Opening Speech By DAP Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng At The 2015 Penang State Ordinary Convention In Equatorial Hotel On 29.11.2015.
The Penang Story Of Good Governance Delivering A Clean, Green, Safe And Healthy State Provides A Platform For A Malaysia That Is Free From Corruption, Free From Discrimination Based On Racist Chauvinism And Extremism, Free From Abuses Of Power And Injustices As Well As Free From Economic Stagnation.
Let me warmly welcome all members and delegates to the 2015 State Ordinary Convention and congratulate all, for your love and support for the party and state leadership, that has enabled DAP to grow as a Malaysian party and provide that stability for us to govern Penang well. I wish to also thank all for your contributions to the state government that has enabled us to prove to the people that a clean government can perform better than a dirty and corrupt government.
We gather today at an important meeting of our Penang party delegates with the eyes of the nation focused on how we face the ferocious attacks and lies by our political opponents and the BN-controlled media seeking to destroy not only our party but also our government. Never is there such intense media scrutiny with record number of outstation media present today.
I believe that the delegates and members today will provide an answer – that our members, our family that is the DAP, will stand together united against those who seek to destroy us. We in the DAP are not like UMNO, where their President and the Deputy President fight against each other. Here is our DAP family we support each other. Sdr Chow Kon Yeow has supported me as DAP Secretary-General and Penang Chief Minister whilst I have supported him as Penang DAP Chairman and senior state EXCO member – essential to the success of Penang DAP and Penang state government.
We in the DAP are not like MCA, who dare not even support their former President Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik, who is facing a legal suit by the Prime Minister merely for asking Datuk Seri Najib to resign. Instead we in the DAP give full undivided support to our political mentor, Sdr Lim Kit Siang, who was kicked out of Parliament for speaking up on the 1MDB RM42 billion and the RM2.6 billion donation scandal.
Together under first Pakatan Rakyat, then under Pakatan Harapan, we have shown a model of governance that is superior to BN. The Penang Story of good governance delivering a clean, green, safe and healthy state provides a platform for a Malaysia that is free from corruption, free from discrimination based on racist chauvinism and extremism, free from abuses of power and injustices as well as free from economic stagnation
Bankruptcy Is Not In The Public Interest
DAP, as a party and a government, will always defend public interest. There are those who claim that by approving 60 acres of reclaimed land, we no longer defend public interest, conveniently overlooking and forgiving BN for approving 3,241 acres of reclaimed land. In their haste to attack us, they fail to mention how much the Penang people was cheated that BN approved some of the reclaimed land as low as RM1 per square feet – a price so low that we have to go as far back as 1786 when Captain Francis Light first landed in Penang
We are even condemned for refusing to postpone new reclamation, again conveniently forgetting that out of 3,241 acres of reclaimed land approved by BN, only 744 acres have been reclaimed. Nearly 2,500 acres are awaiting to be newly reclaimed.
We can postpone the reclamation of the balance of 2,500 acres but we would have to pay compensation amounting to RM1 billion and driving the state into bankruptcy. Bankruptcy is definitely not in the public interest.
Now UMNO claims that their proposal to postpone reclamation does not include BN-approved reclamation projects. If so, I challenge UMNO to put in a motion providing an indemnity from the Federal government to pay back-to-back any compensation to be paid by the state government for postponing such reclamation projects.
I would definitely support such a motion by UMNO provided there is an indemnity clause from the Federal government.
Of course there are those who do not care whether the Penang state government goes bankrupt provided we defend the public interest. This is irresponsible. DAP and the Pakatan Harapan Penang state government will never allow Penang to face the risk of going bankrupt. This threat of bankruptcy is very real due to the mismanagement and abuses of power by the previous BN state government.
The present Penang state government has undergone the bitter and painful experience of paying RM 14.7 million(still unrecovered) for the Tang Hak Ju land scandal incurred by BN and another RM20 million to Boustead Holdings Bhd for reducing the height of their hotel in George Town to 5 storeys from the 12 storeys approved by BN.
