6th Political Tsunami Anniversary Message by Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng in Komtar, George Town on 7.3.2014.
As we celebrate the political tsunami of 8 March 2008 that ushered in a new era of democratic politics by establishing a two-coalition system in Malaysia, where a change of government is not an imagined possibility but a likely probability, we must not forget that the PR state government’s policies must give priority both to the rakyat and also towards winning the future.
Penang can only win the future for our children by investing in public infrastructure, building human talent, sustainable policies, reducing inequality, good and clean governance. For that reason, Government must also invest and innovate. The government must invest in infrastructure, people, incentives and subsidies.
The government must also innovate with new policies that stresses on:-
• liberalisation of the existing rules and to reduce red-tape,
• divestment from non-core businesses or accept that the “business of government is to stay out of business”,
• permit free and fair competition; and
• encourage human capital formation where human talent is now the new oil of the global economy.
The state government has embarked on building roads, bridges, drainage and even green parks both on the island and on the mainland to ensure balanced development. Physical public infrastructure is now extended to include free wifi hotspots where Penang is the first state in Malaysia to provide 1,550 free wifi hotspots in public places throughout the state. The number of free wifi hotspots will double over the next 4 years.
Investing in education and building human talent is crucial not because human talent is the new oil of the 21st century but also because Penang has no other natural resources. At the same time, policies must be sustainable to ensure that resources we use today are still available tomorrow. As the only state to impose a no free plastic bag rulings and car free Sundays, Penang records the highest recycling rate of 26% in the country. At the same time Penang is fortunate not to suffer from water rationing because of efficient water supply management.
Penang’s economic successes of attracting foreign investment and tourism have been facilitated by integrity in leadership that targets zero tolerance to corruption and good governance that enables Penang to be a most livable city in Malaysia that is clean, green, safe and healthy. However economic growth is meaningless if inequality widens. Building affordable housing, cash aid and becoming the first state in Malaysia to wipe out poverty in Penang with cash handouts demonstrates PR’s commitment towards a people-centric government.
These successes can only be sustained with a budget-based administration that deals with leakages such as corruption and wastages, and also an outcome-based administration that focuses on projects bringing positive impact to the people. Ensuring that money spent is not wasted, together with making a positive difference in the lives of the rakyat offers hope for the rakyat to live with dignity.
Penang is much changed during these last 6 years. It is not just the new RM 4.5 billion Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah Bridge or the refurbished RM250 million Penang International Airport by the Federal government. What counts as well is that Penang is cleaner, greener, safer and healthier. Let Penang be one of the game-changers that can change Malaysia for the better.
LIM GUAN ENG
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槟城州首席部长林冠英于2014年3月7日在乔治市光大发表的308政治海啸6周年献词。
槟州想要赢在未来，途径就只有投资在公共基建、培育人才、经营永续政策、减少不平等以及良好与廉洁施政。
当我们在2008年3月8日面对史无前例的政治海啸，迎来国内民主政治的两线制新局势之际，我们明白，换政府再不是一件不可能的事。职是之故，我们需时时刻刻自我提醒，民联州政府的政策必须以民为本，同时要确保赢在未来。
槟州要为我们的孩子赢在未来，途径就只有挹注资源在公共基建、培育人才、经营永续政策、减少不平等以及良好与廉洁施政。与此同时，政府也应该投资和革新，包括投资在基本建设、人民与津贴之上。
政府必须在政策模式上创新：
· 松绑原有的规则，减少官僚作业
· 舍弃非核心事业或必须承认“政府对经商需要做的事，就是别亲自经商”
· 免费参与及公平竞争
· 鼓励增加人力资本，如今人才已经成全球经济的“新石油”
州政府已着手建设道路、桥梁、沟渠，并在槟威两地建立绿色公园，以确保平衡发展。物质公共设施目前已扩展至免费的无线上网，槟城是全国首个在公共场合提供免费无线上网热点的州属， 1千550个免费无线上网热点遍布全州，未来4年将热点涵盖量将增加一倍。
教育和人才发展的投资是关键，不只因为人才是21世纪的新油田，也因为槟城没有其他的天然资源。与此同时，可持续发展的政策才能确保未来能继续使用今日的资源，槟城是唯一实施无免费塑胶袋政策和周日无车日的州属，槟州写下26%全国最高的回收再循环记录。槟城也幸运免受配水制的影响，因为槟州有高效率的供水管理。
槟城吸引外资及旅客的经济成就，来自于清廉领袖对贪腐的零容忍及秉持良好施政，促使槟城成为马来西亚最干净、绿化、安全及健康的宜居城市。然而，如果贫富不均的话，经济成长是毫无意义的。因此，为了成为一个以民为本的政府，州政府派发援助金，建立可负担房屋及成为全马首个消除贫穷的州属。
这些成就只有在防止贪腐及浪费等纰漏的预算型管理及专著各项利民计划的成果型管理相辅相成之下才能达致。同时，要确保财务不乱浪费之下，改善人民的生活，让人民活得有尊严。
槟城在过去6年有了显著的改变，这些改变不只是联邦政府耗资45亿令吉的苏丹阿都哈林大桥或2亿5000万令吉的机场提升而已，同时也包括了槟城变得更干净、更绿化、更安全及更健康。就让槟城成为改变游戏玩法的领先者，望能让马来西亚变得明天会更好。
林冠英