GEORGE TOWN, June 16 — The long-awaited Perak-Penang water transfer project is now in its final stages of negotiations, with a formal agreement expected to be signed as early as next week, Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said today.He said both state governments have tentatively agreed to conclude and sign the deal by the end of next week in Ipoh, Perak.“The agreement is currently at the final stage of negotiations and we have tentatively set next week for bo
GEORGE TOWN, June 16 — The long-awaited Perak-Penang water transfer project is now in its final stages of negotiations, with a formal agreement expected to be signed as early as next week, Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said today.
He said both state governments have tentatively agreed to conclude and sign the deal by the end of next week in Ipoh, Perak.
“The agreement is currently at the final stage of negotiations and we have tentatively set next week for both parties to sign it,” he said at a press conference held after the 26th Annual General Meeting of PBA Holdings Bhd here.
“The ceremony is expected to take place in Ipoh, Perak, but it remains subject to the finalisation of ongoing discussions,” he added.
The Perak-Penang water project is a major strategic initiative aimed at facilitating the transfer of raw and treated water to meet growing demand in northern Peninsular Malaysia, particularly to support domestic and industrial needs in Penang.
Chow said the agreement includes several preconditions that must be fulfilled before it can be fully implemented.
He added that technical aspects of the deal were still being refined by experts and officials from both sides to ensure mutual agreement on all terms.
“When reviewing an agreement, there are many technical elements and issues that must be refined by experts before both parties can agree,” he said.
“All matters, including pricing, have been discussed, but further refinement is still required before the agreement is signed,” he added.
Meanwhile, Chow said the state government would announce its decision after receiving feedback from the concessionaire of the proposed Jelutong landfill rehabilitation and reclamation project along Karpal Singh Drive.
He said the concessionaire will need to present its feedback on recommendations made by the Department of Environment (DOE).
Chow added that views from residents who had objected to the project were also being taken into account in ongoing discussions between the state government and the company involved.
“When they (the concessionaire) respond, we will announce the decision. We are also taking into account public feedback, and this is part of the ongoing discussions,” he said.
The project’s Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) application was rejected by the Department of Environment (DOE) for the fifth time in March this year.
It is understood that the concessionaire, PLB Engineering, has resubmitted another application after updating the application in accordance with the conditions set by the DOE.
Penang Development Corporation signed a deal with PLB Engineering Bhd to rehabilitate and develop the Jelutong landfill at a cost of RM1 billion back in 2020.
The project included the reclamation of 30ha of land off Karpal Singh Drive.
Protect Karpal Singh Drive Action Committee members have repeatedly called for the project to be cancelled due to environmental concerns, especially its proximity to the Middle Bank marine sanctuary.
The Middle Bank marine sanctuary spreads around 10 square kilometres in the waters of the South Channel between Penang Island and the mainland.
It is home to the only seagrass bed in the Straits of Malacca and a study has revealed that a total of 429 species of plants and animals were found there.
GEORGE TOWN, June 2 — Police are actively tracking down suspects believed to be involved in a telecommunications cable theft incident at Jalan Batu Uban here, after a video of the incident went viral on social media today.Northeast District Deputy Police Chief Superintendent Lee Swee Sake said that his department received a report regarding the incident from Telekom Malaysia (TM) at 10.50am this morning.“The complainant, a 41-year-old TM technician, informed that
GEORGE TOWN, June 2 — Police are actively tracking down suspects believed to be involved in a telecommunications cable theft incident at Jalan Batu Uban here, after a video of the incident went viral on social media today.
Northeast District Deputy Police Chief Superintendent Lee Swee Sake said that his department received a report regarding the incident from Telekom Malaysia (TM) at 10.50am this morning.
“The complainant, a 41-year-old TM technician, informed that he saw a viral video lasting one minute and 24 seconds at around 7am which depicted a cable theft incident by the roadside at Jalan Batu Uban 1, Gelugor.
