The Penang state government proposes a revival of Adelaide Week in Penang and Penang Week in Adelaide to strengthen city sister ties between both cities that is bonded by blood, tested by time and driven by shared values. Medan was the first sister city for Penang. As Adelaide was our second sister, established far back in December 1973, there is no reason for allowing what was once a close relationship to lapse and wither away.

This is the reason why the Penang state government has led a high-level delegation to reconnect with Adelaide and link again our two peoples not just based on trade, tourism, education but also our common heritage. Both Penang and Adelaide share the same forbears. Captain Francis Light founded Penang in 1786 whilst his son, Colonel William Light, founded Adelaide exactly 50 years later. Colonel William Light’s mother is a native Malay and it is this cultural ties that bonds our people by blood.

For nearly 225 years for Penang and 175 years for Adelaide, both cities took divergent paths yet tested by time and driven by shared values of respect of diversity that endured till this day. 30 years ago when I first came to Adelaide, there were still some vestiges of the racist White Australian policy. Today, Adelaide is one of the most multi-cultural and multi-racial city in Australia.

Similarly, George Town and Penang has nearly 225 years of experience in living together in harmony and respect amongst the different ethnic groups and cultures symbolised by mosques, churches, Indian temples and Chinese temples built near to each other. This tradition of harmony and mutual respect was recognised by UNESCO when George Town was awarded World Heritage City status on 7.7.2008.

Let us not be stuck in the past of neglect and indifference. Many of your leaders have been to Penang. However that was a long time ago. We need to rekindle our memory and renew our ties. You have so much to offer in your expertise and experience. In return we offer our energy, entrepreneurship and willingness to learn.

Penang is willing to embrace the future. For this reason Penang aspires to transform ourselves into an international and intelligent city as this is the only route to survival in the globalised world. As a state without any natural resources, we need to build up our human capital by training, retraining, retaining and attracting new human talents.

Penang has no choice but to be an intelligent city centered on high technology, high-value addee and knowledge intensive economy. My government shall formulate policies that both encourages and engenders innovation that permits us to join the race to the top. We hope to learn from Adelaide’s successes. In return we offer the opportunity for Adelaide to tap in to the most happening and livable city in Malaysia.

The revival of the Adelaide Week in Penang and Penang Week in Adelaide next year will be serve as a catalyst to forging not just government-to-government ties but also closer people-to-people contacts between both cities.

DAP is against any form of hate crime, racism and extreme religious act whether it is committed locally or internationally. We stand for dialogues, consultation and debates rather than violence and extremism.

We call on all Malaysians regardless of race and religion to condemn this dangerous and moronic act of desecrating copies of the holy book of Quran. The American authorities must prevent this proposed burning of the Quran from happening so as not to inflame sentiments amongst Muslims especially when they are celebrating the holy Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

The American pastor Terry Jones had claimed that he wanted to “to send a message to radical Islam that we will not tolerate their behavior.” However, he is mistaking the tree for the forest. His ridiculous plan will not only anger Muslims globally. drive moderate Muslims away and also distort the peaceful image of Christianity that preaches love and respects all faiths.

While terrorism, whether committed by religious fanatics or by state sponsorship, must be condemned; the idea of burning the Quran – the holy book for more than a billion Muslims all over the world – is just outrageous and unacceptable.

DAP feels that the proper way to commemorate the anniversary of the 911 attacks “is to offer solidarity with those affected by the attacks and pray for them” by ensuring that it will never be repeated again.

I am confident that all Christians as well as people of different faiths in Malaysia will honour the memory of those who perished on September 11 with prayers, solidarity and a common resolve towards peace, justice and respect in a shared society. We must also strengthen our resolve to combat terrorism and violence committed in the name of religion.

To Muslims in Malaysia and everywhere else, we offer our sincere friendship and solidarity against any form of attacks on the sacred faith. May these holy months of Ramadan and Syawal bring us peace, joy and love. Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

The Israeli army attacked a convoy of ships known as the “Freedom Flotilla” in international waters, about 65km off Gaza. The ambush killed more than 10 activists and injured at least 30 others on the ships which were heading for Gaza to deliver 10,000 tones of humanitarian aid.

The Chief Minister and the Honourary Consuls join concerned Malaysians and citizens of the world to strongly denounce the atrocity committed by the Israeli armed forces.

There is no justification for any armed attack against unarmed civilian activists on humanitarian mission. Members of the mission include elected officials, journalists and human rights activists from around the world.

We urge the United Nations Security Council to not only join the world in deploring this despicable violence but urges that appropriate action be taken to punish Israel.

In the meantime, we send our condolences to the families of the deceased and pray for the safety of the other members of the Freedom Flotilla.

May justice and peace prevail in the Middle East and the world.

As Malaysia welcomes the visit of China’s President Hu Jin Tao on 10-11 November, no one needs to be reminded how critically important China is both to Malaysia and China when President Jiang Ze Min last visited 15 years ago. China’s successful staging of the most impressive Olympics ever in 2008, her sporting prowess, huge engineering feats of the Three Gorges Dam or the 1,142 km highest railway track in the world and her space exploits all pale into insignificance compared to her USD 2.3 trillion in foreign reserves and economic achievements.

World Bank and International Monetary Fund(IMF) has predicted that China is poised to become the 2nd largest economy in the world overtaking Japan by 2010. China has become Malaysia’s biggest trading partner this year, surpassing Singapore, the United States and Japan. Between January and September this year, bilateral trade reached RM89 billion, accounting for nearly 13 per cent of Malaysia’s total trade during the period, according to Malaysian official trade figures.

