8 theSun | WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 12 2008

news without borders

Coaches on cables proposed for Penang

AEROBUS.COM

by Opalyn Mok he said.

newsdesk@thesundaily.com
GEORGE TOWN: An Aerobus system
– where the coaches are suspended
on cables – has been proposed for
Penang.
Currently in use in Germany,
Switzerland and Canada – with
construction going on in China – the
system eliminates the need for heavy
construction of infrastructure.
The Aerobus, which can be
An Aerobus elevated 40m above ground, is able
system similar to travel at speeds of up to 100km
to the one an hour. Its 12 coaches can cater to
proposed for 30,000 passengers an hour in each
Penang. direction.
Pinggiran Pelangi Sdn Bhd, which
submitted the proposal to Chief
Minister Lim Guan Eng yesterday,
said the project could be privately
funded.
Its executive director, Datuk
Aripin Mokhtar, said the Aerobus
system is different from other types
of monorail as the coaches are sus-
pended in the air on cables.
“We do not need much space
and it could even connect to the
mainland over Penang Bridge,”
He said that if the project is ap-
proved, phase one, involving 20km,
could be completed within two
years.
Lim said the state government
will consider any proposal for the
construction of an efficient public
transportation system “especially if
it will not incur any cost to the state
government”.
However, a decision will only be
made after careful consideration of
the impact, efficiency and cost of
the project.
He said he would need to see if
Pinggiran Pelangi’s proposal of the
Aerobus system is “usable”.
“What is important is to see
whether the technical specifica-
tions are suitable for Penang and,
secondly, the cost,” he said.
“We will wait for a complete
report from this company and get
public feedback before deciding.”
He said any decision will only be
made after March.
Lim also said the proposal for a
new public transportation system is
only for areas outside the heritage
core zone.

Police take statement from State govt wants to

Kok over report against paper help rebuild surau
KUALA LUMPUR: Seputeh MP Teresa Kok was
called up by police yesterday to have a statement
recorded over a police report she lodged against
destroyed in fire
Utusan Malaysia and its writer Zaini Hassan about GEORGE TOWN: The state government will
two months ago. see how it can help rebuild a 43-year-old surau
Kok, who was accompanied by her lawyer, S.N. destroyed by fire on Monday.
Nair, spent an hour at the Dang Wangi district police Yesterday, Lim went to Tasek Glugor, where
headquarters where an officer investigating her Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamed
report, lodged on Sept 17 through Nair, took down Yackop is the MP, to inspect the surau.
her statement. On arriving there, he told reporters he had
She told reporters the police asked her ques- sought Nor Mohamed’s views on how the gov-
tions on the article by Zaini titled Azan, Jais, Uitm, ernment can help the surau in Permatang Buluh
Jawi dan Alif-ba-ya, published on Sept 10. to be rebuilt.
Kok was detained under the Internal Security “I mentioned to him that the state govern-
Act two days after the article appeared and was ment will see how it can get the surau back so
held for a week by police. that the community can have a place for prayer
She believed the article had led to her detention and religious activities,” Lim said.
because during her detention, police had ques- “I have to refer to his views as a basic
tioned her solely on the contents of the article and courtesy.”
the allegations in it. Lim’s comments came on the heels of some
words of praise offered by Nor Mohamed on his
Japanese tourist killed and statesmanship three days before.
On Sunday, Nor Mohamed commended Lim
13 hurt in bus crash for acknowledging the federal government’s
JOHOR BARU: A Japanese tourist was killed and RM7 billion economic stimulus package.
13 others were injured when a tourist bus skid- Reporters noted that the recent exchange
ded and overturned at Km51 of the North-South between the two is in sharp contrast to the
Expressway near Air Hitam, Kluang, yesterday criticisms they hurled at each other after the
afternoon. federal government removed allocations total-
Johor Traffic and Public Order chief DSP ling RM 3.5 billion for the Penang Outer Ring
T. Raveendran said the incident happened at Road and monorail projects.
about 3pm when the bus, heading to Desaru Lim had criticised Nor Mohamed and Prime
in Kota Tinggi from Malacca, skidded and over- Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi for
turned while trying to avoid knocking into engaging in “vengeance politics”. Nor Mohamed
another vehicle in front. responded by calling Lim “obsessive”.
He said Hhibata Nehieo, 83, died of serious Lim declined to comment when asked yes-
head and bodily injuries. terday whether the recent exchange was a sign
The bus, belonging to a tourist agent in of their relationship becoming warmer and more
Malacca, was carrying a group of tourists from constructive.
Fuji TV to Desaru, after having visited Malacca. “We are always constructive,” he said.
– Bernama

Lightening cream, slimming organiser last week.”

products found unsafe
KUALA LUMPUR: The public were advised yes- Kings of Tennis event called off It was reported that event organising
co-chairman Arianna Teoh had recently ex-
pressed her disappointment over the lack of
terday to avoid using O’lynn skin lightening cream
by Bernard Cheah support from the authorities.
MASRY CHE ANI/THESUN

and Langsing Alami slimming products, which have

been found to contain scheduled poison.
Health Ministry Pharmacy Services director
Eishah A. Rahman said O’lynn beauty cream reg-
istration had been cancelled by the Drug Control
Authority as it was found to contain Tretinoin.
The use of Tretinoin was not allowed in cos-
metics as it could cause side effects such as skin
irritation, peeling and other complications if used
without prescription.
The Langsing Alami slimming products were
found to contain Sibutramine, which could cause
cardiovascular complications such as high blood
pressure and heart failure, if used without moni-
toring by doctors, Eishah added in a statement.
– Bernama
The open-air court and stands under construction
at the Esplanade.
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
GEORGE TOWN: The Kings of Tennis tourna-
ment, supposed to take place at the Espla-
nade from Friday to Sunday, has been abruptly
cancelled.
In a press statement yesterday, Kings of
Tennis managing director Lasse Olsson said
the producers could not provide the players
with the funds.
“We wish to confirm that we have, with
regret, removed the players from participating
in the Kings of Tennis event,” Olsson said.
“Consequently, the event has been can-
celled as we notified the local promoter and
“I feel like we are not getting enough sup-
port for the event. The Kings of Tennis is going
to be an unprecedented event for Penang and
it is special, for the reason, that we chose
to hold it outdoors at a world heritage site,”
she said.
However, state tourism development, cul-
ture, arts and heritage committee chairman
Danny Law refuted claims the state govern-
ment had turned its back on the event, saying
it had helped provide the venue at minimal
rental to the organisers.
The construction of the open-air court at
the Esplanade, reported to cost RM2.5 million,
is near completion. It can seat 5,000 fans.