“Following this, the complainant conducted an inspection at the location and found that a TM telecommunications cable estimated to be 70 metres long and valued at RM17,000 had been cut and stolen,” he said in a statement, adding that the case is being investigated under Section 379 of the Penal Code and Section 235 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
Lee said that the suspects are believed to have used a dark-coloured Mazda 6 Hatchback while committing the crime, and so far, the police are still conducting further investigations to track down and identify the suspects involved.
In relation to this, he urged members of the public who have information regarding the incident to come forward and assist with the investigation by contacting the Northeast District Police Headquarters Operations Room at 04-228 2222 or 04-218 1881.
Based on the viral video footage, a dark-coloured car was seen being chased by several individuals riding motorcycles after the vehicle was suspected of being involved in cable theft activities in the area. — Bernama
GEORGE TOWN, June 6 — Construction of stations for the Mutiara Line Light Rail Transit (LRT) project is progressing steadily, with station designs currently awaiting approval from the Penang Island City Council (MBPP), which is expected soon.Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said pier and viaduct works for the Penang International Airport (LTAPP) Station are underway, with five piers already completed.At Bandar Sri Pinang Station, foundation works and station columns
GEORGE TOWN, June 6 — Construction of stations for the Mutiara Line Light Rail Transit (LRT) project is progressing steadily, with station designs currently awaiting approval from the Penang Island City Council (MBPP), which is expected soon.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said pier and viaduct works for the Penang International Airport (LTAPP) Station are underway, with five piers already completed.
At Bandar Sri Pinang Station, foundation works and station columns have been completed, with the project set to enter its main construction phase soon.
“Crosshead components are expected to arrive on site soon. These are large concrete structures installed on top of columns and serve as the main support for the station,” he said in a statement following a visit to both project sites today.
Chow said Bandar Sri Pinang Station is strategically located within a densely developed coastal urban area and near Persiaran Karpal Singh, a hub for lifestyle, commercial, food and beverage activities, making it a key station on the Mutiara Line.
The station will feature access points on both sides of the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway, linking nearby residential areas and economic centres.
Meanwhile, the LTAPP Station will be connected to the airport’s new terminal via a pedestrian bridge and is expected to serve as an important international gateway to Penang. It will provide direct links to key destinations, including the Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone (FIZ), Komtar and Penang Sentral in Butterworth.
Chow said pier construction is also underway at 14 locations along the alignment, including Permatang Damar Laut, Gelugor, the SPICE Convention Centre area, East Jelutong, Macallum and an area adjacent to Cecil Residensi.
“We expect construction activity to intensify. The implementation of traffic management plans (TMPs) in the Bayan Lepas FIZ and phased lane closures along the 23.7km alignment from Komtar to Pulau Silikon are clear signs that the project has entered its active construction phase,” he said.
Of the three critical areas identified, the first TMP was implemented at the Jalan Tengah–Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah junction in early May, while TMPs for the remaining two areas are scheduled for implementation in the second half of this year.
“As such, the public should be prepared for some traffic inconvenience as the project enters a more active construction phase in the second half of the year,” he said.
The Mutiara Line LRT project, which began construction in 2025 and is expected to commence operations in December 2031, will span about 29.67km and comprise 20 stations and two provisional stations. — Bernama
GEORGE TOWN, June 5 — The Penang State Health Department (JKNPP) has issued 597 notices for smoking within the George Town UNESCO World Heritage Site here, through 114 enforcement operations since 2022.State Youth, Sports and Health Committee chairman Daniel Gooi Zi Sen said the world heritage site was gazetted as a smoke-free zone since 2015 and is now subjected to the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852).“Throughout last year, 106 no
GEORGE TOWN, June 5 — The Penang State Health Department (JKNPP) has issued 597 notices for smoking within the George Town UNESCO World Heritage Site here, through 114 enforcement operations since 2022.
State Youth, Sports and Health Committee chairman Daniel Gooi Zi Sen said the world heritage site was gazetted as a smoke-free zone since 2015 and is now subjected to the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852).
“Throughout last year, 106 notices were issued. However, that number has increased this year, with 127 notices issued so far, surpassing the previous year’s total.
