Monthly Archive for March, 2013

The Penang Chief Minister Must Lead The People From The Front And Not From Behind UMNO:- I Will Contest Only One State Seat If Teng Chang Yeow Does Not Run Away But Recontest Padang Kota, Which He Previously Held For 3 Terms From 1995-2008.(en/bm/cn)

Published on March 31, 2013, 11:57 am in Parliament and Party. 0 Comments

Opening Speech By Penang Chief Minister And DAP Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng At The Official Launch Of The DAP Air Putih KADUN General Elections Operation Center In Air Putih, Penang On 31.3.3013.

BN Penang Chairman Teng Chang Yeow’s determination to run away from his own seat of Padang Kota is as clear as day following his refusal to follow up on his own challenge to face-off with me in the coming general elections. By setting new ridiculous conditions before contesting against me, Teng is clearly eating back his words of “you must pick up from where you fall” and avoid a direct contest in Padang Kota.

Such promise of “you must pick up where you fall” is meaningless if Teng refuses to show courage and ‘leadership by example’ by recontesting in his old seat of Padang Kota but instead follow UMNO’s dictates of where he can or can not go. Everyone knows that Teng as Penang BN Chairman is not Gerakan’s first choice as he is neither Gerakan President nor Penang Gerakan Chairman, but UMNO’s and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s choice.

Continue reading ‘The Penang Chief Minister Must Lead The People From The Front And Not From Behind UMNO:- I Will Contest Only One State Seat If Teng Chang Yeow Does Not Run Away But Recontest Padang Kota, Which He Previously Held For 3 Terms From 1995-2008.(en/bm/cn)’

Tan Sri Nor Mohamad Yaakcop Is The One Doing Things Backwards When He Refused To Come Clean On His Role In Causing Bank Negara Foreign Exchange Losses Of RM 15.8 Billion In 1992-93 Before He Was Appointed As 2nd Finance Minister In 2004.(en/bm/cn)

Published on March 30, 2013, 2:46 pm in Penang. 1 Comment

Press Statement By Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng In Komtar, George Town On 30.3.3013.

Tan Sri Nor Mohamad Yaakcop Is The One Doing Things Backwards When He Refused To Come Clean On His Role In Causing Bank Negara Foreign Exchange Losses Of RM 15.8 Billion In 1992-93 Before He Was Appointed As 2nd Finance Minister In 2004.

The Penang state government is surprised at the allegations made by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop that the state government were doing things backwards by deciding first and getting feedback afterwards on the RM6.3 billion projects of 3 major highways and a 7.2 km under seabed tunnel from Persiaran Gurney-Bagan Ajam, Butterworth. In fact Tan Sri Nor is the person doing things backwards when he refused to come clean on his role in the scandal of causing Bank Negara foreign exchange losses of RM 15.8 billion in 1992-93 before he was appointed as 2nd Finance Minister in 2004.

The Penang state government had started public consultations before the open tender was called in 2011 and continued such engagement with all sectors of civil society and the public right up to the award of the tender in February this year. The public still has the opportunity to give inputs as the contract will only be formalized after extensive deliberations expected to take months. Such an intensive public engagement is unprecedented as it has never been done by the Federal government, which awards projects in an opaque and unaccountable manner by negotiated tender.

Continue reading ‘Tan Sri Nor Mohamad Yaakcop Is The One Doing Things Backwards When He Refused To Come Clean On His Role In Causing Bank Negara Foreign Exchange Losses Of RM 15.8 Billion In 1992-93 Before He Was Appointed As 2nd Finance Minister In 2004.(en/bm/cn)’

Let Padang Kota Be A Contest Of Ideas, Ideals, Principles And Policies To Decide Whether PR Or BN Has A Better Vision For The Future Of Penang.(en/bm/cn)

Published on March 29, 2013, 1:00 pm in Election. 0 Comments

Press Statement By Penang Chief Minister And DAP Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng In Komtar, George Town On 29.3.2013.

Let Padang Kota Be A Contest Of Ideas, Ideals, Principles And Policies To Decide Whether PR Or BN Has A Better Vision For The Future Of Penang.

