THE Penang Municipal Council is allocating RM1.2mil to councillors to conduct programmes under ‘The Cleaner, Greener Penang’ initiative launched on May 22.

State Local Government and Traffic Manage-ment Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said each councillor would receive RM50,000 for projects such as landscaping and education programmes and gotong-royong drives.

“We are happy to know that the initiative has caught the attention of the Federal Government,” he said, adding that this year-long campaign was gaining momentum.

“We are open to any parties becoming involved, whether it’s the Federal Govern-ment or ministries, to help make Penang cleaner.

“We aim to make the state a choice destination for investors and tourists,” he said.

A clean-up activity under this initiative will be held at the reclamation area beside the Yeoh Jetty in Weld Quay tomorrow at 8am.

IJM Land Bhd is sponsoring compostable bags and gloves for the clean-up while Cardia Bioplastics will provide biodegradable trash bags.

The bags will turn into fertiliser after 180 days. Other sponsors include Rapid Penang and KBH Sdn Bhd.

Visitors will also have the chance to win a new Nokia X3 handphone.

All they have to do is bring along their old handphones to be recycled and then guess the number of handphones in a container.

The Cleaner, Greener Penang campaign is a one-year initiative co-organised by Star Publications (M) Bhd, Penang Municipal Council and Seberang Prai Municipal Council with support from the state government.

Meanwhile, the Penang Local Government Consultative Forum will be held at the Caring Society Complex on Monday from 9am to 12.30pm.

Issues that will be discussed are ‘Heritage Development in Penang’ and the new swiftlet industry guidelines.

The forum is open to the public.

The Star - August 7, 2010
http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2010/8/7/north/6798381&sec=North