Speech By Penang Chief Minister And DAP Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng During The DAP Johor State Ordinary Convention In Batu Pahat On 11.10.2015.
Under Pakatan Harapan, DAP offers a winning future for Malaysia that is prosperous, free and fair to all our 30 million citizens. Penang is a model of how we can win Malaysia’s future through inclusive economic growth, celebrating diversity, reducing income inequality and investing in education.
When we first took over in 2008, our first order of priority was to prove that a clean government can perform better than a corrupt government. That is implemented through our CAT governance based on Competency, Accountability and Transparency. Hence, while financial scandals and Malaysia have become almost synonymous, Penang is proud to maintain its unblemished record.
One of the first things we implemented was, believe or not, an open competitive tender system. All this while, government procurement in Malaysia has been notoriously opaque, with those with “political cables” favoured over genuine contractors. By making our tender process completely online and accessible to everyone, we replaced political cables with computer cables, thus ensuring there was no avenue for corruption to take place.
Because public officials in Malaysia are known to enrich themselves and their relatives, we also took a strong stand against the scourge of nepotism and cronyism by institutionalising periodical public asset declarations for all elected representatives in Penang, including the Chief Minister. In addition to that, we also expressly forbade all elected representatives and their family members from having conducting business with the state government.
We have been commended by the annual Auditor-General Reports as the most financially efficient state government and even praised by Transparency International, the first time that any state or federal government in Malaysian history has been so lauded.
All these measures resulted in our cash reserves increasing by 50% and our debt has been reduced by 90%. We recorded budget surpluses for every year since we took power in 2008. From 2008 to 2013, our total surpluses came up to RM453 million, from which we have spent RM287 million on social welfare programs to help the needy and other vulnerable groups within the state. In fact our RM453 million accumulated surpluses over 6 years far exceeded the surpluses accumulated over the previous 50 years from 1957-2007 under the previous BN government of RM373 million.
The RM287 million distributed in the form of cash welfare aid has reduced poverty to near zero levels. The poverty line indicator is RM790 monthly per household. All households earning below RM790 monthly will be given unconditional cash transfers to “top up” to RM790 monthly. For instance if your monthly household income is RM600, you will get RM190 every month to “top up” to RM790.
As a direct result of these programs, we were able to reduce our Gini Coefficient, which is the measure of income inequality, by 12% over a period of 3 years, from 0.42 in 2009 to 0.37 in 2012. Of course, we have exceeded our targeted minimum wage of RM1100 monthly by ensuring that all state government staff earn this minimum amount. This is enriching the people to ensure that the fruits of economic success are also distributed to all.
We also have to deliver on basic services. To do that we have to be able transform the civil service. Again through CAT governance and a policy of promoting and rewarding competent staff, Penang is now cleaner, greener, safer and healthier. As a comparison, why is it that Johor continues to suffer from water rationing when Penang has never conducted any water rationing? Worse, for Johor residents, despite suffering from water rationing, they have to pay water rates that is 4 times more expensive with the lowest domestic tariff at RM1.30 per 1,000 liters compared to Penang at only RM0.32 per 1,000 liters!
Thanks to our CAT model of governance, international investment has increased. From 2008 to 2014, we managed to attract RM48.2 billion worth of investments, which is 93% higher than the RM24.9 billion invested on a similar 6 year period from 2001 to 2007.
We recorded GDP growth of 7.4% in 2014 in Penang; and the 11th Malaysia Plan estimates Penang’s GDP growth this year to be equally robust at 6.2%. We also have full employment with Penang recording the historic low 1.2% unemployment rate last year. Or a shortage of 20,000 workers. Such good employment market is translated to households in Penang enjoying household income growth of 7.6% annually between 2012 and 2014.
Penang would have been a high-income economy this year if not for the fact the ringgit dropped 30% in value due to the RM 42 billion 1MDB financial scandal and RM2.6 billion donation scandal involving the Prime Minister. The performance of the ringgit, which has dropped by 28% over the past one year to over 4.3 to 1 US dollar. This effectively means that Malaysians are poorer by 28% in US dollar terms.
Penang has paid the price by dropping back to middle-income status when we are supposed to graduate to high-income economy this year. The World Economic Forum Human Capital Report defined a high-income economy as one whose Gross Domestic Product or GDP per capita reaches USD$12,467 or RM 40,841 based on the exchange rate of RM3.27 for USD$1.(based on early 2014 exchange rates)
Instead of RM40,841 as the benchmark to achieve high-income status, the 28% drop in the ringgit means that the benchmark has been increased to RM52,000. Penang was expected to achieve a GDP per capita of RM42,251 based on a population of 1,681,922 people and a GDP of RM71,063 million by this year 2015. Penang’s GDP per capita of RM42,251 would have exceeded the benchmark of RM40,841 to become a high-income economy.
However, based on the current exchange rate of a 28% drop in the value of the ringgit, Penang’s 2015 estimated GDP per capita of RM42,251 is still far off from the new revised high-income benchmark of RM52.000. This goes to show the cost to Penangites in terms of price inflation due to the drop in the ringgit, but also Penang missing out from being a high-income economy.
Talent is universal but opportunity is not. The state government hopes this initiative will provide our talents with the opportunity. We are willing to invest in the future by investing in education. Only when we invest in the future, can we win the future.
Penang have invested heavily in talent, especially as a center of excellence for science and technology at all levels. The Penang Future Foundation Scholarship scheme with a contribution of RM 40 million, where talented Malaysians are given scholarships based on merit. This is open to all Malaysians, including Johor. The only condition is that these scholars serve their bond in Penang for a stated period either in the public or the private sector.