Yesterday I accepted the challenge of BN Penang Chair Teng Chang Yeow to contest against me in the coming general elections. Padang Kota should be the site for battle as this is Teng’s home ground and he was the ADUN for Padang Kota for 3 terms. Even though Teng lost narrowly at the 2008 general elections to Penang DAP Chair Chow Kon Yeow, Teng had said that “leaders should climb up from the same place where they have fallen”.

As Teng has publicly declared his confidence and not afraid of a face-off against me, I am willing to go to his home ground of Padang Kota. Let us make this contest in Padang Kota not a battle of who can tell better lies and issue violent threats, but an honourable contest of ideas, ideals, principles and people-centric policies to decide whether it is PR or BN has a better vision for the future of Penang

Continue reading ‘Let Padang Kota Be A Contest Of Ideas, Ideals, Principles And Policies To Decide Whether PR Or BN Has A Better Vision For The Future Of Penang.(en/bm/cn)’

We hope that CAP can address the issue of public transport to the Federal government with the same energetic determination and frequency they do against the state government.(en/bm/cn)

Published on March 27, 2013, 11:13 pm in Federal government. 0 Comments

Press Conference Statement By Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng In Komtar, George Town On 27.3.2013.

Penang State Government’s Refusal To Endorse Consumer Association of Penang’s(CAP) Proposal To Impose Charges On Private Vehicles Entering Penang Island Has Caused Some NGOs’ To Join BN in Opposing The RM6.3 Billion Traffic Dispersal Project Of 3 Highways And Under Seabed Tunnel.

The Penang state government concedes that our refusal to endorse CAP’s proposal to impose charges on private vehicles entering Penang island has caused some NGOs’ to join BN in opposing the RM6.3 billion traffic dispersal project of 3 highways and under seabed tunnel. This is the price that the Penang PR state government has to pay to ensure freedom of movement, because such a policy of forcing vehicles entering Penang to pay is elitist at best in reserving Penang island only for residents and discriminatory at worst as it bars those who can not afford from entering the island.

CAP President S.M Mohd Idris’s open personal attacks against me in his response to my invitation to him for a dialogue on the proposed 3 highways and under seabed tunnel project is disappointing as he failed to respond factually and objectively. The state government had begun such public consultations since 2011 and his refusal to engage on this issue only emphasizes our point that subjective statements relying on mere sentiments does not contribute towards a civil society that stresses on civil discourse.

Continue reading ‘We hope that CAP can address the issue of public transport to the Federal government with the same energetic determination and frequency they do against the state government.(en/bm/cn)’

Input Daripada Dailog Dan Taklimat Rakyat Selama 18 Bulan Ini Berkaitan Dengan 4 Projek Meleraikan Kesesakan Trafik Lebuhraya Dan Terowong Bawah Dasar Laut Akan Diambilkira Sebelum Surat Perjanjian Muktamad Dimeteraikan Dengan Pihak Kontraktor Dalam Beberapa Bulan Lagi.(bm/cn)

Published on March 26, 2013, 1:38 pm in Penang. 0 Comments

Kenyataan Akhbar Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang Lim Guan Eng Di Komtar, George Town Pada 26.3.2013

Input daripada dailog dan taklimat rakyat selama 18 bulan ini berkaitan dengan projek meleraikan kesesakan trafik sebanyak 3 lebuhraya dan sebatang terowong bawah dasar laut antara Pesiaran Gurney dan Butterworth, akan diambilkira sebelum surat perjanjian muktamad dimeteraikan dengan pihak kontraktor dalam beberapa bulan lagi. Reaksi mereka, khususnya anak muda, yang menghadiri pelbagai dialog dan mesyuarat jelas menunjukkan sokongan kuat kepada inisiatif kerajaan negeri PR.

Beberapa hari lepas, dua perhimpunan di Seberang Perai Utara(SPU) telah menyokong cadangan kerajaan negeri PR membina 3 buah lebuhraya dan sebatang terowong bawah dasar laut yang menghubungi Pesiaran Gurney dan Bagan Ajam. Jamuan makan malam di kalangan masyarakat Cina pada malam Sabtu di Butterworth seramai 6,000 orang berdiri dan angkat tangan sebagai tanda sokongan manakala tidak ada sesiapa membantah dalam dialog bersama beratus-ratus orang Melayu di Dewan Sungai Dua, SPU.

