Top 10 B&B in Georgetown, Penang

These are not your regular backpacker's B&B found in the 70's and 80's along Chulia Street anymore. The B&B scene in Penang has changed tremendously as most of these places have been renovated in line with Georgetown's status as a heritage city. Be prepared to pay up to $100 or more for a night's stay in one of these quaint inns and lodges in the heritage area of Georgetown.

1. Campbell House
2. Clove Hall
3. Noordin Mews
4. Mango Tree Place
5. Muntri Mews
6. 23 Love Lane
7. MacAlister Mansion
8. Cheong Fatt Tze mansion
9. Pedal Inn
10. China Tiger
11. 1881 Chong Tian Hotel
12. Palanquinn Heritage Suites
13. Cintra Heritage House
14. Cocoa Mews
15. Spices at Lumut Lane

For the complete list at TripAdvisor

Cafe culture blooming in Penang?

Getting a good cup of brewed coffee in the morning in Penang is now easier than ever. A host of new cafes has blossomed and this brings good news to those looking for a dose of caffeine before going to work. Forget Starbucks and Coffee Bean and head towards the heritage enclave where you will find these new cafes in the old but refurbished heritage ambience. Enjoy your cuppa!

Sri Malaya @ Rope Walk (Jalan Pintal Tali)

Mews Cafe @ Lebuh Muntri

Lighthouse Coffee @ Lebuh Bishop

China House @ Beach Street

Via Pre Italian Restaurant@ Weld Quay

Il Bacaro @ Campbell Street

The Twelve Cups @ Beach Street

Penang Regains Its Shine Again

Economist says Penang Getting Back Its Mojo

Whom to thank?

When the Democratic Action Party won the state’s legislative assembly three years ago, it became the first opposition party to triumph in Penang in more than 40 years. The victory presented a direct challenge to the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition that has ruled the country continuously since independence in 1957. Penang’s new leader, Lim Guan Eng, says that the federal government has an “ambivalent” attitude towards him, cutting off some funding but not undermining his authority. “They don’t want us to get any credit, but they can’t afford to see us fail”.

The revival of Penang was already under way in 2008, but Mr Eng’s new policies have helped it along. He has become the first governor in Malaysia to open up all state tenders to competition. This has entailed dismantling the special preferences for ethnic Malays that have underpinned the BN’s rule since the early 1970s. That was when the Malay majority institutionalised affirmative action for themselves, to the disadvantage of ethnic Chinese (a majority in Penang), who were perceived to have got unduly rich. Mr Eng claims that by reforming the system he has ended the cronyism and corruption that wasted money under previous regimes.

Adapted to the national stage, such policies could transform the way that the Malaysian federal government conducts business. Mr Eng says that the savings he has made by ending the “old systems of patronage” allow him to spend money on new social programmes instead, such as modest handouts for the elderly. These policies are popular, and the assault on corruption pleases foreign investors. Little wonder, then, that Penang has become a political weathervane as much as a lesson in economic development.

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Whom to blame?

18 years in power and nothing to show for it

Gerakan should apologize to everyone in Penang

The Star: Koh Tsu Koon has been well rewarded by BN for his failures

The Star: Koh has been "bad" since 1993

The Fantastic Facts and Fancies of Penang

Patrick "The Voice" Teoh comes to Penang and is happily surprised

Penang is a place you don't need a visa to go to. Also it is only a 3 to 4 hours drive from KL. What's not to like about it? Patrick finds more than meets the eye when he was here to launch Teohlogy!



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Penang a Top 10 island to visit before you die? - Oh,no there goes the traffic!

Penang is a success because of me

Ex-CM Koh Tsu Koon trying hard to claim brownie points for himself

Bernama reports that the achievements enjoyed by the current Penang government are due to efforts carried out by the Barisan Nasional (BN) state government previously.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon who said this, cited the development of health tourism in Penang as one of the achievements of the previous state government.

"Health tourism has developed here since 1996 through the state and federal government's establishing cooperation in this area with Indonesia.

"As a result, Penang has been receiving the highest number of tourists in this sector. This does not happen only now but since then (1990's," he said in his speech at the Penang BN Chinese New Year open house, here, Sunday.

Koh, who is also Penang BN chairman, said the previous state government under his leadership had provided a strong foundation and platform for the present state government to manage the state.


Image from "A Piece of My Mind"

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Mkini: Guan Eng checkmates Tsu Koon during Open House

Lim Guan Eng: Running Penang is like playing "Survivor" every day.

