Half a year to ‘polish’ Penang

The Star, 6 June 2007 - Half a year to ‘polish’ Penang

PENANG: A six-month target has been set by Penang Municipal Council president Datuk Zainal Rahim Seman to return the island – once dubbed the Pearl of the Orient – to its original lustre.

Zainal, who was appointed to the post last month, said those who dubbed the island Darul Sampah would soon have to change their tune. He suggested Darul Indah or Darul Mutiara instead.

“Keeping the island clean will be my top priority.

“We want to brighten up areas frequented by tourists such as Gurney Drive, Macalister Road and Little India.

“We may also do more landscaping in areas that tourists pass to get to their destinations,” he told newsmen during a media tour to see how rubbish was collected from high-rise buildings, factories and private residences. "

Why ONLY 6 months? - Penang definitely needs more than 6 months to clean up!

Poor attitude or no enforcement in Penang?

Beaches in Penang dirty due to poor attitude

Is Penang dirty because of the people's attitude or is it because there is no enforcement?

- How many times have you seen MPPP staff cleaning up a beach?
- How many times have you seen MPPP staff cleaning up your neighborhood playground?
- How many times have you seen MPPP enforcers issuing a summons to a litterbug?
- How many times have you seen MPPP administrators actually on the job, somewhere?

It is so easy just to blame it on the public. Have they checked to see if rubbish bins are easily available in major tourist spots or practically anywhere else where the public is prone to discard rubbish?

Any person walking around Penang can see that rubbish is strewn whenever there is no proper rubbish bin in sight. Can you blame the public for this?

Yes, sometimes there are those who throw rubbish everywhere especially out of their cars and on the sidewalks. So where are the enforcers? Why is MPPP so interested to enforce the meter car park system (I think there must be over a thousand summons each day on the island alone, this can be easily verified looking at the QUE system in place at the payment counter in Komtar) but there is hardly any fines on littering?

Is our meter car park system a tourist attraction?

Penang Stinks! - Comments by Arab Tourists

The Star, 3 May 2007: Malaysian Tourism Minister Gets First Hand Account From Tourists

Overcharging by taxi drivers and traders, stinking cabs and poor knowledge by unsmiling frontliners have marred Malaysia’s image among Arab tourists.

This feedback from Arab travel agents has left Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor red in the face.

He lamented that taxi drivers, sometimes, could not answer basic questions, like what the weather was like and queries on exchange rates.

“Sometimes, the taxis even stink!” he said, adding that he also received complaints from tour agencies here that the beaches in Penang and Kota Kinabalu were polluted with rubbish and sewage.

Meanwhile, Bernama reported that Malaysia has won an award as this year’s top choice summer holiday destination for United Arab Emirates (UAE) residents. (???!!)

More Rubbish Surfacing In Penang

Penang's pride filled with trash.

The Star - 31 March 2007:-
The scenic Gurney Drive used to be the pride and joy of many Penangites.



However, unsightly mudflats and the putrid stench of sludge and rotting garbage now greet joggers and visitors at one of the state’s most popular tourist destinations.

One observer noted:
“The state has focused much of its efforts in upgrading roads and building five-star hotels and malls at Gurney Drive but the most important attraction – the seafront – has been neglected.”

Read more