2013 Penang Christmas Day Message By Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng In Komtar, George Town On 24.12.2013.
The Penang state government reaffirms CAT governance of competency, accountability and transparency that upgrades budget-based to outcome-based administration that ensures economic growth(pro-growth), employment opportunities(pro-jobs) and equitable justice(pro-poor). Penang has neither been distracted nor detracted from seeking sustainable growth that provides jobs for Malaysians.
There is growing concern at the increased unemployment rate in Malaysia announced by the Department of Statistics at 3.3% in October 2013, up 0.2 percentage point from the 3.1% in September this year. October 2013 saw an increase of the unemployed by 19,100 persons to 462,300 persons, and there was a drop of employed persons by 98,500 to 13.70 million people.
Despite the rise in unemployment rate in Malaysia, Penang continues to see not just full employment but a shortage of at least 20,000 workers. Penang’s recent successes in securing several critical foreign direct investments, which will be followed by important announcements next month, will fulfil the pro-growth and pro-jobs objectives of the Penang PR state government.
The budget-based administration implemented by PR since 2008 has led to a healthy budget surplus every year, increase in state’s assets by 50% to RM 1.2 billion and a reduction in state debt by a record 95%. Again, investments was a record RM 36.1 billion for 5 years from 2008-2012, which is nearly double that compared to RM18.7 billion from 2003-7. This was achieved through fighting corruption, establishing integrity in public service and open competitive tenders.
Moving towards outcome-based administration in the second term of government, focuses on getting value-for-money for government expenditure that will not only assist in reducing maintenance costs but also ensure better quality in the public delivery of services. This will go a long way towards achieving a cleaner, greener, safer and healthier Penang.
However the poor, the weak and those who need help are not forgotten. Penang is not only the first state to give cash contributions to ordinary citizens as part of the anti-corruption dividend but also the first state in Malaysian history to wipe out corruption. Adopting the unconditional cash transfer or UCT model of topping up all families whose monthly household incomes are below the poverty line of RM 790 per month, Penang is free from poverty.
First-time buyers and middle-income groups seeking to buy houses will benefit from the 3-prong housing democracy strategy of:-
Compelling private developers to build a fixed percentage of affordable housing(above RM72,500 but below RM250,000 on the mainland and below RM400,000 on the island) and public housing(below RM72,500);
Building 20,000 units of affordable housing through Penang Development Corporation(PDC); and
Implementing new housing rules after 1 February 2014 of a 10 year restrictions on resale on public housing and 5-year restriction on affordable housing, an approval fee of 3% on foreign transactions and a 2% approval fee of all sales made within 3 years from signing of the Sales & Purchase Agreement.
Just as Christmas is celebrated to give life to all, Penang can only prosper if everyone regardless of race or religion can enjoy the fruits of success together.
Penang is also proud to offer fundamental rights such as freedom of speech and expression. As the art and cultural capital of Malaysia, Penang celebrates the right to live with dignity in an inclusive society. As Nelson Mandela said, “.For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.”
Lim Guan Eng
—–Mandarin Version —-
槟州首席部长林冠英于2013年12月24日在乔治市发表圣诞节献词，重点如下：
重新确定能干、公信及透明的施政方针，将预算基础提升至成果基础的行政，确保经济成长、就业机会及公正正义。
槟州政府重新确定能干、公信及透明的施政方针，将预算基础提升至成果基础的行政，确保经济成长、就业机会及公正正义。槟州一直都在努力追求永续成长，为人民创造就业机会。
马来西亚统计局公布我国的失业率在2013年10月达3.3%，比今年9月的3.1%上升了0.2%，这种情况令人担忧。2013年10月，失业人数从1万9100人增加至46万2300人，受雇人士从9万8500人增加至1370万人。
尽管马来西亚失业率上升，槟城不只几乎全民用雇，而且还有2万劳工的空缺。槟城近年来成功留住并招来重要的外国直接投资，包括下个月还会有重要宣布，都将实现槟州民联政府的亲成长、亲就业机会的目标。
民联自2008开始进行以预算为基础行政管理，成果就是我们的财政预算年年有余，州政府的资产增加50%达12亿令吉，州的债务也缩减了95%。2008至2012年，连续五年槟州投资额达361亿令吉，比2003至2007年增加两倍达187亿令吉，我们的成就来自肃贪、公共服务的廉正及公开招标。
我们在第二任期将迈向成果基础的行政策理，把焦点放在“物有所值”的政府开销，不只能够协助减少维修成本，也能确保公共传递服务的素质。这也能促进槟城净、绿、安、康。
但是，我们也没忘记贫、弱及需要帮助的群体。槟城不只是第一个利用“反贪红利”发放现金援助的州属，也是我国史上第一个扫除贪污的州属。我们无条件转移现金或加额补贴所有月入低入790令吉的家庭，让槟城脱离贫穷州。
我们三管齐下，让第一次购屋者及中等收入阶段可以从中受惠：
规定发展商兴建固定数量的可负担房屋（在威省介于7万2500令吉及25万令吉，槟岛低于40万令吉）及公共房屋（低于7万2500令吉）；
通过槟州发展机构兴建2万个可负担房屋。
在2014年2月1日开始实行公共房屋10年不可公开买卖管制以及可负担房屋的5年不可公开买卖管制，向外国人征收购屋价3%的批准费（approval），向三年内出售的所有产业征收2%购屋价批准费，以买卖合约为准。
正如圣诞节是庆祝赋予生命的日子，槟州唯有在不分种族及宗教都有繁荣与共时，槟城才能昌盛。
槟城也很荣幸，能让人民实践基本权利如言论自由。做为我国的艺术及文化首府，槟城发扬能够在包容性社会生活得有尊严的权利。已故前南非总统曼德拉说“自由不仅仅意味着摆脱自身的枷锁，还意味着以一种尊重并增加他人自由的方式生活。”
林冠英