DPM Muhyiddin: Penang a shiny example of a well governed state

Lim Guan Eng shows Najib the right stuff

Penang gets its numbers right

Penang has just received another feather on its cap. In its latest report on Penang released this month, the auditor-general lauded the state government for producing sound and healthy financial standing for the year 2009. Calling the state’s financial condition "baik" (good), the report noted that the state authorities had exercised prudent expenditure, which was crowned by a financial statement that was professionally furnished with comprehensive documentation.

"With a good financial standing, the state government has been able to provide its people with services and contributions that are more effective," the auditor-general said in the latest annual report for the state.

The tone of the report must have come as music to the ears of Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, a qualified professional accountant and graduate in Economics from Monash University. Lavishing praises on the state’s finance officer, Datuk Farizan Darus, Lim attributed Penang’s strengthened financial condition to new budgeting procedures the state has adopted. These include the introduction of line-item accounting, outcome-based budgeting, open tender system and risk management.

What does it all mean in hard numbers? According to the state’s balance sheet, the state’s total consolidated funds at the end of 2009 came up to about RM1.1 billion, a 7.4% increase from the RM1.025 billion marked in 2008. What is significant about the accounts is that they reflect a record high in accumulated funds.

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Penang state revenue hits record high

Najib and his deputy spends RM26,000 a day just to keep their house clean

Najib hits new low as his CPI (Corruption Perception Index) drops again!

Najib's RM30 billion mega projects to fool the nation

A Cleaner, Greener Penang

Winnie Yeoh reports for The Star

Penang is launching a green initiative, roping in the private sector, non-governmental organisations, the media, government agencies and other stakeholders to work towards making George Town an international city.


Nokia Handphone Recycling Van

The “Cleaner Greener Penang” initiative, to be launched on Saturday, is pioneered by the state government and Star Publications (M) Bhd and supported by the Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) and Seberang Prai Municipal Council (MPSP).

State Local Government and Traffic Management Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow, who heads the initiative, said the objectives of the one-year campaign were to improve the quality of life and create a greener public realm.

“We also want to raise awareness on the importance of looking after the environment,” he told reporters at Komtar here yesterday.

“We have to derive creative solutions to meet the needs and concerns of the community,” he said.

To monitor and evaluate the success of the initiative, Chow said four key result areas have been set – creating cleaner and greener neighbourhoods, achieving waste minimisation through 3Rs (reduce, reuse and recycle), transforming mindsets towards responsible citizenship and empowering and building community structure for sustainable living.

He added that the public were encouraged to provide suggestions.

The Star’s regional operations manager (north) Chung Chok Yin said the company was more than pleased to participate in the campaign.

“We hope other media companies will also work together for a more sustainable environment,” he said.

The initiative will be launched at the Prangin Canal at 8.30am. The public can provide feedback at its website www.cleanergreenerpenang.com or call MPPP at 04-263 7637 or MPSP at 04-537

Lim Guan Eng: Najib is leaving Penang out of his development plans


Penang to reward its municipal council staff for keeping the state clean

Penang to see increase in FDI

Latest: Recycle your used mobile phones at The Star offices

Bicycle Tours Around Georgetown

Metrobike provides guided cycling tours in heritage Penang

WANT to explore George Town’s Unesco World Heritage enclave but not keen on driving or walking?

Consider the option of pedalling through the streets of the inner city at a slow pace to fully take in the sights and sounds.

If you don’t have a bicycle, fret not. A company — The Metro Bike — is offering bicycles for rent at a reasonable price.

The eco-friendly bicycle tour company, which started such a service on March 1, has branches located along Komtar Walk and the Tanjung City Marina in Weld Quay. Just look out for the row of bicycles outside its offices.

Its marketing director Ken Khor said the idea came from a group of friends after seeing many tourists walking around to see the inner city.







Location of bicycles for hire | Tours available

Blatant but feeble attempts to tarnish the image of Penang

Some people will go all the way (publish in The Star, The Sun and Malaysiakini) to put Penang in a bad light.

First there was this Calvin Sankaran, now another (?) person by the name of Raman Nair is again trying to blame everything bad about Penang on CM Lim Guan Eng. Is all that is bad in Penang the CM's responsibility? Where was this Calvin and Raman during Koh Tsu Koon's era - were we in a state of eternal bliss then?

