New Coins from Next Year 2012

Bank Negara will be introducing a new series of coins from early next year, replacing the current series which is 20 years old.

Meanwhile, the new series will be sold as commemorative coins from Tuesday, said Bank Negara Governor Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz on Monday.

She also said new series of notes would be issued in Septemeber but declined to elaborate on this.

She said the new coins will go into general circulation only next year to enable coin machine operators, for instance, to recalibrate their machines accordingly.

The new coins - 50sen, 20sen, 10sen and 5sen - are smaller and lighter than the current coins, with more security features.

The coins also have features that make it easier for the visually-impaired to use.

She said the coins were designed by a Malaysian and wholly minted by Bank Negara's mint in Malaysia.

Looking at the new coins, looks a bit "not that nice" compared to the old ones...nothing to hoo haa about :p

Penang Star Property Fair 2011

Time to look for bargain property investment? I don't really think so, as the market for Penang is all targeted for high end investors with big figures for every properties being exhibited...sigh...

The Star Property Fair 2011
Date: 21 – 24 July, 2011

Time: 10am - 10pm
Venue: G Hotel & Gurney Plaza

The STAR, Malaysia’s leading English daily in collaboration with Henry Butcher Malaysia Penang, will be organising its annual The Star Property Fair from 21 – 24 July, 2011. This annual property exhibition offers prospective property investors with one of the largest showcase of choice properties in Penang.

The fair promises to be more exciting this year. The exhibition will showcase new and “yet to be revealed” real estate developments and the ever popular free public forums. A round table discussion with industry is being organized as a prelude to the fair.
Since its inception in 2003, The Star’s Property Fair has continued to reinvent itself to be the most sought after event in the Northern region of Malaysia.

With new elements being introduced annually, the most prestigious fair in the Northern region never failed to dazzle both exhibitors and visitors alike.

With the overwhelming success of The Star’s Property Fair last year, the committee of the event aims higher to include different dimension to the fair.

Penang UNESCO Heritage Festival: Jazz & Heritage 22nd July 2011

Jazz & Heritage by the Northern Jazz Ensemble
Date: 22nd July 2011 (Friday)
Time: 8p.m.
Venue: Penang Town Hall, Esplanade.
Dress Code: Formal
Age 10 & above only

In conjunction of the UNESCO heritage month and Georgetown Festival 2011, the Northern Jazz Ensemble will be organizing the second edition of the Jazz & Heritage at the prestigious Town Hall on the 22nd July 2011 (Friday).

Jazz & Heritage will bring back the nostalgic memories of the music Malaysians love and listened to in the past but has long been forgotten. It will feature some of the most famous jazz classics by Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman and many more. And since this year Jazz &Heritage is going Oriental, the program will also pay tribute to the music of Teresa Teng, Chen Gexin, Yao Lee, Liu Chia Chang and other oriental folk/classic tunes, some dating back to the Qing Dynasty, of course with a jazz twist.

If you are a fan of Jazz, then you would love it. Just make sure you plan your time properly as it's a Friday night.

Penang St. Anne Frestival 2011

St Anne's Festival
Date: 22nd to 31st July 2011
Time: 7am to 9pm
Venue: St Anne's Church, Bukit Mertajam

A 9-day prayer ritual that draws many believers from all walks of life. In conjunction with the annual St Anne's feast, a Night of Candle Light Procession is usually conducted at the church grounds.

It's the time of the year again...head over to Bukit Mertajam to witness and join the crowd as they throng St Anne church for the holy festival :)

Penang MATTA Fair 22nd to 24th July 2011

Travel bugs and lovers out there, take note....the time has come, the chances are here...it's Penang MATTA fair, the time where you can have plenty of offers and discounts and wide choices to choose from for your next holiday destinations....make sure you don't miss it!

Date: 2nd ~ 4th July 2010
Time: 2rd July (5pm to 9pm), 3rd & 4th July (10am to 9pm)
Location: Penang International Sports Arena

Staged annually in Penang, MATTA (Malaysian Association of Tour & Travel Agents) Fair is a vibrant must attend three day expo. It presents a diverse range of destinations for Penang consumers at fabulous discounts.

Value added tour packages and other great travel incentives are offered at this tourism fair. Specialize travel agents will help you with flights, hotels, and ground transportation to any destinations in the world.


