Consumers Association of Penang

Giving a voice to the little people...since 1970

There is more than meets the eye in the euphoria surrounding the soccer World Cup.

Offering an unapologetic public critique of the FIFA Soccer World Cup at the height of the collective frenzy of positive expectation, feel-good nationalism and general public excitement that now exists in our country is a risky thing to do. But it is a risk that needs to be taken precisely because, no matter what the context, myths always need to be separated from realities. In the case of the "greatest show on Earth", leaving aside the very real beauty and enjoyment of the game of soccer, the myth-making has created a situation akin to inhaling tik – a short-lived high/euphoria that obscures all reality, followed by a rapid, depressing "come down" back to that reality.

Act immediately on Reggae chain of hostels

The Consumers Association of Penang today calls on the Commissioner of Tourism to immediately check whether license has been issued to the controversial Reggae chain of hostels in Penang and Kuala Lumpur and if registered, to charge the registered owner or proprietor for contravening the Tourism Industry Act 1992 and if not then to revoke their registration immediately. The Local Councils should also act against these hostels.

This call is made in view of the hostel’s announcement that the hostel does not accept bookings by Malaysian, Indian and Middle Eastern nationals. This is a new form of “Apartheid” and total discrimination against a selected group of people.

We need a value-based, not a market-based schooling system

The Malaysian Education System does not need just a marginal review but a complete change from market-centered schooling to value-based and nature-centric education.

Sentence for animal poachers too lenient

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) is enraged and highly perturbed to learn of the light sentences meted out over the country's biggest seizure of illegally trafficked tiger.

The court’s ruling concerning wildlife can have wide reaching impacts for the precedent it sets will not be a deterrent to others as this could lead to additional killing of other endangered wildlife which the Act is intended to protect.

Abort tunnel vision

CAP would like to reiterate most emphatically its opposition to the latest mega-project proposed by the Penang state government to resolve the state’s traffic problem. The project comprises a 6.5km undersea tunnel from Gurney Drive to Bagan Ajam in Butterworth, a 4.2km Pesiaran Gurney-Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway bypass, a 4.6km Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway-Bandar Baru Air Itam bypass, and a four-lane 12km road linking Tanjung Bungah with Teluk Bahang.