2014 Penang State Government Christmas Message By Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng In Komtar, George Town On 24.12.2014.
This Christmas is a most challenging one as it forces Malaysians to choose between two groups, one comprising politicians and opportunists against another group comprising political leaders and statesmen. The former take the easy way out by spewing out hatred and lies to preach extremism and racism whilst the latter takes the difficult approach of adopting the straight line by advocating moderation, justice, freedom and democracy.
Non-Muslims and moderate Muslims have courageously stood together for moderation against forces of extremism. For the fight for moderation over extremism to succeed, we need to show that justice only has meaning when there is also justice for the poor, voiceless, ill and the weak.
Freedom is not limited to freedom of the arts or expression but only exists when every person has the freedom of opportunity to fully realise their potential and be the best they want to be. Democracy does not work when it is restricted to holding elections once every five years when we elect our leaders but is continuous daily and includes local government elections, not just state assemblyman or Members of Parliament.
Penang must prosper to prove the success of embracing moderation together with justice, freedom, and democracy as a basis of good governance. This year our investment figures of RM6 billion for the first nine months of 2014 have exceeded the RM3.9 billion for the entire year of 2013. Since PR took power in 2008, Penang has attracted investments of RM40 billion for the 6 year period between 2008-2013, which is 90% higher as compared to RM21 billion for the corresponding period between 2002-2007.
Income inequality has improved by comparing Penang’s Gini Coefficient that has improved by 12% from 0.42 in 2009 to 0.37 in 2012. Penang has also dealt with the twin challenges of providing adequate affordable and public housing. In fact Penang PR state government’s efforts has resulted in Penang as the only state in Malaysia offering an almost adequate amount of low-cost housing proportionate to its population. The Malaysian average if 5.5% while Penang is at 13.15% of low-cost unit over total population.
Finally, even though the Federal government’s stubborn refusal to fulfil its promise to establish a public transport network or even approve the state government’s application for a license has once again broken its promise and contributed towards severe traffic congestion. The unexpected positive feedback to Penang state government’s RM 27 billon Penang Transport Master Plan has however given some optimism that a solution may be in sight.
LIM GUAN ENG
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槟城州首席部长林冠英于2014年12月24日在乔治市光大发表的2014年圣诞节献词
槟城必须要证明秉持温和、正义、自由与民主作为良好施政的基础，才能带来繁荣昌盛。
今年的圣诞节最充满挑战，因为马来西亚人被迫必须在政客及机会主义集团与政治领袖及政治家两方阵营中作出抉择。前者采取捷径，脱口而出尽是憎恨与谎话的极端主义与种族主义言论，后者采纳笔直但艰难之道，秉持温和、正义、自由及民主。
非穆斯林及温和派穆斯林有勇气站在一起反对极端主义的压迫。我们必须起而为贫困者、无声者、病痛者及弱势群体伸张正义，正义才有意义，温和才能战胜极端主义。
自由不仅仅只是艺术或言论自由，唯有每个人拥有获取机会的自由，完全发现自己的潜能，成就自己所向往，最棒的一个人，这才是自由存在的意义。民主不是只局限在每5年举行选举或选出我们的领袖而已，民主是每天都在存续，不只要选出州议员或国会议员，也应该包括地方政府选举。
槟城必须要证明秉持温和、正义、自由与民主作为良好施政的基础，才能带来繁荣昌盛。今年槟州所吸引的投资额在前9个月达到60亿令吉，超越了2013年一整年的39亿令吉。自从2008年民联执政以来，槟城已经在2008年至2013年，6年间吸引了400亿令吉的投资额，这比2002年至2007年前6年的210亿令吉投资额高出达90%。
槟城收入不均的情况逐年获得了改善，根据槟城的基尼系数，从2009年的0.42减少到2012的0.37，改善了12%。槟城也担负2项挑战就是提供足够的可负担房屋及公共房屋。在透过槟城民联政府的努力之下，其实槟城是全马来西亚唯一能对其一州人口提供足够比例廉价房屋的州属。全马提供廉价房屋的人口平均比例是5.5%，槟城提供廉价房屋的人口比例则高达13.15%。
最后，联邦政府虽然固执的拒绝履行其承诺在槟城建立公共交通运输网，甚至拒绝让州政府申请公共运输执照，违背了其承诺要解决严重的交通阻塞，但槟州政府270亿令吉的《槟州交通大蓝图计划》，则预料之外收到了各方正面回馈，乐观的话或许将能看到一些解决之道的曙光。
林冠英