Continue reading ‘Input Daripada Dailog Dan Taklimat Rakyat Selama 18 Bulan Ini Berkaitan Dengan 4 Projek Meleraikan Kesesakan Trafik Lebuhraya Dan Terowong Bawah Dasar Laut Akan Diambilkira Sebelum Surat Perjanjian Muktamad Dimeteraikan Dengan Pihak Kontraktor Dalam Beberapa Bulan Lagi.(bm/cn)’

Teks Ucapn Majils Pelancaran Pelan Induk Pengangkutan Negeri (bm/cn)

Published on March 25, 2013, 2:29 pm in Penang. 0 Comments

UCAPAN KETUA MENTERI PULAU PINANG SEMPENA MAJLIS PELANCARAN PELAN INDUK PENGANGKUTAN NEGERI PADA 25 MAC 2013 DI AUDITORIUM A TINGKAT 5 KOMTAR
Salam Sejahtera dan Salam Bersih.

Terlebih dahulu saya ingin mengucapkan terima kasih di atas kehadiran tuan-tuan dan puan-puan ke Majlis Pelancaran Pelan Induk Pengangkutan Pulau Pinang pada hari ini. Sekalung tahniah dan syabas saya ucapkan kepada Exco Kerajaan Tempatan dan Pengurusan Lalu Lintas, YB Chow Kon Yeow, YB Dato’ Setiausaha Kerajaan dan semua jabatan serta agensi kerajaan di atas kejayaan menyempurnakan Kajian Pelan Induk Pengangkutan Pulau Pinang yang ditunggu-tunggu selama ini.

Adalah menjadi visi dan misi Kerajaan Negeri sejak mula memerintah negeri Pulau Pinang pada tahun 2008 bagi mewujudkan satu sistem pengangkutan awam dan jalan raya yang berintegrasi dan menyeluruh di seluruh negeri Pulau Pinang termasuk di Seberang Perai. Kerajaan Negeri tidak pernah mengabaikan Seberang Perai kerana kawasan ini juga sebahagian negeri kita. Penduduk Seberang Perai juga berhak menikmati segala kemudahan yang disediakan seperti penduduk disebelah bahagian pulau. Pelbagai usaha yang gigih telah digerakkan terutama oleh kedua-dua PBT bagi menyelesaikan isu pengangkutan dan juga kesesakan jalan raya yang merungsingkan semua rakyat Pulau Pinang setiap hari.

Continue reading ‘Teks Ucapn Majils Pelancaran Pelan Induk Pengangkutan Negeri (bm/cn)’

We Refuse To Let The BN Federal Government Choke Penang To Death With Traffic Congestion.(en/bm/cn)

Published on March 23, 2013, 4:57 pm in Penang. 1 Comment

Press Statement By Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng In Komtar, George Town On 23.3.2013

Despite Demonstrations By BN Supporters, Penangites Will Support The RM6.3 Billion Traffic Dispersal Project Of 3 Highways And One Under Sea-bed Tunnel Because We Refuse To Let The BN Federal Government Choke Penang To Death With Traffic Congestion.

BN’s refusal to fulfill their 2007’s promise to build a monorail and deliberate sabotage of efforts by the state government to implement an effective public transport clearly intends to choke Penang to death with traffic congestion. BN’s sabotage of public transport efforts by the state government includes:-
· failure to deliver the 200 extra buses to Rapid Penang promised since 2010;
· refusal to allow Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) to buy our own buses to provide public transport; and
· rejection of the Penang state government’s offer of RM10 million yearly in exchange for free bus services throughout Penang during peak hours.

Continue reading ‘We Refuse To Let The BN Federal Government Choke Penang To Death With Traffic Congestion.(en/bm/cn)’

Open Letter By Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng To Consumers Association of Penang(CAP) and other aligned organizations who oppose the Penang traffic decongestion projects of 3 highways and one under sea-bed tunnel.(en/bm/cn)

Published on March 21, 2013, 3:46 pm in Penang. 0 Comments

21 March 2013.
Encik S.M. Mohamad Idris,
Chairman Of CAP.

Dear Sir,

We refer to your recent statement opposing the Penang state government’s traffic decongestion projects of 3 highways and one under sea-bed tunnel comprising a 7 km undersea tunnel from Gurney Drive to Bagan Ajam in Butterworth, a 4.2km Pesiaran Gurney-Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway bypass, a 4.6km Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway-Bandar Baru Air Itam bypass, and a four-lane 12km road linking Tanjung Bungah with Teluk Bahang.