If these payments are bad, the worst is yet to come. All this payouts are nothing compared to legal suits faced by our Pakatan Harapan government involving land scandals of huge proportions committed by the previous BN state government. The state government is now appealing at the higher courts and we are determined not to allow Penang to go bankrupt.
Consequences of Bankruptcy Unimaginable.
Imagine what would have happened if Penang goes bankrupt. Our Penang state Golden Programmes of RM100 yearly payouts to senior citizens, single mothers, disabled, primary school students and working mothers as well as RM200 for a new-born child will have to be discontinued. So too the RM1,000 one-off payments to university students, beneficiaries of senior citizens, single mothers and disabled. Not to forget the RM600 yearly payouts to taxi drivers, RM1,200 yearly to trishaw-riders and fishing nets to fishermen twice a year.
Even our poverty eradication programme of unconditional cash transfers under the Equitable Economic Agenda by ensuring every household will get RM790 monthly will have to be scrapped. This has helped Penang to record the lowest income inequality in the country, with our Gini coefficient dropping from 0.42 in 2009 to 0.37 in 2012, as compared to the national average of 0.41.
Our green efforts will also falter. We are proud to lead Malaysia in green initiatives, compliance with environmental safeguards and protection such as Detailed Environment Impact Assessment(DEIA) studies and no development above 250 feet as compared to the national height limit of 500 feet. Penang is the only state that practices “no free plastic bags”. Penang also ban polystyrene boxes and shark-fins served at government functions. Penang also have no-smoking areas, car free days, bicycle lanes and most important of all the highest recycling rate in Malaysia of 32% that far exceeds the national average of 12%. Bankruptcy will break our dreams of being the first green state in Malaysia.
And our annual allocations to vernacular and religious schools of RM12 million will also end, denying much needed allocation to these long-neglected schools that has seen improved facilities over the last 7 years for students. Finally our financial support for the German dual vocational training, where students are paid to study, will also end. As a result of our inclusive growth, Penang records the lowest unemployment rate of 1.7%. The state government is funding tuition fees for the German vocational training students, where the companies also pay them a monthly stipend of RM1,000.
Avoiding bankruptcy is therefore paramount if we are to continue with our objective of making Penang a sustainable welfare state. That is why we prefer to be condemned for avoiding bankruptcy. We govern the world as it is and try to improve on it and not govern the world as we wish it to be. A very good example is Udini roundabout, instead of tearing it down to relieve traffic congestion, we improved on it. This is how we run Penang, not tearing everything down but continuous improvement to maximize public interest.
Penang Does Not Need GST To Record Budget Surpluses, Why Not Malaysia?
Penang is our model for Malaysia – an entrepreneurial state with inclusive growth, sustainable development and welfare state. We have proven that we do not need the GST to find sources of revenue.
Penang recorded annual surpluses every year and our accumulated surpluses during the last 7 years from 2008-2014 amounting to RM503 million exceeded the RM 373 million accumulated over 50 years from 1957-2007. At the same time our debt has been reduced by 90% since 2008. Penang does not need GST to record budget surpluses, why not Malaysia?
Our country needs to be desperately rescued from the misrule and failed policies of BN. The present government has run out of ideas to move the country forward and is only focused on survival following the expose of the RM 42 billion 1MDB and RM 2.6 billion donation scandal. Our ringgit is still stuck at RM4.20-4.40 to 1US and the hated GST of 6% still remains because BN has run out of funds. Our federal government debt has ballooned by more than twice from RM266 billion at end of 2007 to RM800 billion now, including contingent liabilities.
The 1MDB scandal can never be resolved. Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad asked how the sale of 1MDB’s Edra Global Energy Bhd to China General Nuclear Power Corporation (CGN) would reduce 1MDB’s debts between RM16 billion to RM18 billion.