Most important is that China is seen as the economic saviour to help pull the world out from the global economic recession. This is indeed a breathtaking economic journey for China that as recent as 30 years ago had minimal trade with Malaysia and was widely derided as the economic sick man of Asia. How did China manage this amazing transformation from an economic basket case to an economic superpower?

There was no doubt that quality leadership is a necessary condition for success. China was fortunate to have the required leadership in its critical moments of history. Leadership that was inspired, leadership that was intelligent and most important of all leadership with integrity such as Deng Xiao Peng, Ziang Ze Mi, Zhu Rong Ji and Hu Jin Tao.

Possessing 3Is leadership that is inspired, intelligent and integrity is a necessary condition but not a sufficient condition. The right policies must be formulated and put in place. Correct public policies are the sufficient conditions for economic success.

China had leadership that is inspired, intelligent and integrity in Deng Ziao Peng who liberalised the economy and opened up China thereby liberating the potential and opportunities of hundreds of millions of China; in Ziang Zemin who provided a steady hand in accelerating economic growth and allowed Zhu Rong Ji to pursue his commitment to fighting corruption; and finally in Hu Jin Tao who continued all those policies but also sought balanced development and forging a harmonious society.

The question now is whether this level of economic growth can be sustained to allow China to realise her potential of surpassing USA and become the largest economy in the world as early as 2027? China appears to have focused on 6 key economic and social policy areas that intentionally or otherwise allowed her to sustain her economic success. One, openness not in economic terms but in pursuit of knowledge. This is characterised by a purposeful and determined willingness not to be bound by dogma but to learn from successful models combined with willingness to explore, experiment and progress through change.

Two, a people-centric approach through continuous emphasis and engagement with China’s vast population by emphasizing education over propaganda, competency over political background and excellence over indoctrination. Whilst China natural resources may have helped, there is no dispute that the energy, expertise and entrepreneurship of its people were the critical success factors.

Three, seeking social cohesion and inclusion to achieve a harmonious society. Hu Jin Tao’s call for a harmonious society is a recognition that violence and repression can not bring peace, social order and unity.

Four, unbalanced growth must be compensated by the provision of development and social services that is inclusive – accessible, available and affordable to everyone. Efforts to develop China’s inner region have not stopped continued growth of the coastal areas. Provision of developmental assistance has helped to reduce the grievances of those regions left out.

Five, seeking new sources of growth such as a green economy. Green economy refers to a sustained growth model which features environment-friendly technologies, renewable energy resources and low carbon emissions. China has been building up hydro, nuclear, solar and wind power capacities in a bid to increase renewable energy consumption to 10% by 2010 and 15% by 2020. By 2008, China had the largest wind turbines fleet in Asia, with a total power-generating capacity of 12.21 million kilowatts, which is ranked the fourth in the world. Almost 40 percent of China’s 4 trillion-yuan (586 billion U.S. dollars) economic stimulus package had gone to green projects.

Six, a determined effort to brand China as synonymous with quality, safety, reliability and with peaceful intentions. Only the best and fittest survive in the marketplace. By projecting China’s peaceful intentions of offering overseas assistance and humanitarian aid not tied to any conditionalities provides a contrast to the western powers. Many times I have heard from African nations’ displeasure at the West for its lecturing and patronising attitude especially of the need to comply with IMF guidelines. The Africans nations’ unhappiness is complete at the perceived hypocrisy of the West in not following its own advice when dealing with the collapse of the financial system.

China’s progress to the top of the economic ladder is by no means assured. There are still many problems and critical junctions to navigate in relation to democracy, human rights, peaceful intentions, environmental degradation, health, rule of law and corruption. Despite having the 2nd largest economy its 2008 per capita income using purchasing power parity, China was ranked 133th at a paltry USD 6,000, behind Turkmenistan, El Salvador and Namibia.

However there is no doubt that in Napoleon’s words that the dragon has awoken and that China can take pride in its peaceful transformation into an economic powerhouse. China’s challenge at the next stage is to sustain its success and retain its dynamism. Perhaps with the confidence of its economic success, China’ rulers can muster their faith and trust in their people to “let a hundred flowers bloom and a hundred schools contend”.

The Penang State Government wishes to reaffirm our state’s policy of maintaining our investor friendly policies and sound relationship with all the Multinational Companies (MNCs) in the state, especially those from USA. We value such investments which have benefited both parties in the form of profits and employment opportunities.

The recent presence of the Penang Chief Minister of Penang at the demonstration at Kapitan Keling Mosque is to reaffirm the state government’s stand against the Israeli aggression on the Palestinian in Gaza. Also, the state government hopes that the American government will not continue to give blind support to the Israeli Government to oppress the Palestinians and will use its influence to get Israel to comply the UN Security Council resolution of a immediate ceasefire and withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.

In condemning the American government’s complicity in asserting Israeli aggression, the Penang state government stresses that we are not against the American people. There are Americans who are opposed to the Israeli aggression and the American Government’s foreign policies under George Bush. Dissatisfaction with such policies has resulted in Barak Obama winning the last Presidential Elections and Obama gives the hope to the world for a just , balanced and peaceful settlement of the Middle East crisis.

The Penang state government is not involved in any boycott of US goods or companies and have no intention of doing so. Any Malaysian who wishes to conduct any boycott of any products is within his rights, in consonant with democratic principles of right to choose or not to choose.

The Penang state government will continue to welcome all investors into Penang, including American companies. We repeat that the Penang state government has not endorsed any boycott of American made products whether or not they are manufactured in Penang.