Latest news with #PenangHighCourt
The Star
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Open access law empowers rakyat to push back
PETALING JAYA: From a project to build artificial islands to an apartment complex that could worsen congestion in the neighbourhood, the Penang Freedom of Information Enactment has helped residents challenge government decisions that impact their everyday lives. Civil society groups and residents say that the enactment has helped them get crucial information to challenge the state government's decisions. Based on this, they welcome a national-level law which is the proposed Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), that would allow anyone to access information kept by the Federal Government. However, they also said that the FOIA must avoid the pitfalls of the Penang enactments, such as the high cost of making an information request. Recounting his experience with Penang's freedom of information law, Ravinder Singh said that it allowed him to gain access to a traffic study for an apartment complex project in his neighbourhood. This followed worries that the new 28-storey project would worsen traffic congestion in the area as there was only one access road, said Ravinder of Taman Desa Jelita. 'I wanted to know how the project was approved and whether a traffic impact assessment was done,' said Ravinder, who then filed a Freedom of Information request with the state government. A state information officer denied the request, but that decision was overturned by an appeals board. 'The project consultant proposed widening some of the roads but some details were missing. So now I'm following up with an application to get the plans on road widening and on drainage.' Ravinder is worried that widening roads for the new project would take away pavements for pedestrians, forcing them to walk alongside cars, motorcycles and lorries. 'These reports will help us challenge the project with the local authorities,' he said, adding that this has helped residents like him hold their local authorities accountable for decisions that impact them. Similarly, the Penang enactment allowed civil society to gain access to information on the Penang South Islands Reclamation Project (PSR), which then helped them challenge the initiative. 'We wanted to know when planning permission for the project was granted by the local authority,' said Meenakshi Raman, president of Sahabat Alam Malaysia. 'This has led us to file a case at the Penang High Court, challenging the approval of planning permission by the state and local authorities. 'If not for the FOIA, it would have been very difficult to know when planning permission was granted,' she added. Penang's civil society groups and fishermen have opposed the reclamation project, which aims to build artificial islands off Penang's southern coast. According to the project's environmental impact assessment report, the project will harm the ecosystem and destroy the livelihoods of coastal fishermen. 'The Freedom of Information Enactment of Penang is a good piece of law that has helped us obtain information from the state agencies which is in the public interest,' said Meenakshi. A federal FOIA, she said, should be an improvement over the Penang law and ensure that any citizen who gets access to information should be allowed to have a copy of it. 'There should not be a need to go to the Board of Appeal to have the document,' she said referring to Ravinder's case. Information officers also need to be properly trained to act in accordance with the law, and not against it, she added. Ravinder also proposed that the national law include administrative penalties for civil servants who unlawfully decline information requests.
New Straits Times
13-06-2025
- New Straits Times
Family of Chinese tourists killed by uprooted tree files suit, seeks apology and RM1.7mil compensation
GEORGE TOWN: The family of two Chinese tourists who died when an uprooted tree crashed onto their car here last September has filed a civil suit against six parties, seeking an apology and RM1.7 million in compensation. Liu Zhu, 69, and Liu Xin Xin, 36, were killed when the tree, located inside a historical building, came crashing down on their vehicle on Sept 18 last year. The suit was filed by their respective spouses — Yang Xue Li, the wife of Liu and mother of Xin Xin, and Wang Geng Feng, Xin Xin's husband. Their lawyer, Ng Kian Nam, filed the suit via e-filing at the Penang High Court earlier today. The six named parties are: Pinang Peranakan Mansion Sdn Bhd, the operator of the museum where the incident occurred; SSM Capital Sdn Bhd, the museum's landowner; Sri Kumaran's Textile Sdn Bhd, the neighbouring property owner; Pony Holiday Sdn Bhd, the sub-contracted tour company; Har Kwai Leng, the driver of the deceased; and The Penang Island City Council (MBPP). It was reported that the victims' bodies were trapped inside the vehicle after the tree was uprooted by a storm and fell on it. The fallen tree had also damaged part of the building, where the concrete debris also landed on the three vehicles. Meanwhile, another victim, identified as Har, 52, sustained injuries.
Malaysiakini
27-05-2025
- Business
- Malaysiakini
Gerakan launches fundraiser to pay damages to Guan Eng
Gerakan has launched a fundraiser to help its deputy president Oh Tong Keong pay RM500,000 in damages to DAP adviser Lim Guan Eng. This comes after the Penang High Court earlier this month found Oh and Chinese daily, China Press, liable for defaming the former finance minister...