According to Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua, 1MDB bought their power plants for RM12.1 billion in 2012. This purchase included inherited RM 8 billion of debt to be borne by 1MDB. 1MDB sold their power plants via Edra Global for RM9.83 billion, where the inherited debts of RM 8 billion is also borne by the Chinese buyer. In other words, this sale by 1MDB represents a RM 2.27 billion loss to 1MDB.
However that is not all. To finance the RM 12.1 billion purchase of Edra, 1MDB borrowed RM 22 billion. By selling Edra for RM 9.83 billion, there’s still RM 12 billion of debt left in 1MDB’s books without any more corresponding energy assets left in 1MDB. Can 1MDB or the Prime Minister explain where the RM12 billion go? Tun Dr Mahathir is right – how does the sale reduces 1MDB’s debt?
Whilst Penangites may be thankful that BN is not ruling Penang the way they are ruling Malaysia, we need to rescue our country and economy to give hope and a brighter future for your young.
DAP is celebrating our 50th anniversary next year. We survived this long because we are able to differentiate our friends from our enemies. Differentiate between principles which are permanent and friends who are not.
DAP is proud that we have never joined BN. Neither do we confuse our role as an opposition party to BN by wanting to become BN’s advisor. And yet there are some so confused as to how BN has played them out, cheated them and even oppressed their members and leaders mercilessly in past that they still yearn to be working together with UMNO and BN.
I wish to echo Sdr Chow’s call to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the party by paying tribute to all our party members and leaders, the past and the present for their sacrifices and never stop believing in the DAP. You have make us proud and together we shall work harder as one team to make you and the people of Penang hold your head up with dignity.
