang Port Sdn Bhd's headquarters. Downing Street, inspired by its London namesake, was once the seat of British administration in Penang after land reclamation in the early 1880s. Though many of its colonial buildings were lost during World War II, the road remains a key part of the city's administrative memory, now occupied by a large parking lot. Church Street Ghaut was added as a reclamation-era extension of Church Street, historically lined with warehouses that supported George Town's maritime trade. Today, those old godowns are being revitalised as trendy cafés, art galleries and boutique lodgings. China Street Ghaut, once a boundary road for the Chinese tradesmen community, shares a similar story – created during the late 19th-century reclamation and now part of the city's heritage grid. Victoria Street, once mudflats along the coast, was built between 1880 and 1904 and earned the local Hokkien name hai kee sin lor, meaning 'new road by the sea.' Only a short 200-metre section of this nearly 1km-long road will be included in the redevelopment, but its transformation is no less symbolic. An artist's impression of the PNBCAP @ Beach Street initiative that will introduce wider walkways and more trees into George Town, Penang. — Picture courtesy of MBPP Across the entire loop, the MBPP aims to not only reduce surface temperatures but also bring back vibrancy through greener, safer streets. With climate change looming and urban temperatures rising, Penang hopes the new Beach Street can be both a nod to the past – and a blueprint for the future.
The Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Anwar vows to stay as PM, focuses on national development
BAYAN LEPAS (Penang): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today affirmed that he will not resign as demanded by certain quarters, as long as he has not committed any wrongdoing or abused his power. Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, said he is firm on this and would continue to focus on fulfilling his mandate to develop the people and the nation. 'Insya-Allah, I will not step down. If I had stolen public funds and people demand my resignation, then fine. But I did not steal anyone's money. I've been Prime Minister for nearly three years now, and I ask — where have we awarded projects through direct negotiation? All must go through the tender process. 'Use Parliament. Criticise if you must. If the opposition has the numbers, they can table a motion — that's the proper way. Persuade any MP to support you. If I lose, I will step down gracefully. That's the peaceful way,' he said. He was speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Teluk Kumbar Kompleks MADANI near here today, which was also attended by Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming, Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow and Penang Island City Council (MBPP) Mayor Datuk A. Rajendran. The Prime Minister, who is on a one-day working visit to Penang , said the MADANI government under his leadership is working tirelessly to develop the nation, including addressing the rising cost of living. He noted that various initiatives are being implemented, including raising the minimum wage, providing assistance to poor padi farmers, expanding Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes, increasing affordable housing for the B40 group, and raising civil servants' salaries. Acknowledging that not all issues can be resolved within just three years of leading the government, Anwar said the administration is doing its utmost to support the people while pushing forward Malaysia's development. At the event, Anwar also announced an additional allocation of RM5 million for the development of Penang's Barat Daya district this year. - Bernama
The Star
6 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Penang oil wastes a cleaner alternative to help power up jets
GEORGE TOWN: In a significant environmental initiative, Penang has transformed the way used cooking oil (UCO) is managed, converting what was once waste into valuable jet fuel. Last year, UCO collectors gathered enough oil to fill three tanker lorries, preventing it from polluting the sea and setting a benchmark in sustainability with the help of major players like PETRONAS and a network of community collection points. In collaboration with PETRONAS, Penang Island City Council (MBPP) orchestrated the collection of 19,754.45kg of UCO from public stations and 7,332.65kg from schools on the island and mainland. By June this year, 18,950.72kg had already been amassed from public collection points, with PETRONAS purchasing the oil at RM3 per kg. These figures exclude UCO collected by private companies from commercial establishments such as restaurants and hotels, indicating a broader impact. 'Our data shows an encouraging increase in people selling their used cooking oil,' said Xavier Sebastian, MBPP's executive officer for corporate communications and public relations. 'More people are recognising the environmental benefits and financial incentives. Recycling UCO can reduce pollution and protect waterways and drainage systems. 'The initiative is particularly impactful in schools, where students receive hands-on environmental education, and the wider community becomes aware of the harm this waste can cause if improperly disposed of.' MBPP mayor Datuk A. Rajendran highlighted that the initiative has led to fewer instances of clogged drains due to improper oil disposal. 'The open market system permits any licensed company to collect waste, including UCO,' he explained. 'Businesses must not simply pour used oil down the sink or into drains. They are required to have grease traps and authorised agents like PETRONAS purchase the oil at RM3 per kg.' Josephine Tan, general manager of the Penang Green Council (PGC), emphasised the council's role in supporting the initiative through public education, stakeholder engagement and awareness campaigns. 'What makes the initiative more significant is that the collected UCO is recycled into Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), a cleaner alternative to conventional jet fuel,' she said. 'SAF contributes to global decarbonisation goals by reducing carbon emissions in the aviation sector – one of the most challenging industries to decarbonise. 'By promoting responsible disposal and circular solutions like SAF production, Penang is taking meaningful steps toward climate action and sustainable living.' Tan added that the PGC is working closely with local authorities and stakeholders to expand these efforts, aiming for a cleaner, greener future for Penang.
New Straits Times
6 days ago
- General
- New Straits Times
Penang plots climate of change with action plan
GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Island Climate Action Plan 2030 was handed over to the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) today. The plan focuses on climate mitigation and adaptation measures. This plan provides a framework for the council to implement climate mitigation and adaptation actions. It aims to transform Penang into a low-carbon city by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. The plan focuses on five themes: GREEN transportation and pedestrian prioritisation; PLANNING and managing green spaces; DEVELOPING resilient communities, and, DISASTER risk reduction and management. The document is supported by primary and secondary data, as well as international modelling tools such as the Asia-Pacific Integrated Model, which is recognised by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. This makes it a science-based and internationally credible reference. Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) vice-chancellor Professor Datuk Seri Ir Dr Abdul Rahman Mohamed said the document is not merely a technical report. Rather, it the result of collaboration between researchers from USM, MBPP, and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, under the Urban Studies Chair, School of Social Sciences. "This collaboration represents our commitment to building a more sustainable, climate-resilient, and livable future for Penang. "As Malaysia's APEX university, USM plays a role not only in producing knowledge and technology but also in leading sustainable development initiatives that are evidence- and science-based. "Therefore, the Science to Action approach used in the development of this Climate Action Plan aligns with national aspirations and global agendas such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 2030) and the Paris Agreement. He said this at the handover ceremony. Mayor Datuk Rajendran P. Anthony, who received the doucment, said the council was more than just a city management entity. He said it was an institution that supported holistic, balanced and livable development. "The plan is not just a policy document but a manifestation of a shared commitment to make Penang a carbon-free state by 2050. "It outlines steps to address climate change challenges in a more systematic and holistic way. "MBPP's role in climate action in Penang is critical. "In the context of sustainable urban development, resource management, spatial planning and policy enforcement are key elements. "With the launch of this plan, the council's role in sustainable urban development will be boosted.
