Penang State Government Chinese New Year Of The Snake Message By Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng In Komtar, George Town On 8.2.2013.
Relying On Penangites “Can Do” Spirit, Multi-racial Unity and Respect For Diversity To Overcome Challenges Such As Traffic Congestion, Affordable Housing And Building Human Talent To Realise Penang’s Aspirations of Being An International And Intelligent City.
These past 5 years have been filled with huge challenges for Penangites who took a leap of faith in an untested and unproven PR state government to chart a new future to bring about not only socio-economic justice but also prosperity, not only integrity in leadership but also good governance and not only public order but also freedom.
Despite enjoying new freedoms of speech and information as well as freedom to protest, Penang is now safer with the highest reduction in the crime index over the last 4 years. Penang has also proven that a clean CAT government(competency, accountability and transparency) can do better than a corrupt one. The yearly surplus budgets and huge reduction in state debts were achieved despite spending nearly 60% more in development funds to build more roads, more drains and more green parks.
Most important giving cash handouts of RM100 million over the last 5 years to the needy has not affected prosperity. Indeed for the first time in history Penang became the top investment location in Malaysia for 2 years running in 2010 and 2011 and the most livable city in Malaysia in 2011 and 2012. Penang is now a fairer and kinder place for the poor since the implementation of Agenda Ekonomi Saksama(AES) to become the first state in Malaysia to wipe out poverty by guaranteeing a minimum household income of RM 770 per month to all families as well as opening the first dialysis centre in Balik Pulau.
These successes were achieved through the energy, expertise and entrepreneurial spirit of Penangites. However these successes that brought in new businesses and people also raised new challenges, especially in dealing with issues of transport, public housing and building human talent. Whilst this is within the Federal government control, Penangites can not afford to follow the Federal government in doing nothing.
If the Federal government refuses to fulfill their promise to build a LRT or issue licenses for trams or buses, the state government is undertaking four separate highways including a 3rd underwater sea link between the island and the mainland to reduce traffic congestion. If the Federal government only offers to build 70 Projek Perumahan Rakyat(PPR) units in Penang, the state government will set up a RM500 million Affordable Housing Fund to build 19,172 affordable housing units.
If the Federal government ignores the brain drain, the state government will give yearly allocations to schools, attract world-class higher educational institutions and build Penang Learning Centres to provide remedial teaching to weak students. The state government will also make Penang a cultural heritage city that is clean, green safe and healthy to attract human talents. Green is not only in pro-active initiatives such as the no-plastic bag campaign but also closing down the giant Lee Rubber factory in Paya Terubong that had polluted the air for the last 20 years.
The state government will rely on Penangites multi-racial unity, respect for diversity and “can do” spirit to overcome these challenges especially traffic congestion, affordable housing and building human talent to realise Penang’s aspirations of being an international and intelligent city. Just as the poor is entitled to live with dignity, Penangites are entitled to have a hope of a brighter future where they can enjoy equal opportunities to realize their full potential and make their dreams come true.
HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR!
Lim Guan Eng
—Mandarin Version—-
槟州首席部长于2013年2月8日发表农历蛇年新春贺词：
凭着槟城人“做得到”的精神、多元种族的团结与尊重，让我们一起克服交通拥挤、可负担房屋及培育人才的挑战，以实现打造槟州成为国际智能都市的理想。
过去五年对槟州人民而言充满巨大的挑战，大家对完全没有执政经验的民联州政府信心倍增，掀开未来的新篇章，不只带来社会经济公义及繁荣、廉正领导及良好施政、社会秩序及自由。
尽管槟州人民享受新的言论及资讯自由以及抗议的自由，从过去4年罪案降幅最高来看槟州现有更安全。槟州也证明秉持能干、公信及透明能做得比贪腐的政府更好。我们的财政预算年年有余、州政府的债务也大幅度缩减，尽管我们花费将近60%在发展基金兴建公路、水沟及公园。
过去五年最重要的是我们派发1亿令吉的现金补助给有需要的人，这并不阻碍我们繁荣进步。槟州第一次成为马来西亚的投资首选地，在2010及2011年连续两年所获投资额居冠，并在2011年及2012年成为马来西亚最宜居的城市。自经济平等议程推展后，槟州现在对贫穷人民更公平及友善，我们成为全马第一个扫除贫穷的州属，确保家家户户的月入达770令吉，也在浮罗山背设立第一个洗肾中心。
这些成就是因为槟州人民的活力、专才及企业精神。但是，这些带来新生意、新居民的成就也导致新的挑战，特别是交通、住房及人才。虽然这三大挑战属于联邦政府的管辖范围，但是槟州人绝不坐以待毙，和联邦政府一样什么都不做。
如果联邦政府不愿意履行他们的承诺兴建轻快铁、或发出电车或巴士执照，州政府将兴建四条高速公路，包括第三条连接槟岛及大陆的海底隧道，以纾解交通阻塞。如果联邦政府的人民组屋计划只在槟州兴建70个单位，州政府就设立5亿令吉可负担房屋基金，兴建1万9172个可负担房屋单位。
如果联邦政府坐视人才外流，州政府将继续每年拨款给学校，吸引世界级高等教育机构前来，成立槟州学习中心为弱势学生提供辅助教材。州政府也将让槟州文化古城清洁、绿意、安全、健康以吸引人才。绿意不只是指推广无免费塑料袋这样的积极措施，也包括关闭污染空气近20年的垄尾南益树胶厂。
州政府将凭着槟城人“做得到”的精神、多元种族的团结与尊重，让我们一起克服交通拥挤、可负担房屋及培育人才的挑战，以实现打造槟州成为国际智能都市的理想。正如：贫穷人民也有权利活得有尊严、槟城人也有权利拥有对未来的希望，享受平等机会，实现潜能，让梦想成真。
新年快乐！兴啊！旺啊！发啊！
林冠英