The Star
08-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Ramli sworn in as the ninth governor of Penang
GEORGE TOWN: Tun Ramli Ngah Talib took his oath of office as the ninth Yang di-Pertua Negri Pulau Pinang during the swearing-in ceremony at Dewan Sri Pinang here. Ramli, 84, succeeded Tun Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak, who had served as the eighth Penang governor since 2021. The new governor took his oath yesterday, witnessed by Penang High Court judge Datuk Rozana Ali Yusoff and State Secretary Datuk Zulkifli Long. Ramli arrived at Dewan Sri Pinang at 8.30am yesterday, accompanied by his wife, Toh Puan Raja Noora Ashikin Raja Abdullah. He then inspected the guard of honour mounted by the Second Battalion of the Malay Regiment, comprising three officers and 103 soldiers led by Mejar Mohd Salleh Jamal, before entering the ceremonial hall to take his oath of office and to sign the official document, accompanied by a 17-gun salute. Ramli was also conferred the state award Darjah Utama Pangkuan Negeri (DUPN), which carries the title of Datuk Seri Utama, presented by Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow. Also present at the swearing-in ceremony were Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Mohamad Abdul Hamid, Deputy Chief Minister II Jagdeep Singh Deo and other dignitaries. In his congratulations and loyalty speech, Chow described Ramli's appointment as a great honour for Penangites. 'He has an outstanding record of service, including having led the state of Perak Darul Ridzuan as Mentri Besar for nearly 17 years and contributing his dedicated service at the federal level as the Dewan Rakyat Speaker for more than three years,' he said. Royal appointment: Ramli and his wife Raja Noora Ashikin at the swearing-in ceremony in Penang. — Bernama Chow said Ramli's character and leadership reflect the stature of a true statesman and a distinguished and respected figure in the annals of the nation's governance. He said he is confident that under Ramli's leadership, Penang will continue to shine and be guided by new inspiration and spirit towards a more glorious, prosperous and harmonious future. Ramli received his letter of appointment from His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, the King of Malaysia, in a ceremony at Istana Negara on April 24. At the ceremony, he was also conferred the award of Seri Maharaja Mangku Negara (SMN), which carries the title of Tun. Ramli will serve as the Penang Governor for a term of four years, until April 30, 2029. Born on March 16, 1941, in Pasir Salak, Perak, he was also the Deputy Transport Minister from 2000 to 2004.
Malay Mail
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Ramli Ngah Talib sworn in as the ninth Yang Dipertua Negeri of Penang
GEORGE TOWN, May 1 — Tun Ramli Ngah Talib was today sworn in as the ninth Yang Dipertua Negeri of Penang in a full ceremonial event at Dewan Sri Pinang here, taking over from Tun Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak. Ramli, 84, took his oath of office and signed the official document, witnessed by Penang High Court Judge Datuk Rozana Ali Yusoff and State Secretary Datuk Zulkifli Long, accompanied by a 17-gun salute. He was also conferred the state award Darjah Utama Pangkuan Negeri (DUPN), which carries the title Datuk Seri Utama, presented by Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow during the ceremony. Earlier, Ramli inspected a guard of honour mounted by the Second Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment, consisting of three officers and 103 personnel, led by Major Mohd Solleh Jamal. Meanwhile, in delivering a congratulatory and loyalty message to the new Governor, Chow described Ramli's appointment as a great honour for the people of the state. He said Ramli's character and leadership reflect the stature of a true statesman and a highly respected figure in the nation's history. 'I am confident that under Tun's leadership and wisdom, Penang will continue to shine, guided by fresh inspiration and spirit towards a brighter, prosperous and harmonious future. 'Together with members of the state executive council, state assemblymen, members of Parliament, leaders at all levels and the people of Penang, we reaffirm our unwavering loyalty to Tun's leadership,' he said. On April 24, Ramli received his letter of appointment as the ninth Yang Dipertua Negeri of Penang, effective May 1, 2025, from His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, in a ceremony at Istana Negara. At the same ceremony, he was also conferred the federal award of Seri Maharaja Mangku Negara (SMN), which carries the title Tun. He succeeds Ahmad Fuzi, 76, who had held the position since May 1, 2021, and was the fourth Yang Dipertua Negeri of Penang who was not originally from the state. Ramli previously held several key positions at both federal and state levels, including serving as the eighth Menteri Besar of Perak for 17 years from 1982 to 1999, Deputy Minister of Transport from 2000 to 2004, and Dewan Rakyat speaker from 2004 to 2008. — Bernama