“In view of this, we will continue to step up monitoring and enforcement to ensure compliance with the stipulated regulations,” he told reporters after launching the Penang Smoke-Free (PENBAR) promotional materials at the George Town World Heritage Site here today.
Gooi said the increase in notices shows some individuals still fail to comply with the ban despite ongoing educational and advocacy efforts.
He said under Act 852, individuals found smoking in smoke-free zones can face a compound fine of RM250 for each offence.
“We understand that alongside continuous public education, enforcement action must be taken to ensure compliance within the George Town World Heritage Site,” he said.
He added that the state government and JKNPP are intensifying public awareness by installing more promotional materials and warning boards.
Gooi said besides the George Town Heritage Site, several other locations in Penang have also been gazetted as smoke-free zones under Act 852, namely the Jalan Utama Municipal Park, Jalan Air Terjun Botanical Gardens, Air Itam Dam, and Teluk Bahang Dam on the island.
On the mainland, the ban covers the Mengkuang Dam in Berapit and the Ampang Jajar Town Park.
Earlier, Gooi and 70 personnel from the JKNPP Enforcement Division distributed campaign leaflets at premises and fitted banners and special sunshades on trishaws to boost tourist awareness of the smoking ban within the heritage zone. — Bernama
Sample ramen pizza, alongside other limited-edition items to pick up, or just make your own treats.
Snacks in Japan come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, from ever-feuding mushrooms and bamboo shoots to make-your-own sweets, but one that I see fairly often in the hands of little children are packets of Baby Star Ramen. A popular snack made of deep-fried, crunchy, bite-sized pieces of instant noodles, Baby Star Ramen came about in 1959 when the founder of Oyatsu Company realized that the broke
Sample ramen pizza, alongside other limited-edition items to pick up, or just make your own treats.
Snacks in Japan come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, from ever-feuding mushrooms and bamboo shoots to make-your-own sweets, but one that I see fairly often in the hands of little children are packets of Baby Star Ramen. A popular snack made of deep-fried, crunchy, bite-sized pieces of instant noodles, Baby Star Ramen came about in 1959 when the founder of Oyatsu Company realized that the broken noodle fragments left at the bottom of instant noodle production lines could actually be seasoned and packaged up as a snack by themselves.
The Oyatsu Company factory is located in Tsu, Mie, and while factory tours are currently suspended, for those who want to dive into the world of Baby Star, right next door is Oyatsu Town, a theme park offering everything from a giant athletic course to making original Baby Star Ramen, as well as limited-edition food you can only eat there, resulting in an enjoyable experience for child and adult alike.
▼ Sadly, no factory tours are currently available.
Our Japanese-language reporter Natsuno Futon visited the theme park with her kids in tow during Golden Week, one of Japan’s busiest periods for travel and day excursions, so upon arriving and noting that same-day entry was limited until after lunch, it wasn’t too unexpected. So, Natsuno’s first recommendation for any future visit is to always reserve your entry tickets in advance, particularly if you plan to go on a weekend or holiday.
Arriving at the entrance, the first thing to welcome Natsuno and her family was a giant Baby Star photo spot, appearing as if Baby Star was flowing like a waterfall, along with a spot where you could get inside a Butamen cup, Oyatsu Company’s line of instant cup noodles, adorned with designs of Hoshio-kun, the Baby Star Ramen mascot.
Peak season entry is 2,500 yen (US$15.70) for adults, whereas it drops down to 2,200 yen during the Regular days, and 1,600 yen for the Value days.
It’s best to check the company website for absolute clarity, but the general rule seems to be Saturday through Monday is Regular, Tuesday through Friday is Value, and national holidays like Golden Week in May and Obon in August are Peak.
▼ Natsuno couldn’t help but take one last look at the factory, as she really enjoys factory tours, but it sadly wasn’t to be.
Stepping inside, Natsuno was greeted with the company’s history spread out on the floor, designed almost like a board game.
It was quite interesting to learn that the name change to Oyatsu Company was an unexpectedly recent development.
▼ Not at all spoken through the pitch-black sunglasses of denial: 1993 is still very recent.