The state government has openly engaged with both the public and civil society since these projects were first mooted in 2011 and throughout the period of open competitive tender process until it was awarded this year. Whilst we welcome public views, such inputs and even criticisms from our detractors must always be based on objective analysis and facts, not subjective outbursts and sentiments. As the old adage goes, opinion is free but facts are sacred.

Continue reading ‘Open Letter By Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng To Consumers Association of Penang(CAP) and other aligned organizations who oppose the Penang traffic decongestion projects of 3 highways and one under sea-bed tunnel.(en/bm/cn)’

The Greatest Gift That A People-Centric And Good Government Can Bestow To Our Future Generation Is Not Cash Handouts But Knowledge, Education, Freedom From Fear And Corruption.(en/cn)

Published on March 20, 2013, 7:58 pm in Penang. 0 Comments

Opening Speech By Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng During The One Week 1 Utama Launch Of The “Penang Paradigm” (2013-2023) On 20.3.2013.

The Greatest Gift That A People-Centric And Good Government Can Bestow To Our Future Generation Is Not Cash Handouts But Knowledge, Education, Freedom From Fear And Corruption.

I am very pleased to be here today to officiate the Selangor launch of the “Penang Paradigm”, which is a 10-year development framework (2013-2023) put together by the Penang Institute, the Penang state government think tank under the leadership of its Executive Director, Professor Datuk Woo Wing Thye, to develop Penang as an international and intelligent state. Or to put it simply to make Penang No.1 in Malaysia.

Continue reading ‘The Greatest Gift That A People-Centric And Good Government Can Bestow To Our Future Generation Is Not Cash Handouts But Knowledge, Education, Freedom From Fear And Corruption.(en/cn)’

For Penang To Be No. 1 in Malaysia, We Must Also Be No. 1 in Green Initiatives That Makes Penang Cleaner, Greener, Safer and Healthier.(en/bm/cn)

Published on March 19, 2013, 1:13 pm in Environment. 0 Comments

Opening Speech By Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng During The Launch Of The “Penang Green Report Card Roadshow” at Gurney Plaza On 19.3.2013

I am very pleased to be here today to officiate the “Penang Green Report Card Roadshow”, which presents the achievement of Penang PR government over the last five year.

Our vision is for Penang is to become an international and intelligent state – one that educates and nurtures talent; one that promotes and rewards diligence, expertise and entrepreneurship; one that is livable by being clean, green, safe and healthy; and one that practices integrity, justice and people-centric governance.

Continue reading ‘For Penang To Be No. 1 in Malaysia, We Must Also Be No. 1 in Green Initiatives That Makes Penang Cleaner, Greener, Safer and Healthier.(en/bm/cn)’

The Greatest Responsibility of Ubah Is To Both Prepare The Future For The Young And Prepare The Young For The Future.(en/bm/cn)

Published on March 18, 2013, 1:11 pm in Party. 0 Comments

47th DAP Anniversary Statement By DAP Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng Released In DAP Headquarters, Kuala Lumpur on 18 March 2013

DAP celebrates the 47th anniversary of the birth of our party on 18.3.1966 for the first time in Johor, the critical new frontier that PR must win to bring about Ubah or Change. Inikalilah! It is now or never!

For the first time in our nation’s 56-year history, change is possible.
For the first time ever, Malaysians have a real alternative.
For the first time ever, there is now a clear and tangible choice between a regime that is undemocratic, corrupt, racist and bankrupt, versus one that is clean, practices integrity, values freedom and human rights and is proven to be competent, accountable and transparent.

Continue reading ‘The Greatest Responsibility of Ubah Is To Both Prepare The Future For The Young And Prepare The Young For The Future.(en/bm/cn)’

Sustainable Development Is A Primary Responsibility Of Good Governance To Prepare The Future For The Young.(en/cn)

Published on March 18, 2013, 1:06 pm in Penang. 0 Comments

Opening Speech By Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng for Penang Institute Conference On: The Asian Challenge of Sustainable Development At G Hotel On 18.3.2013.

Let me begin by congratulating the Penang Institute for organising the 5th Penang in Asia lecture, featuring yet another prominent individual – scientist and environmentalist Dr Rajendra Pachauri. On behalf of Penang, may I bid a warm welcome to Dr Pachauri.