Whatever the challenges, we the present state leadership, government leaders in Penang, Parliament and state elected representatives believe that together we shall overcome and succeed in Penang and Malaysia, because of one important character of DAP – we are clean and not corrupt!
Hidup DAP, Hidup Pakatan Harapan, Hidup Rakyat!
LIM GUAN ENG
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民主行动党秘书长于2015年11月29日在贵都酒店举行的槟州行动党大会的开幕讲稿。
槟城良好施政所带来的清洁、绿化、安全及健康提供了马来西亚一个可以免于贪污、免于种族沙文主义及极端主义歧视、免于滥权、不公义及免于经济不景气。
在此我要感谢全体出席2015年大会的党员与代表，我也要恭贺大家，因大家的厚爱与支持，让民主行动党有能力成长为马来西亚人的政党，并提供一个稳定的环境让我们能良好的治理槟城。我也要感谢大家支持州政府，让我们能向人民证明，一个清廉的政府比一个肮脏的贪污政府表现更好。
我们的槟城党代表们今天在此汇聚一堂进行重要的会议，全国正在聚焦于此，看着我们如何面对政敌的恶劣攻击及国阵所控制媒体如何尝试摧毁我们的政党与政府。今天连外坡媒体也出席，从来没有如此踊跃的聚焦于此。
我相信，今天所有代表及党员将会提供他们一个答案，那就是行动党及行动党党员，我们是一个大家庭，我们将团结一致反抗要摧毁我们的人。我们行动党不像巫统一样，巫统主席与署理主席互斗。我们在这里的行动党大家庭，大家一起互相扶持。曹观友同志支持我作为行动党秘书长及槟城州首席部长，我也一样支持曹观友同志作为槟行动党主席及槟城州高级行政议员，这是槟城行动党及槟城州政府成功的重要基石。
我们行动党人也不像马华，他们的前总会长敦林良实因为要求首相辞职，就被首相纳吉控告毁谤，马华却不敢支持捍卫他们前总会长。相反，行动党全体不分你我支持我们行动党政治精神领袖林吉祥同志，林吉祥同志因为敢言质询一马公司420亿令吉及26亿令吉的捐献丑闻而被踢出国会。
从我们之前组成民联，再到组成希联，我们成功展示了一个比国阵还优秀的施政模式。
槟城良好施政所带来的清洁、绿化、安全及健康提供了马来西亚一个可以免于贪污、免于种族沙文主义及极端主义歧视、免于滥权、不公义及免于经济不景气。
破产不是公众利益
行动党，作为一个政党及执政党，一直捍卫公众利益。有些人认为我们批准了60英亩的填海地，就认为我们不再捍卫公众利益，他们可以轻易的就放过及原谅国阵批准了3千241英亩的填海地。在他们迫不及待对我们展开的攻击中，他们没有提出到底有多少槟城人被国阵所蒙骗，因为当中一些填海地国阵以每平方尺1令吉地价批准贱卖，我们得回到1786年当莱特船长刚踏足槟城的时候才能找到这种超低价格。
我们甚至因为拒绝展延新的填海地而受谴责，再次，他们又轻易忽略了前朝国阵所批准的3千241英亩填海地， 目前只有744英亩经已完成填海，还剩余新的2千500英亩面积有待填海。
在现有的合同法令下，州政府受制于前朝国阵政府所批准的填海计划。我们可以展延2千500英亩有待填海的填海面积，但我们可能将面对10亿令吉的高额赔偿，导致槟州破产。破产绝对不是在公众利益范畴之内。
如今巫统声称他们展延填海的动议并不包括国阵所批准的填海计划。若是如此，我要挑战巫统在动议里加上联邦政府提供州政府赔偿金保证，以应付展延上述的填海计划后必须接二连三的赔偿。
如果巫统能加上联邦政府提控赔偿金保证的条款，我绝对将会支持这项动议。
当然，有些人并不理会槟城州政府破产，只要我们捍卫公众利益。这是不负责任的。行动党及希联政府绝对不会让槟城面对破产的风险。因为前朝国阵的管理不当及滥权，这破产的威胁局面可是千真万确。
现任的槟城州政府经历了2次巨额赔偿的苦痛，第一项是国阵当年造成的陈合裕土地丑闻，现任州政府赔偿了1千470万令吉（仍然未能追收得回来），第二项是因国阵批准在乔治市建立12层酒店，因列入世界遗产只能减少至5层楼，现任政府必须赔偿2千万令吉给莫实德集团。
若觉得这些前朝导致的巨额赔偿很糟糕，更坏的还陆续有来。与目前希联州政府因为前朝国阵政府巨大的土地丑闻导致得面对法律诉讼一案相比，上述的赔偿又已经不算什么。州政府目前正在向高庭做出上诉，我们坚持不让槟城破产。
破产的后果难以想象
