In saying our long goodbye to the Year of the Rat, we are inspired by momentous local and international events.People everywhere wanted to be inspired by democracy that empowered ordinary citizens and not corrupted by the rich elite. Malaysia was transformed by the political tsunami of March 8 when voters denied BN its two-thirds majority and gave Pakatan Rakyat 5 state governments. America transformed the world by electing a black man as President teaching the world that the content of character is more important than the colour of our skin. These political tsunamis were followed by the economic tsunami of a global economic recession.
As we usher in the year of the Bull, let us give ourselves to the hope of change. That we can begin the transformation of of Penang into an international city and the government into a people-centric, CAT(Competent, Accountable and Transparent) and ethical administration that is pro-growth, pro-jobs and pro-poor. The Year of the Bull brings many economic uncertainties. But as long as we believe in our own and each other abilities we can overcome these economic challenges. Like the strength, dynamism and dedication of the bull, never underestimate the energy, expertise and entrepreneurship of the people of Penang. Let us grow together, learn together face obstacles together so that we can enjoy the fruits together.
Aspirations without accomplishments mean nothing. That is why we have always stressed that to accomplish change, it must be change that the people can see, and change the people can touch and change the people can feel.
In the 10 months of the new Pakatan Rakyat state administration, we have seen the change in our investments double 2007 RM 4.7 billon to RM 9.5 billion. We have seen the change in the revival of Komtar that has been brought back to life from the sleepy half dead existence.. We can see the change of putting up bilingual signboards when there was none before.
We can touch the change in the restoration of free CAT bus services in Georgetown. We can touch the change in our notebook with the Penang@wireless initiative of providing free WiFi and WiMAX at affordable prices in certain hotspots. We can touch the change in free tender on government procurement through the internet with our e-tender replacing “political cables” with “computer cables”
We can feel the change in running a CAT government that takes action against waste, abuse of power and corruption. We can feel the change in promotion of education with the institutionalization of funding for partially-assisted schools such as Sekolah Agama Rakyat, Chinese primary schools, Tamil primary Schools, Chinese independent Chinese schools, mission schools and national type secondary schools. We can feel the change of a caring government with RM 100 given to each of the 170,000 families in Penang and aid to the poor.
Malaysians must continue to be inspired by hope and hold on to aspirations of a better Malaysians. In celebrating the auspicious Reunion Dinner with our family and loved ones, we must not forget the poor and have compassion for the unfortunate and ill. Most important of all, we must harness the potential of our future generations so that they have equal opportunity of education and employment. Only by committing our future to human resources development and encouraging the talented ones, can we have hope and succeed. Choose the best so that we can be on top of the rest to achieve progress and prosperity.
A Happy, Healthy and Wealthy New Year. Gong Xi Fa Cai.
Thank you for bringing us hope! May all Penangites pull together for a better future for all. I look forward to seeing what Penangites can achieve in these coming years, to establish our state as a class above the rest!
Happy Chinese New Year, YB Lim and to all in your administration. Thank you, every one of you at all levels, for your hardwork and commitment.
May the year of the Ox bring an end to incompetency, inefficiency, corruption, cronyism, lies, narrow-mindedness, petty squabbling and cruel injustice. Let us look forward to greater freedom of the mind, press and enlightened nation!
Happy Chinese New Year! I was at Han Chiang High School open field when DAP members and yourself in particular gave inspirational speeched on the eve of the March 8 2008 Election. Needless to say, I went on to vote for DAP in both the state and federal constituencies. I’m happy to see the changes that are indeed taking place in Penang after you take over. I would like to believe that you really care for the development of Penang.
I’ve been working in Penang for the past 10 years ever since I graduated from Australia. A lot of my friends kept on wondering why I didn’t want to stay and work in Australia. My answer to them is very simple, I always wanted to contribute something to my hometown. But I guess in a current materialistic and realistic world, none of them understand what I meant.
I am an architect by profession and have managed to design a few buildings and interior design for Penang. However, after 10 years in the industry, I couldn’t see much potential of me staying put in Penang no matter how much I love the place. Maybe because we are still a developing economies and that’s why our hard ward did not paid off proportionately. Due to survival and financial reason, I decided to look for potential career in Singapore.
Although I’m in Singapore right now, I constantly keep myself in touch with the development in Penang. I still try to do my best in promoting Penang wherever I go through my blog.
I wish you all the best and looking forward for Penang to be a global city one day!
Do visit my blog:
http://archi-keat.blogspot.com/