Thanks to Dr Pachauri’s work with the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which was awarded the Noble Peace Prize in 2007 with former US Vice-President Al Gore, environmental issues have become a high priority in the world today. It is beholden on all humanity to ensure that we do not squander away the wealth of our earth, especially for the sake of our future generations. As I always like to say, we do not inherit the earth but merely borrow it from our children. It is our sacred duty to return it to our children better than when we were first entrusted to it.

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Tan Twan Eng’s Success As An English Author Shows The Importance Of Preparing The Young For The Future By Being The First Malaysian To Win The US$30,000 “Man Asian Literary Prize”.(en/cn)

Published on March 17, 2013, 4:05 pm in Education. 1 Comment

Press Statement by Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng in Komtar, George Town on 17.3.2013.

On behalf of the people of Penang, I wish to offer my heartiest congratulations to Tan Twan Eng for making Penang proud by becoming the first Malaysian to win the prestigious Man Asian Literary Prize.

Tan’s novel, The Garden of Evening Mists, tells the story of Yun Ling Teoh, the survivor of a Japanese prison camp who looks back at the early 1950s and her relationship with the mysterious creator of then-Malaya’s only Japanese garden.

Described as “far-ranging and intricately layered”, Tan’s post-war novel managed to pip four other authors, including Turkish Nobel Laureate Orhan Pamuk, for the USD30,000 (RM93,000) prize. Last year, Tan had also been shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize.

Continue reading ‘Tan Twan Eng’s Success As An English Author Shows The Importance Of Preparing The Young For The Future By Being The First Malaysian To Win The US$30,000 “Man Asian Literary Prize”.(en/cn)’

To Win The Future The Penang State Government Must Boldly Invest In The Future So That Our Young Do Not Become A Traffic Jam Generation.(en/bm/cn)

Published on March 15, 2013, 6:22 pm in Penang. 0 Comments

Open Letter By Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng To All Penangites In Komtar, George Town On 15 March 2013.

I refer to misleading claims made by some NGOs and BN who opposed the proposed 3 separate highway and one third link tunnel project awarded by the Penang state government in January 2013 by open competitive tender for RM6.3 billion. I hope that you will allow the state government to explain the rationale for this “desperate” effort to decongest traffic congestion on the island and bring about smoother traffic flow on the mainland of Seberang Perai.

I used the word “desperate” deliberately because for the 5 years that the PR state government has been in power, we attempted to implement a public transport system in Penang. Initially we hopped on to the Federal government’s proposal of an elevated monorail even though we felt that reviving the tram system would be the preferred option for Penang as George Town is a UNESCO World Heritage city.

Continue reading ‘To Win The Future The Penang State Government Must Boldly Invest In The Future So That Our Young Do Not Become A Traffic Jam Generation.(en/bm/cn)’

Far From Bankrupting The State Or Chasing Investors Away, The PR Penang State Government Has Not Only Achieved Record Levels Of Investments But Also Increased Our Assets By 50% Or RM400 Million In The Last 5 Years.(en/cn)

Published on March 14, 2013, 6:28 pm in Federal government. 0 Comments

Opening Speech By Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng During The One Week Gurney Plaza Launch Of The “Penang Paradigm”(2013-2023) On 14.3.2013.

I am very pleased to be here today to officiate the Penang launch of the “Penang Paradigm”, which is a 10-year development framework(2013-2023) put together by the Penang Institute, the Penang state government think tank under the leadership of its Executive Director, Professor Datuk Woo Wing Thye, to develop Penang as an international and intelligent state. Or to put it simply to make Penang No.1 in Malaysia.

Let me first confess that the Penang state government humbly seek your help, the experts and general public out there– to get your inputs on how we can make the Penang Paradigm better so we can make Penang No. 1 faster. In other words, the Penang state government is adopting the crowd sourcing approach by considering changes from feedback to this Penang Paradigm Report. This novel crowd sourcing approach and willingness to concede to superior proposals and policies in and outside Penang is unlike previous development plans which are implemented without genuine public engagement and consultation.

Continue reading ‘Far From Bankrupting The State Or Chasing Investors Away, The PR Penang State Government Has Not Only Achieved Record Levels Of Investments But Also Increased Our Assets By 50% Or RM400 Million In The Last 5 Years.(en/cn)’