Amid the heavy security surrounding Casuarina Hotel, it seems like a foreign VVIP is staying there. But just like Kuala Lumpur's Hotel Pan Pacific (next to PWTC), there is an Umno Building. So whenever there is a federal bigwig in town, the police's presence is more obvious. Helicopters swirling above is quite common.
Many people thought it was because of Nizar's unwelcome stay at the Menteri Besar's official residence nearby and the crowd of supporters. Now, the famous 'Crown of Lamb' roundabout has restricted entry into Jalan Gopeng, with barricades and a couple of police cars parked, screening people in vehicles, allowing only certain authorised people. Two police trucks were seen outside the hotel. Residents nearby think that BN's most prized ADUN is holed up in the hotel and given protection...plausible.
Yesterday, we were in Penang just before noon. Everything seemed normal, and based on last night's news about Khir Toyo's being detained for questioning by the police for leading Umno youths to harrass Karpal, was news to us. Where was he in 1993 when Dr. Mahathir took on the Rulers?
Somewhere near Penang Road, I was waiting to cross the road at a pedestrian crossing. An American couple with two kids were standing next to me. I took a step on to the road, and as usual, no vehicles bothered to slow down, let alone stopped. I quipped, "they don't give way here" and the man replied, "Ya, we know. I am following you!"
If there is anybody who has anything to do with Penang's tourism reading this, please include a warning to tourists that the drivers here do not care about pedestrians! Well, my point is, if we cannot educate the drivers, we better inform the foreigners for the sake of safety.
I was supposed to include the following comments on difference in drivers' mentality, in my post:
ReplyDeleteA friend was walking around in Seattle, USA. He stopped to look at a sign. He was standing a few feet away from the kerb. Yet, a few cars stopped because the drivers thought he was about to cross the road! They respect pedestrians.
Another friend commented that his friend was crossing a really busy road in Vietnam where there were many motor cyclists (see to believe). As he was crossing, he hesitated and took a step back and was knocked down by a motorcycle. This was explained by someone who knows the mentality there, and that is: if you want to cross the road, just do it regardless of the oncoming cars and motorcycles. They will give way. But if you hesitated and took a step back, it upsets their anticipation!