Being a person from Penang (unlike Calvin and now Raman) I can certainly state that there has been much improvement (although more can still be done) in Penang since March 2008, but I would like to allow other writers to give their point of view. Here are two:

I refer to the letter Penang must arrest this alarming decline. As a citizen journalist and a Penangite who loves my island, I wish to point out some of the things that the writer mentioned in his letter. Being a citizen journalist, it is my habit to observe and report on things on the ground.

Firstly, I found that the same writer has written the same letter to The Star and The Sun (and also in Malaysiakini - JR) in January. Obviously, he is still sore from the 'supposed nightmares' he encountered in Penang after two months. A blogger had posted these two letters on his blog and claimed it as a blatant attempt to discredit the Penang government by BN/Umno.

I shall not dwell into the political side of things. But I can provide my own observations:

Read more from Lilian

I write in response to the letter titled Penang must arrest this alarming decline.

I find the writer's account of his visit to Penang rather strange. My recent experience in Penang was totally different. I am currently living in Selangor and my family and I were in Penang during the Chinese New Year.

Upon our arrival at the airport via a Firefly flight on Feb 13, (Chinese New Year eve), I did not recall seeing 'images of Lim Guan Eng everywhere'. I do not recall seeing 'huge billboards' and promotional videos of him.

What I do recall is an airport that is running smoothly, baggage delivered within a reasonable time frame but also an airport that is congested and badly in need of expansion. I remembered wondering to myself why Malaysia Airports is not doing something about this.

As we walked out of the arrival lounge and into my brother's car and as the car pulled out of the driveway, I remembered seeing Rapid Penang buses! Yes, Rapid Penang buses are running services to the Penang International Airport. The next day, I was at the airport again, this time to pick up another brother of mine arriving from Singapore.

As I sat in the car waiting, I could see Rapid Penang buses delivering passengers by the busloads to the airport with stunning frequency. I could not recall such an efficient and frequent bus service to the airport before. Things have certainly improved in Penang.

Read more from GH Kok

It is sad that The Star which used to be "The People's Paper" now seems more interested to publish letters slighting Penang instead of promoting the state where it was born in. Sad, but true...

Penang enjoying a new tourism boom

Penang is definitley enjoying a resurgence in tourist arrivals this year. The majestic Queen Mary 2 (QM2) recently sailed into town and berthed for the first time at the Penang Swettenham Pier International Cruise Terminal.

Hundreds of curious locals and tourists gathered to admire the beautiful lines of the massive luxury ocean liner making her maiden port call at the pier as part of her 2010 Royal Route of Exploration world cruise.



The 119-year-old historic Kek Lok Si Temple in Air Itam has earned three entries in the Malaysia Book of Records.

The three entries are for the tallest pavilion at 89.23m, the tallest bronze Goddess of Mercy (Kuan Yin) statue at 33.67m, and the tallest granite pillars at 42.24m.



Watch it all lighted up from afar (you can see it all the way from Jalan Dato Keramat) this Chinese New Year as it is going to be a sight to behold.

Light Street is also all aglow with LED lights manufactured in Penang! THE main tourist spots in George Town, Penang, have been transformed into a fairytale land with LED lights and decorations put up at various streets to usher in Chinese New Year.



More than 500 strings of LED lights adorn 30 trees along the Light Street while an additional 100 strings of LED lights will be used to decorate Gurney Drive, Jalan Mesjid Kapitan Keling (Street of Harmony) and the Chew Jetty.

State Tourism Development and Culture Committee chairman Danny Law said the God of Prosperity figurine and love cupids would also be part of the street decorations along walkways of Light Street and Esplanade as the state prepares to make Penang on equal par with Hong Kong and Singapore in terms of night lighting.

More night images of Penang here and here

And if you are looking for a place to stay in Penang check out the new Hard Rock Hotel in Batu Feringghi:



Finally, say goodbye to one of Penang's grandest icon - the Penang Hill funicular train, which will stop its current service for extensive upgrading.


The last train ride leaves at 8.30pm on 21 Feb 2010

JR: Be prepared though for massive traffic jams during CNY in Penang. Me? I am outa here!

BN Youth Shows Their Uncouth Behaviour Again

BN Youth vent their frustration as Penang CM's shows his mettle

It seems almost everyone is jealous of Lim Guan Eng's abilities. Yesterday UMNO, MIC and Gerakan Youth vented their frustrations as Penang's Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng (LGE) continued to win over the support of all races in Penang. They refused to let the Kampung Buah Pala issue to be laid to rest and continued to seek "compensation money" and showed their frustrations as the people of Penang refused to bow to their claims.