想象一下槟城破产将会是怎么一个光景。我们州政府的黄金福利援助计划，如100令吉回馈乐龄人士、单亲妈妈、残障人士、小学生及上班族妈妈，还有200令吉的快乐宝贝计划将会听罢。1000令吉给予大学新生、乐龄人士、残障人士及单亲妈妈往生抚恤金也无以为继。当然也别忘了每年600令吉给的士司机、1200令吉给三轮车夫及两年一次赠送渔网给渔民都将喊停。
甚至我们在公平经济议程所推行的确保州内家庭能有790令吉收入的消除贫穷计划也得取消。这项计划已经成功让槟城成为收入不均最低的州属。我们的基尼系数从2009年的0.42降低至0.37，相比全国的基尼系数是0.41。
我们的绿色政策的努力也将衰退。我们很骄傲能引领全马的绿色政策，坚守环境保护指南，如详细环境评估报告（DEIA）的研究，相较于国家标准的500尺限制，槟城不得发展超过250尺以上的山坡地。槟城也是唯一州属实施“没有免费塑胶袋”的政策、禁用保丽龙盒子及禁止在政府活动食用鱼翅。槟城也拥有禁烟区、无车日、脚车道，更重要的是槟城的再循环率全国最高，高达32%，远远超越12%的国家平均值。破产将让我们作为大马第一绿州的梦想幻灭。
我们每年制度化拨款1200万令吉给各母语、教会及宗教学校的政策也将终结。无可否认这些长期被忽略的学校需要更多拨款，但这七年来透过制度化拨款学生所使用的设施获得不少提升。最后，我们所援助，让学生能在获得薪酬下求学的德国技职双元课程也得结束。槟城的包容性成长，成功降低失业率至1.7%。州政府资助在德国技职双元课程的上课费用，而参与的厂商则每个月给予学员1000令吉。
避免破产是最重要的，唯有如此我们才能继续完成让槟城成为永续福利州属。因此我们宁可选择被谴责以避免破产。我们治理原有的世界，并且致力使其完善进步，而不是照着我们的意愿治理世界成为我们所欲。最好的例子就是乌迪尼路的交通圈，我们并没有拆掉该交通圈以解决交通阻塞，反而我们改善它周遭的动线。这就是我们如何治理槟城，不乱拆掉任何东西，但持续完善它，让公众利益极大化。
槟城不必靠消费税来获得财政盈余，何以马来西亚办不到？
槟城是马来西亚模范州属，是一个拥有包容成长、永续发展的创业州属，也是一个福利州。我们证明了我们并不需要靠消费税来开源。
槟城每年都财政盈余，我们过去2008至2014年，7年来所累积的盈余达到5亿300万令吉，超越1957至2007年，50年来所累计的3亿7300万令吉。同时，我们的债务也从2008年至今较少90%。槟城不必靠消费税来获得财政盈余，何以马来西亚办不到？
我们的国家极度需要从国阵的管理无方及失败的政策中被拯救出来。现今的政府已经无计可施让我们国家前进，只能汲汲于在一马公司420亿令吉及26亿令吉丑闻爆发后求存。我们的货币令吉还卡在4.20至4.40令吉兑1美元的低位，而可恨的6%消费税仍继续征收，因为国阵已经没钱。我们联邦政府的债务已经如气球暴涨了超过2倍，包括或有负债从2007年的2千660亿令吉暴涨至8000亿令吉。
一马公司丑闻可能永远无法解决。前首相问，一马公司售卖Edra全球能源公司给中国广核集团是如何能减少一马公司介于160亿令吉及180亿令吉之间的债务。
根据灵北国会议员潘俭伟透露，一马公司在2012年以121亿令吉收购发电厂。这项收购涵盖了的一马公司继承了发电厂80亿令吉的债务。一马公司如今以98亿3千万令吉以Edra全球能源公司的名义出售该发电厂，包括80亿令吉的债务也由中国继承。换句话说,一马公司这宗交易损失了22亿7千万令吉。
然而这还不是全部。当时121亿令吉收购Edra，一马公司借贷了220亿令吉。即使以98亿3千万令吉卖出了Edra，一马公司帐面上尚背有120亿令吉债务，但却已经没有任何能源资产留给一马公司。一马公司或首相能不能解释这120令吉债务去了哪里?敦马是对的，这笔交易是如何减少一马公司债务?
我们槟城人可要谢天谢地，国阵没有治理槟城如他们治理马来西亚一样。我们必须拯救我们的国家与经济，以带给我们的年轻人一个光明的未来。
行动党明年就已经是50周年。我们能生存这麽久，是因为我们能分辨孰友孰敌。更分得清原则能长存，朋友则否。
行动党对於我们绝不加入国阵感到自豪。我们可不会像有些人混淆到忘了自己是站在国阵对立的反对党角色，却又想要成为国阵的顾问。 他们忘了国阵曾经玩弄他们後弃之丶欺骗他们丶甚至残忍地迫害他们的党员及领袖，但他们仍然要跟巫统及国阵合作。
我要响应曹观友同志庆祝行动党50周年的呼吁，以向从以前至今在行动党里牺牲付出及坚持信念的所有党员及领袖致敬。在座各位让我们自豪，我们可以团结一致努力共同让你及槟城人有尊严的抬起头来。
不管任何挑战，我们现任的州领导层丶槟城州政府的领袖丶国会及州议会民选代表都坚信团结一致我们任何事都迎刃而解，并且在槟城及马来西亚取得成功，因为行动党拥有最重要的一项特质，那就是我们廉洁不贪污！
行动党万岁丶希望联盟万岁丶人民万岁！
林冠英