Total of 297 booths:

NTO:

Taiwan Visitors Association Kuala Lumpur, Tourism Authority of Thailand, Hong Kong Tourism Board, Macau Government Tourist Office, Korea Tourism Organization, Yogyakarta Tourism & Promotion Board, Tourism Malaysia - Penang, Lembaga Pembangunan Langkawi (LADA), Sabah Tourism Board, Perak Tourism, MAH Penang Chapter, Tourism Pahang, and Penang Global Tourism and more than 30 travel agents are participating in this 2010 MATTA fair.

Sparks of Broadway play

If you have time, and have the heart to help the needy, do support. This play is in aid of Mount Miriam Cancer Hospital's Needy Cancer Patient Fund.

Date: 23rd July 2011 (Saturday)

Time: 3-5pm or 8-10pm

Venue: Dewan Budaya, Universiti Sains Malaysia

Price: RM50, 80 and RM80, 100

Cable Fire Causes Massive Traffic Jam On Penang Bridge 11th July 2011

Wow, no wonder it was so jammed just now while I'm on my way back home just now. The management never improve, do they?

Hundreds of vehicles were stranded for about two hours on the entrance and exit lanes of Penang Bridge Monday after a cable caught fire.

A spokesman for Penang Bridge Sdn Bhd (PBSB) said there was massive traffic congestion as the cable fire occurred at the peak hour of 5.30pm.

He said traffic improved at 7pm after the fire was put out and repairs were done to the cable.

Penang Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) general manager Abdul Aziz Jaafar told Bernama the cable under the bridge caught fire at 5.25pm.

He said the fire did not affect electricity supply to the state as it was only a standby cable.

"The 132kV cable fire was completely put out at 6.30pm. TNB is investigating the cause," he added.

-Bernama-

New pride of Penang ?

The following article is from the Star paper today. Are you proud of it? I will be if this really solve the traffic problem, else it's nothing to hoo-haa for me.

The 24km-long second Penang bridge is 54% completed and it is on track to be completed by Nov, 2013, said former Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

He said this assurance was given by the host of contractors involved in constructing the super structure linking Batu Maung on the island to Batu Kawan in Seberang Prai.

Abdullah also said that the project would also incorporate a uniquely designed technology known as High Damping Rubber Bearing (HDRB).

The RM4.5bil project is the first to use the HDRB technology which is designed to withstand the effects of earthquakes.

“HDRB is an innovative tool to protect not only the structure but also the materials and contents inside the structure,” Abdullah said.

“This feature is useful for critical structures as it can stand the test of time.

“I an also proud that the HRDB is designed by a Malaysian and like all Penangites, I am eagerly awaiting the completion of the bridge.

“The bridge will definitely be breathtaking,” he said.



He was speaking after attending a briefing session on the bridge’s progress work at the China Harbour Engineering Co Ltd (CHEC) (M) Sdn Bhd office in Batu Maung yes-terday.

Present was Jambatan Kedua Sdn Bhd managing director Datuk Dr Ismail Mohamed Taib.

Abdullah also expressed satisfaction with the progress of the construction which comprised five packages. including the RM2.2bil substructure by China-based CHEC and the RM1.5bil superstructure by Malaysia’s own UEM Builders Bhd.

The three main contractors for overland connections are Cergas Murni Sdn Bhd (for the RM67mil Batu Maung link), IJM Corp Bhd (RM350mil Batu Kawan link) and HRA Teguh Sdn Bhd (RM152mil link to North-South Highway).

The bridge is set to be the longest in South-East Asia.

Hazehaze, please go away!

I'm pretty sure I'm not the only person that complains about haze in the state since Tuesday morning. I remembered when I woke up yesterday, it's was as if the skies are still pre-dawn and going to rain anytime soon. As the day goes, the haze became thicker and thicker.

Several areas in Penang experienced moderate haze conditions Tuesday with visibility restricted to within four to six kilometres.

Based on information from the Department of Environment's official website, the records taken until 11am showed that the Air Pollution Index (API) in Seberang Jaya here was 84.

The air quality in two other areas in Perai and Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) was also at moderate levels of 70 and 71 API, respectively.

The API was taken through a 24-hour reading recorded since yesterday and the cause of the haze was due to the prevailing dry weather over the past few days.

Hopefully we will have clear skies soon :)

Walk for Sight and Sound 2011

I think I don't have to write more about this event as the details are posted in the attached pictures. This event has not been an annual event and many people from all walks of life join to spread the awareness as well as try to raise fund for the blind people.

Do join if you have the time. Lucky draws awaits lucky participants :)