They must be thinking that they are still staying in a corrupt BN state and do not realize the DAP leader cannot be bought unlike their own corrupt cows heading their parties in the past!


This is what BN is good at - always asking for money and not having to work for it

No action on demonstrators as it is Ok for BN parties to demonstrate but not others


Penang not getting funds from Federal Government for heritage conservation

Gerakan's Teng Hock Nan running out of issues in Penang

Pakatan is the only solution to racial unity

Who is this Calvin Sankaran? He must be a big fan of Koh Tsu Koon. If you really love Penang please give some constructive criticisms and not personal attacks. How come there are no letters from him during the Gerakan period? Was it because Penang did extremely well under KTK?


His first attempt to discredit LGE

His second attempt to discredit LGE

His latest attempt to discredit LGE

The Star certainly knows who to choose to write for them. It certainly seems like personal attacks against the ruling government in Penang is good for their image. Its no wonder why Penang people don't trust this paper anymore. They are churning out the same shit like they did before the last general election.

Latest: Even Barisan's state leader claims The Star is good only for wiping his buttocks!

Penang is now a registered trademark

You now have to ask permission to use the word "Penang"!

Penang is now a registered trademark own by the state government. Those wanting to use the word “Penang” for functions, events, publications and other purposes must first get permission from the state government, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said yesterday.

I suppose this is a good branding strategy for Penang and I hope the state government make good use of it.

What comes to mind after Penang?? Food, of course!

Vote now for your favorite Penang food by clicking the link below:

Penang's backwardness due to Ex-CM Koh Tsu Koon

Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce Head slammed Dr Koh - David Tan reports for The Star, 21st June 2009 (online version unavailable)

Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce (PCCC) president Tan Sri Tan Kok Ping has come out in support of CM Lim Guan Eng saying that Ex-CM Dr Koh had realised NONE of the plans in the Penang Master Plan formulated by Dr Lim Chong Eu when he was CM.

"Dr Koh did have his own plans, but NONE of the projects spelled out in those plans materialised" Tan Sri said.

"As a result of Dr Koh's inaction (for 18 years) the development of Penang had been slow, with no major structural changes visible" he added.

Tan also described the recent remarks by Singaporee's SM Lee Kuan Yew as fair and objective and urged the current administration to focus on current issues rather than to dwell on the past.

Dr Koh could not be reached for comments.

Penang Truly Lagging Behind

SM Lee Kuan Yew isn't so smart after all

SM Lee Kuan Yew recently remarked that Penang has not developed at all for the past 20 years while we Penangites have known it all this while - that's why we kicked Koh Tsu Khoon out!


ERIC C MANUEL writes in The Star today:

-Quote-
THE Mentor Minister of Singapore Lee Kuan Yew made an honest and fair comment on Penang after a visit. There is no reason for Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon to go into denial and make accusations.

Dr Koh was the Chief Minister of Penang for 18 years with the full backing of the ruling party BN but what he contributed to the development of Penang to first world standards remains hazy.

Let’s start with the Penang airport. There is little development and the airport is only a shade better than the Pudu Raya bus terminal. Comparatively, there are several airports in the country which make the Penang airport look like a poor cousin.

The railway station and bus station in Butterworth have remained the same as they were 20 years ago. They are dilapidated with poor infrastructure and a poor feeder transport system to towns and the island.

It was during this period that the Sentral Railway Station in Kuala Lumpur was built. What a disparity between the two railway stations within one country and within the development scope of the same government.

Looking at the state’s inland transportation systems and the bus terminal, one would think that the state government stopped work for 20 years. Compare this with the Jalan Duta bus terminal. Had Penang embarked on an MRT or LRT project 18 years ago, Dr Koh would have left behind a legacy in the form of an effective transportation system that would resonate his name.

Now head to the ferry terminal of Penang. It is like getting into a time machine and cranking the wheels of time back into the 1960s. A historical and busy port, it could have been turned into one of the most modern sea terminals and gateways to the East. Its cousin terminal at Port Klang is way ahead in all the makings of a modern facility.

I could go on and on. But all said and done, Penang is about 20 years behind in comparison with Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Perak and Johor.
-Unquote-

JR: I couldn't have said it better. Let's see if Ah Khoon or his secretary cares to reply!

Ride and Surf on Penang Buses

Penang buses (some, not all) equipped with WiFi capability

Rapid Penang is believed to be the first bus company in the country to roll out a high-speed WiFi service which will be useful to passengers, especially during a traffic congestion.

