The Star, Friday, September 9th, 2011

GEORGE TOWN: Disappointed over the controversial ‘Kancil car park’ at the foot of Penang Hill, the Tourism Ministry has asked for an explanation from Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.
Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen also expressed shock that the car park was not being utilised although it was completed at the end of March by the Penang Development Corporation (PDC) which is headed by Lim.

“What happened? What is going on? PDC, please give me an answer.
“I thought this project would be very easy and under good supervision. Look what has happened? Even now it’s not functioning,” she told a press conference after a meeting with MCA’s Barisan Nasional parliamentary and state constituency coordinators here yesterday.

She said the Federal Government, which gave RM5mil to the PDC to implement the project, felt it was a letdown. “It was supposed to finish in December last year but was only completed at the end of March,” she said. She hoped the problem could be solved as soon as possible before the start of the year end holiday season.

“Don’t point fingers at the Federal Government. Just get the job done, don’t try to find fault with anybody else,” she said.
Dr Ng added that the Federal Government never marginalised Penang even though the state fell to the opposition in the last general election.

“In fact, the project for the Penang Hill tram proceeded. It was started in 2009 after the election results. Then there was the RM68mil (Penang Hill train station) project and after that, we added RM5mil to build the car park,” she said.

The car park, which has yet to receive its certificate of fitness, became an issue after Nibong Tebal MP Tan Tee Beng revealed that the RM5mil building was poorly designed since it had steep ramps, low ceilings and parking bays that were said to be only suitable for Perodua Kancils.

Tan had lodged a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commis­sion to investigate the project.
On Sept 7, Lim had reiterated that the project was approved during the previous administration.
He had said the state government was awaiting a report in a week or two from the PDC on the car park.
Earlier, Dr Ng presented a cheque for RM20,000 to Convent Green Lane principal Lim Yen Lee for the school’s development fund.

Canvassing Malaysia as an art haven

The Star, Friday September 9, 2011

GEORGE TOWN: Malaysians may be able to admire world-renowned art pieces by Leonardo da Vinci and several other famous artists if efforts to bring their works here bear fruit.
In a move to get the country recognised as an international art tourism destination, Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said her ministry has begun discussions and would work with foreign government agencies and museums to bring in the works of artists such as Van Gogh and Picasso.
“If major pieces of art are exhibited here, it will be an achievement for the people of Malaysia.

“There is no commitment yet as there are several risks involved, such as high insurance coverage, since such works have never been displayed here before,” she said after opening the second 1Malaysia Contemporary Art Tourism (1MCAT) 2011 Festival here yesterday.

Themed In-Sight Penang, the month-long festival, which opened Sept 1, sees a collaboration between the Tourism Ministry, Tourism Malaysia, Muzium dan Galeri Tuanku Fauziah and the Penang State Museum and Art Gallery with 30 art galleries and six hotels here.

The highlight of the festival is the three-day 1MCAT Carnival to be held at 57, Macalister Building from Sept 16, which will include art-related activities for the public such as gallery-hopping treasure hunt, art talks and workshops.

Dr Ng said her ministry was also working to promote Malaysian art works at foreign tourism fairs.
“We will use every available opportunity to showcase works of our local artists at these fairs.
“Works by local artists are gaining recognition and being bought by museums in Singapore and Japan,” she added.

Dr Ng said that the festival was organised from July to September each year as it coincided with National Day, Malaysia Day and the high season for tourist arrivals to the country.
“Last year, we had 42,000 visitors to the first 1MCAT, which was held nationwide and about RM14mil in art sales were recorded,” she said.

Earlier, Dr Ng unveiled a specially-designed sculpture by artist Ch’ng Huck Theng, who is also the festival’s organising chairman, titled Together, a Better Malaysia.