THE Penang Democratic Action Party (DAP) headquarters at Jalan Talipon fell to a suspected arson on August 18 when a fire broke out at the front of the premises, damaging the entrance and party publications. The 2.50am fire also damaged a signboard bearing the party's logo, and red paint was thrown at the building.

As of press time, the police are treating the case as suspected arson while still trying to establish a motive for the attack. A witness said that a man on an EX5 motorcycle threw a burning newspaper onto the premises. “The old newspapers and party flyers that were stacked there then caught fire,” he added. Read here.

Firefighters arrived on scene and successfully put out the fire within 10 minutes. No casualties have been reported. Read here.

The attack came days after red and orange paint was splashed on Komtar assemblyperson Ng Wei Aik's service centre. Read here.

Berjaya buys Turf Club land in return to Penang

Berjaya Land is purchasing 57 acres of prime freehold land from the Penang Turf Club for RM459mil, valued at RM1.52bil in gross development value.

Berjaya Group chairman Tan Sri Vincent Tan says that horse racing activities will still continue at the club, and that the land will be used to develop residential properties. The properties are expected to be developed over five years. Read here.

The deal marks Berjaya's return to investing in Penang after an absence of more than two decades. “We were active in the property development scene in Penang during the time of the late Tun Lim Chong Eu," says Tan. "After his tenure, we were put off by the state leadership and I decided not to invest in Penang ever again.  “However, now, we have decided to come back here again. If there are any other opportunities, if the price is right and the location is right, we will invest in other projects here. We have every good reason to do so now." Read here.

The land is considered to be highly controversial; it is said that planned redevelopment of the land was one of the reasons the Gerakan government fell in the 2008 elections. Read here.

Other news

• Local novelist Azizi Abdullah dies: Popular novelist Azizi Abdullah, who was admitted into the Intensive Care Unit at Penang Hospital on Aug 11, died at the hospital this morning. Read here.
• Timely journey: After packing up her suitcase and leaving to see the world 25 years ago, Kuala Lumpur-born Foo May Lyn has finally made the journey home. Read here.
• Platform for the young: Lack of support is a constant grouse among young artists, especially those working in the harder-to-define area of contemporary art. Read here.
• Nature society: American bullfrog may wipe out M'sian species: The Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) is worried that the American bullfrog, which has been released into the Penang Botanic Gardens, may decimate local frog species. Read here.
• Revamp low-cost housing policy: Penang state executive councillor in charge of housing Wong Hon Wai announced last week that developers who could not or chose not to build low-cost (LC) or low-medium-cost (LMC) houses would be required to pay premiums of RM30,000 for each LMC unit and RM40,000 for each LC unit they were supposed to build. Read here.

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