Its chief executive officer Azhar Ahmad launched the free service in two buses here yesterday for a trial period of three months to gauge the public’s response.

“The service is not password protected. Now, our passengers can surf the Net, check e-mail, Facebook or watch videos on YouTube with their laptops or handphones while on board.

“A lot of people think that public transport is only for the lower income group, but we’re offering services that private car owners don’t have – hands-free and Internet access at 3.5G speeds to entertain you in traffic jams,” he said while taking press members on a bus ride around town to try out the new service.



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Penang Hop On Bus Service (FREE!)

Visitors to Penang can now enjoy a bus ride within George Town, the UNESCO World Heritage City, for FREE.

The Hop On Free Central Area Transit (CAT) ply the route between Weld Quay Jetty and Komtar on 15-minute intervals from 6am-12midnight.

Exploring the grounds of the UNESCO World Heritage City has never been this convenient now with 19 CAT stops in between all the famous heritage landmarks of Penang!



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44 places to go in 2009

Penang is ranked No.2 by NY Times readers!

Penang has been voted the 2nd best place to go in 2009 by New York Times readers! You can visit the site and see where are the other 41 places to go in 2009.

Its more discerning editors however placed Penang at the 22nd spot with the only other Asian destinations Phuket ranked at No. 12 while Boracay made it at 26. Needless to say Penang food was what tempted the readers to make it a must in your list of the most tempting places to visit in 2009.



What to eat and where to eat in Penang

Lim Guan Eng Has A Chance In A Lifetime

I envy him. Lim Guan Eng that is. He is free from any political encumbrance manifested by UMNO or MCA. And now he has this one chance in a lifetime.



To build Penang to be the next Singapore or Hong Kong.

Many have tried and failed. Lim Chong Eu. Koh Tsu Khoon. Is it that difficult?

Penang has everything...

- The seaside
- The hills
- A port
- The history and a multi racial culture
- The immensely good food
- The friendly local people, the expatriate community and good weather
- (what else do you want??)

It is a tourist magnet and a metropolitan city waiting to be born . Yet his predecessors have failed ...

Penang should think small to grow big says SOO EWE JIN

I say this...

Mr Lim, you really do not have to do much

1. Don't play politics
2. Keep Penang clean
3. Give us first class good roads.
4. Upkeep Penang properly (please strictly control MPPP/MPSP)
5. Give us good security (more traffic police and cops on the roads please)

And Penang will do the rest. You can't fail... unless you want to.

P/S: Don't worry too much about sore losers

It's Payback Time, Penang

Federal Government Cuts 80% Off Penang's Budget Allocation

GEORGE TOWN: Penang’s Federal Government allocation for development has been cut by almost 80% after the 9th Malaysia Plan (9MP) mid-term review in June and the state government is demanding an explanation.

“In 2006, the state’s development allocation under the 9MP was set at RM6.152bil out of the total allocation of RM200bil, which roughly equals to 3.1%.

“After the mid-term review, the allocation has been cut by some RM4.7bil despite the 9MP’s increased total allocation to RM230bil. Currently, Penang’s allocation stands at RM1.452bil or 0.6% of the total allocation,” said Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

He said the cut in allocation was aimed at punishing Penangites.

“The state is very dissatisfied and angry with the Federal Government’s acts that are no different from acts of sabotage on Penang’s economy,” he said.

JR: "This is what you get for rejecting BN" seems to be the message here. I guess this is what we deserved for "creating history" in Penang. There is nothing for Penangites to worry about though, as BN has only one more term to go before they are HISTORY. Anyway, you can't miss something you never had, or never wished for!

Penang Gerakan admits launching unapproved projects

PM Abdullah Badawi forced to launch unapproved projects in Penang

Gerakan's VP Dr Teng Hock Nan today admitted PM Abdullah Badawi was invited to launch PGCC even though the project has not been approved by local authorities! This makes one wonders what are other projects in Penang they have launched without approval!!

Dr Teng in admitting this tried to save himself by blaming Penang new CM Lim Guan Eng for exposing this fact. Another stab into Gerakan's heart by its own people.

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Elsewhere: MCA's President Ong Ka Ting accused by senior party member for snooping on his deputies

Elsewhere: Sabah MPs waiting for the right time to make crossover to PR to form new government

Karim Raslan: "No one is in charge of Malaysia right now..."

Are we seeing the final last days of Abdullah and Najib?

Also read: Lee Kah Choon quits Gerakan to helm Invest Penang

Latest: Rhina Bhar quits Gerakan after 30 years citing racial discrimination