Proceeding further inwards, a giant athletic area appears, teeming with the Golden Week crowd of people.
While as an adult, Natsuno tends to curb her childhood playfulness and instead let her children loose to gallivant through play areas, she couldn’t quite restrain herself from wanting to join in on the fun. Looking around, she could even see many adults playing there quite seriously, so she embraced her inner child and entered the play equipment.
Among them, what was particularly enjoyable was the Hoshio-kun Giant Slide, which gets quite a bit of speed.
▼ They’re even considerate enough to provide wrap-around skirts to make sliding even more speedy.
The Super Giant Butamen-kun Adventure and Giant Jungle Gym are also extremely fun.
Since you walk on the net, the stimulation to the soles of your feet is amazing, nearing the level where you might mistake it for a minor piece of health equipment.
▼ Natsuno is still a child at heart, she promises.
The most popular one, though, is the giant athletic course consisting of three whole floors, which are divided by height; the first floor is for small children, but the second and third floors offer up more of a challenge.
Natsuno ventured up to the third floor together with her children but had to retire halfway through for a very specific reason: her sweaty hands.
It’s a little difficult to see in the image below, but this is a course where you have to move forward while moving around the outside of orange bars that bulge outward.
With hands that get particularly sweaty, Natsuno could just foresee herself slipping off due to them. Yet, because she wanted to show her children an inspirational figure that takes on challenges even in the face of adversity, plus it was too frustrating to just give up, she attempted it a second time and cleared it safely. However, she later heard from her children, “since we were moving ahead of you, we couldn’t see you.” Sad though she was, she still felt a sense of accomplishment, so it wasn’t all bad.
▼ There is even a section of the park dedicated to interactive digital content that kids can have fun with.
Next, the family moved on to the experience of making Baby Star at Hoshio-kun Kitchen, where you can make your very own original Baby Star Ramen.
For an additional 1,000 yen each to the park entrance fee, the children challenged the “My Special Baby Star,” where you can choose your favorite flavor from several types, season it yourself, and then have the staff bake it for you in the oven.
Natsuno had reserved in advance, but there seemed to be sufficient availability that you could even reserve on the day itself.
After completing the ramen, you put stickers on the original container, though her children instead opted to put on only a few, saving the rest for later to add to their sticker collection albums.
The family came away from the experience with the children beaming with happiness and proud faces for their new creations.
However, being hungry, they decided to swing by Baby Star Dining, where you can savor original foods using Baby Star, such as Baby Star Katsu Curry.
Among them all, Natsuno can personally recommend the pizza, particularly the limited-time Pink Butamen Gratin Pizza, being a lot more authentic than expected.
It’s baked in a pizza oven, so you get that classic pizza base texture, and the pink coloring is added via beetroot instead of food coloring.
The appearance certainly has quite the impact, referencing Butamen and its pig mascot, but the taste has no unexpected quirks and is extremely delicious.
▼ The Ramen Pizza was also full of ingredients and highly satisfying.
Of course, you can eat freshly-fried Baby Star Ramen.
At the gift shop Oyatsu Marche, limited-edition products and character goods are lined up, with Natsuno being drawn to all of the Butamen goods. He just has such a charming presence…
Natsuno also discovered Baby Star limited to Oyatsu Town, this time purchasing the Spiny Lobster Flavor (850 yen for a pack of six), and found it to have a very strong shrimp taste, both rich and delicious.
There was also a cute, little steel suitcase-like container that you could stuff your favorite Baby Star flavors into for just 1,700 yen.
Before walking through the doors, Natsuno had assumed she would be entering a facility designed just for children, but she ended up, even as an adult, enjoying it with all her might.
In the end, from their 10:30 a.m. start, they stayed fully until the closing time at 5:00 p.m., staying more than six hours. With the addition of a new area opening in Spring 2027, there will be even more to get lost in, although prospective visitors should take note that the park will be closed from January 12, 2027, to prepare for this new opening.
Whether you visit with kids or not, it’s all but guaranteed you’ll have a great time exploring Oyatsu Town, just remember to book in advance on the weekends and holidays.
