Press Statement by Penang Chief Minister and Chairman of Penang Green Council Lim Guan Eng on 2 June 2015 during the Press Conference for “Penang Green Carnival 2015” at 28th Floor, KOMTAR:
Branding for Penang is important that is synonymous with quality, reliability, safety, sustainability and integrity. Penang must find its own niche as an international city. Penang will be a sustainable and livable international and intelligent city that is clean, green, safe and healthy.
In our quest to make Penang the first green state of Malaysia, Penang is the first state to ban free plastic bags at shopping centers, ban polystrene boxes and achieve the highest recycling rate of 32%. We continue that quest by having the first Penang state government’s green building – the RM25 million Penang Tech Dome, our initiative to rekindle the young’s interest in science and technology.
In advocating “ownership” of the environment, we are organising various environmental education programs, providing environmental incentives through Penang Green Council. Penang Green Carnival is one of the platforms where we are putting all “green brains” together for progressive and constructive sustainable development. This year, we are aiming to make Tech Dome a certified green building by working together with the Malaysian Green Building Confederation (MGBC).
Penang is one of the most liveable cities not just in Malaysia but also in the Southeast Asia region. This was confirmed when ECA International Location Rating named Penang the Most Liveable City in Malaysia and 8th Most Liveable City in Asia, ahead of even the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur.
There are 7 elements of change towards retaining Penang’s premier position as the most livable and vibrant city in Malaysia.
1. Security and stability category such as crime rates and civil unrest.
2. Good governance and effective leadership,
3. Economic vibrancy and competitiveness, and
4. Quality of life and diversity.
5. Environmental friendliness and sustainability,
6. Heritage conservation, and
7. Intelligent city encompassing human, collective, digital, institutional and integrity intelligence.
Equally important is social cohesion and inclusion towards a shared society that allows democratic participation, respect for diversity and individual dignity, equal opportunity and prohibition of discrimination. Most crucial of all is equal opportunities for the young and talented to grow and fulfill their potential. Listening to the people, especially the young, on their environmental concerns is important if Penang is to succeed in our aspiration towards a green state.
After all we do not inherit the environment but merely borrow it from our children and it is our duty to return it at least in the same condition or even better.
Lim Guan Eng
====================================================================================================================
槟州首席部长兼槟州绿色机构主席林冠英于2015年6月2日在“2015年槟州绿色嘉年华”记者会上发表声明：
随着槟州圆顶科技馆（Tech-Dome ）立志打造槟州政府第一个绿色建筑， 槟州将成为永续及宜居的国际智能都市。
“槟城”的品牌非常重要，“槟城”品牌就是品质、可靠、安全、永续及廉洁的同义词。槟城必须寻找自己成为国际都市的特殊定位。槟城会成为一个净、绿、安、康永续及宜居的国际智能都市。
在我们探索如何让槟城成为全马第一个绿州，槟城是全马第一个在购物中心禁止免费塑料袋的州属，我们也禁用保丽龙餐盒、达致32%的再循环率。我们也继续努力，并冀望打造州政府的第一座绿色建筑，即将耗资2500令吉打造的槟州圆项科技馆。我们的目的是重新启发年轻人对科学及工艺的兴趣。
我们提倡每个人必须对环境有“担当”，我们通过槟州绿色机构进行环保教育、提供环保奖掖。槟州绿色嘉年华也是其中一个平台，聚集所有的“环保大脑”，寻找进步及具建设性的永续发展。今年，我们的目标是与马来西亚绿色建筑联合会合作，展望槟州圆顶科技馆成为合格的绿色建筑。
槟城不只是全马最宜居的城市之一，我们也东南亚最宜居的城市之一。国际人力资源研究及分析机构(ECA International)刚将槟城列为亚洲宜居城市的第8名，甚至在吉隆坡之前。
以下是让槟城保持着其作为马来西亚最适宜居住及充满动力的城市，并继续成为游客的旅游胜地的7个因素：
1. 良好的公共治安与秩序，使槟城成为犯罪率最低及政治最稳定的城市
2. 良好施政与有效领导
3. 充满动力与竞争的经济
4. 多元与富有品质的生活
5. 永续与友善的环境
6. 良好的古迹保护
7. 汇集人文、群体、数码、制度及廉正的智能城市
同等重要的是迈向共享社会时的社会凝聚力及包容度，容许民主参与、尊重多元及个人尊严、机会平等及禁示歧视，最重要的是，槟城给予年轻一辈的人才一个平等的机会去发挥他们的潜能。我们聆听人民的声音，特别是年轻人的声音，如果槟州要达致绿州的愿景，年轻人对环保的关注是非常重要的。
毕竟，我们生存的环境不是继承来的，而是向我们的下一代借来的。我们有义务在离开的时候，还给他们同样的、甚至是更好的生存环境。
林冠英