Latest news with #MBPP
The Star
11 hours ago
- The Star
QuickCheck: Was there a fish heist at a market in Penang?
A screen capture from the CCTV footage showing the thief making off with the fish from the Batu Lanchang Market in Penang on Sunday (June 22). Reports of theft at local markets can raise concerns among traders and the community. Recently, there have been claims of fish being stolen from Batu Lanchang Market during the night. Is this true? Verdict: TRUE Fishes stored at the Batu Lanchang Market in Penang, were reportedly stolen early in the morning on Sunday (June 22) before the traders opened their stalls. According to Batu Lanchang assemblyman Ong Ah Teong, the issue was brought to attention after a seller lodged a complaint, leading to an investigation. "Video footage reviewed at the scene clearly showed an individual making off with a styrofoam box filled with fish around 2am," said Ong in a Facebook post. It is believed that this was the third such incident reported at the market recently. A police report has been lodged, and a copy of the CCTV footage has been submitted for further action. Ong also mentioned that a request has been made to the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) to install additional CCTV cameras around the market, especially in exterior areas such as the parking lot. "The request has been approved and the added surveillance is expected to help improve security at the market," he added. References:
New Straits Times
4 days ago
- Automotive
- New Straits Times
Over 4 tonnes of waste collected in Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway cleanup
GEORGE TOWN: A total of 4.04 tonnes of waste was collected over the weekend during a special cleanup operation conducted by the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) along the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway here. The operation, carried out by MBPP's Department of Urban Services, focused on road medians and surrounding areas along the busy expressway. The city council said 2.13 tonnes of waste was collected on Saturday and another 1.91 tonnes on Sunday. "The collected waste included litter discarded from vehicles, debris from road accidents, as well as dry leaves and overgrown grass along the road dividers and side lanes. "We urge motorists to avoid littering from their vehicles. It can pose serious safety hazards to other road users," it said in a Facebook posting. The city council said the initiative was part of its ongoing commitment to maintaining cleanliness and safety on major roads across the city.
The Star
5 days ago
- Automotive
- The Star
Council clears 4 tonnes of waste from Penang expressway
General view of Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway.-filepic THE Penang Island City Council (MBPP) collected 4.04 tonnes of waste along the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway during a clean-up operation on Friday and Saturday (June 21 and 22). According to the council, the operation was part of a scheduled cleaning programme for the road median and surrounding areas. "The type of waste collected included litter thrown from vehicles, debris from road accidents, dry leaves and weeds," MBPP said in a Facebook post on Tuesday (June 24). It urged road users not to throw rubbish from their vehicles as it polluted the environment and could cause accidents. The operation was conducted by the council's Urban Services Department from 7.30am to 12.30pm on each of the two days.
The Star
5 days ago
- Health
- The Star
Waging war on Penang's pests
YOU cannot fine empathetic folk. Impose a RM250 littering fine on those who love to feed pigeons and they will still do it. They don't see themselves as litterbugs, but as misunderstood caretakers. For some, pigeon-feeding is morning therapy – a way to feel needed, even a form of merit-making. The flurry of flapping wings and gentle cooing offers joyful interaction with 'wildlife' in an urban world. However, the unseen consequence is that feeding leads to massive pigeon colonies hiding in old buildings and roofs. These colonies leave thick carpets of guano – acidic, ammoniacal, corrosive to concrete and steel, and breeding bacteria and mites. Pigeons are not like doves or bulbuls – they are genetically programmed to live with humans and cannot survive in the wild. To manage these urban pests, the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) has deployed a range of methods, including remote-controlled traps, nets, warning signs, and fines for those who feed the birds. Their efforts have shown some success, with fewer pigeons soiling roads in many areas. But for a long-term solution, pharmacological control is key, and nicarbazin may be the answer. This synthetic compound does not kill. It simply suppresses reproduction by interfering with embryo development in eggs. If pigeons ingest nicarbazin daily, their eggs will not hatch. Stop the drug, and fertility returns. It is reversible, painless and, based on scientific articles, in use in Europe and the United States. Consistent dosage is crucial; each pigeon needs about 50mg of nicarbazin daily, usually delivered by mixing a 0.5% concentration into corn kernels. The most effective system involves automated feeders at fixed sites, releasing treated corn at dawn. Pigeons and crows feeding on a walkway in Pulau Tikus Pocket Courtyard in George Town. An elderly woman who regularly feeds birds in the area has been fined several times by Penang Island City Council. — ARNOLD LOH/The Star Cities like Barcelona and New York use solar-powered units programmed to dispense food as birds begin to forage. Over time, this trains flocks to feed at these stations, achieving fertility control without trapping or killing. While MBPP has mentioned using nicarbazin, yet not one feeder exists on the island to execute this fertility control, despite evidence of its effectiveness. Then there are the crows – the ones that tear at rubbish bags and snatch food from hawker and wet market stalls. MBPP workers have shared that crow traps are ineffective for adult birds – only young ones enter, and the distressed calls of a trapped crow deter others. When crow shooters are deployed, some Penangites become so distressed that they scream and shout at the shooters, chasing them away. Could there be a better way? Crows hate erratic light, especially green laser beams. A quick online search for 'crows green laser beams' reveals solutions. Several cities now use low-power lasers, safe for human eyes but unsettling to birds, fired from rooftops or poles at roosting trees. The laser does not hurt but its unpredictable flashes make the tree feel unsafe for roosting. Penang island has thousands of large roadside trees where murders of crows roost cacophonously at dusk. Timer-operated, rainproof, rechargeable and long-lasting systems could shoot multiple green laser beams into tree canopies every 15 to 30 seconds from 7pm to 10pm. While it would take many units to wage a laser war against crows, disrupting their roosting behaviour could control their population in the long term. Neither nicarbazin nor laser beams will solve everything but they may prevent things from worsening without excessive expense.
Barnama
5 days ago
- Business
- Barnama
MBPP, UTM Form Strategic Partnership On Education, Urban Development
GEORGE TOWN, June 23 (Bernama) -- The Penang Island City Council (MBPP) has entered into a strategic partnership with Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) to collaborate in education, research, development, innovation, commercialisation, and training, particularly in areas related to integrated development and management. State Local Government and Town and Country Planning Committee chairman H'ng Mooi Lye said the five-year collaboration involves MBPP staff, UTM academics, and students. 'Today, MBPP signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with UTM with the primary aim of enhancing cooperation in public awareness initiatives and human capital development through structured and comprehensive engagement. 'It also aims to apply science and technology to enhance community well-being, including research and monitoring to address slope failure issues,' he said after witnessing the signing ceremony at The Top, Komtar. The MoU was signed by MBPP mayor Datuk A. Rajendran and UTM vice-chancellor Prof Dr Mohd Shafry Mohd Rahim. Rajendran said the partnership includes knowledge-sharing in science and technology, research and development (R&D) for innovation, and capacity-building initiatives. To ensure effective implementation, MBPP and UTM will establish a joint management committee, co-chaired by MBPP, to coordinate the MoU's programmes. He said the collaboration will also facilitate the exchange of knowledge and expertise between UTM researchers and MBPP professionals, particularly in leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) for slope monitoring, maintenance, and mitigation in hilly terrain. UTM is highly experienced in slope-related research, and we hope this MoU will help us better address high-risk slope failure areas,' he added.