GEORGE TOWN, June 15 — The federal government has guaranteed that no vernacular schools will be closed under its administration, Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh said today.He reaffirmed Putrajaya’s commitment to protect the existing Chinese and Tamil vernacular schools in Malaysia.Wong said vernacular schools remain an important component of the national education system and dismissed long-standing concerns among communities over the fate of schools facing
GEORGE TOWN, June 15 — The federal government has guaranteed that no vernacular schools will be closed under its administration, Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh said today.
He reaffirmed Putrajaya’s commitment to protect the existing Chinese and Tamil vernacular schools in Malaysia.
Wong said vernacular schools remain an important component of the national education system and dismissed long-standing concerns among communities over the fate of schools facing enrolment, land or infrastructure challenges.
“Under the Madani government, we guarantee that no school, whether a national school, SJKC or SJKT, will be closed,” he said in his speech after attending a handing over ceremony of an approval letter for the construction of a new building for SJKT Rajaji in Air Itam here.
He said Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek had repeatedly stressed since 2023 that vernacular schools are part of Malaysia’s education landscape and would continue to receive government support.
The deputy minister also announced that maintenance allocations for Tamil vernacular schools nationwide have been increased to RM50 million this year, more than double the annual allocations provided in recent years.
“The funding will benefit about 527 SJKTs nationwide,” he said adding that the Education Ministry is finalising the distribution of the allocations based on the schools’ individual needs and enrolment levels.
“We will not simply divide the allocation equally because some schools are larger, some are smaller, and their maintenance requirements differ,” he said.
Meanwhile, he said 22 government-aided SJKTs in Penang will receive furniture worth RM1.156 million through an initiative funded by the Malaysian Indian Transformation Unit (Mitra).
On SJKT Rajaji, Wong officially handed over the ministry’s approval letter for the construction of the school’s new location in Farlim.
The 76-year-old school, which currently has about 100 pupils and 20 preschoolers, will relocate to a 2.3-acre site provided by the Penang state government.
He said construction is expected to cost about RM8 million and will be fully funded by a private developer.
The project is targeted for completion within 18 months, with the school expected to begin operating at its new premises by the 2029 academic session.
Wong said the approval reflected the government’s commitment to developing schools across all education streams, including national, Chinese vernacular and Tamil vernacular schools.
“Whether it is a national school, SJKC or SJKT, all are under the focus and radar of the Ministry of Education,” he said.
GEORGE TOWN, June 1 — An IT consultant has lost nearly RM1.5 million after falling victim to an online cryptocurrency investment scam syndicate known as ‘Crypto Kakaue’.Penang police chief Datuk Azizee Ismail said the victim, a 63-year-old man, lodged a report at the Commercial Crime Investigation Division of the Southwest district police headquarters on Saturday.He said in a statement that the victim was drawn into the scheme after coming across a cryptocurrency
GEORGE TOWN, June 1 — An IT consultant has lost nearly RM1.5 million after falling victim to an online cryptocurrency investment scam syndicate known as ‘Crypto Kakaue’.
Penang police chief Datuk Azizee Ismail said the victim, a 63-year-old man, lodged a report at the Commercial Crime Investigation Division of the Southwest district police headquarters on Saturday.
He said in a statement that the victim was drawn into the scheme after coming across a cryptocurrency investment advert on Facebook in December 2023.
“The victim then clicked the link in the advertisement before contacting the suspect via WhatsApp,” he said, adding that the suspect offered an investment scheme involving the buying and selling of the USDT cryptocurrency.
Azizee said the victim subsequently joined a WhatsApp group chat called ‘Saham Mececah Hati Orang’, where he was told about the investment and offered high returns.
He said the victim was told to install an app called ‘Kakaue’ and conduct cryptocurrency transactions.
“Between March and September 2024, the victim carried out nine money transfers to six bank accounts belonging to companies provided by the suspect, involving a total of RM1,494,410.
“However, after all the transactions were completed, the victim was unable to withdraw or transfer the profits and capital shown in the application to his personal account,” he said, adding that the case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating. — Bernama
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