After 3 years of hard work, the Penang government has finally succeeded in launching Malaysia’s first German Dual Vocational Training Programme on 1 September 2015. This German vocational training is world-class and unique because students study and work in the factories at the same time. The Penang state government is donating RM2 million to pay school fees, whilst the students have the benefit of an allowance of RM900 monthly by the participating companies. In other words, the students are paid to study.
From the present 500-600 places available from our RM2 million contribution, we intend to open up more places for not just Penangites but for all Malaysians. We are willing to spend another RM2-4 million more if necessary to build new talent. Talent must be enabled with rights and responsibilities. To do that we have to grant them freedom, freedom of equal opportunity, freedom to be the best they want to be and realise their potential.
All this successes are achieved without threatening racial or religious riots, pitting Malaysians against each other or clamping down on freedom. Penang is an oasis of diversity, celebrated through our UNESCO World Heritage site of George Town. Why should different language and cultures divide us? Calling for single stream education and indirectly closing down Chinese and Tamil schools makes us all losers when there are more and more non-Chinese in these schools.
Penang is recognized internationally of how we all can benefit from celebrating diversity through mutual respect, embracing technology and tolerance of new ideas. DAP believes we can unite Malaysians through good ideas, moral principles and public integrity.
The next general elections will be won on who can offer a better economic future. All the rhetoric about having clean leadership would not be relevant if we become bankrupt or there is no competent economic management to improve the people’s lives, whether to help the poor, assist flood victims, provide better services and better education.
The Pakatan Harapan state government’s performance in Penang have shown that we can unite the people around competent economic management through inclusive economic growth that benefits all. If we can do it in Penang, Pakatan Harapan can definitely replicate that success throughout Malaysia to save our troubled economy and restore dignity to us all.
LIM GUAN ENG
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槟州首席部长兼民主行动党秘书长林冠英于2015年10月11日出席于峇株巴辖举行的民主行动党柔佛州代表大会演讲稿：
通过包容性的经济增长、鼓吹多元化、缩短收入鸿沟及投资教育，以赢得马来西亚的未来。
在希望联盟旗帜下，民主行动党为3千万马来西亚公民，提供一个繁荣、自由及公平的成功未来。槟城就是一个我们能够如何通过包容性的经济增长、鼓吹多元化、缩短收入鸿沟及投资教育，以赢得马来西亚未来的模式。
我们在2008年执政槟州时，我们优先考虑的是要证明一个廉洁的政府可以比一个贪污的政府表现得更好。我们透过“能干、公信、透明”（CAT）的施政方针来管理槟州。因此，尽管马来西亚已经与财务丑闻一词划上等号，但让槟城感到骄傲的是，我们尚保持着无瑕的记录。
不管你们是否相信，首先我们贯彻的，就是一个竞争式的公开招标系统。在这之前，马来西亚政府部门的所有采购是出了名的不透明，只有那些有“政治管道”（“political cables”）者比真正的承包商更有机会获得政府的采购订单。于是，我们全面透过网上公开招标，让所有人能够参与竞标。我们以电脑网络（computer cable）取代了“政治管道”，以确保贪污绝无容身之地。
基于马来西亚的公职人员素来闻名借公职之便累积个人或近亲之财富，因此我们极力反对朋党主义及用人唯亲之举，因此，在槟城所有的中选议员，包括首席部长本身，都需要定期对外公布财产。此外，我们也严禁所有的中选议员及其近亲与州政府有任何的生意来往。
在每年的总稽查司报告中，槟州政府都获点名赞扬为最佳财务管理的州属。槟城甚至是马来西亚首个获得国际透明组织点名表扬的州属。
这些措施的成果皆展现在我们的财政数据里。槟州政府的储备金增加了 50%，我们也同时成功减债 90%。自2008年执政以来，我们创下每年财政盈余的记录。从2008年至 2013年，我们的总盈余额为4亿5300万令吉。这当中我们共花了2亿8700万令吉作为颁发各项福利计划之用，以在州内协助有需要及志愿团体之人员。实际上，我们在过去6年累积的4亿5300万令吉盈余，远远超过了前朝国阵政府从1957年至 2007年过去50年的总额3亿7300万令吉盈余总额。
槟州政府总额近2亿8千700万令吉的各项福利计划，经已成功地将州内的贫穷率降至近零的水平。贫穷线的指标为每个家庭月入790令吉。那些每月家庭收入低于790令吉的槟州人民，将会无条件获得“现金加额”至 790令吉为止。比如，若一个家庭收入仅有600，那有关的家庭将会每月获得州政府“加额” 190令吉，至每月有至少790令吉的收入。
在这些利民计划推动下，槟城人均收入不均的情况逐年获得了改善，槟城的基尼系数，从2009年的0.42减少到2012的0.37，改善了12%。当然，我们也确保州内所有的公务员，每月薪金至少是最低薪金数目。因此，我们已经超越了1100令吉最低薪金的目标。这就是富国强民的例子，以确保全民获得分享经济的成果。
我们也必需从最基本的服务做起。为此，我们必需要有能力改造整个公共服务体系。同样的，透过能干、公信、透明施政方针，以及一个赏罚分明的体制，槟城目前已经变得更清洁 、更绿化、更安全及更健康。相对的，为何柔佛州州民需要蒙受制水之苦？槟城人从来就不需要面对制水的困扰。更糟糕的是，柔佛州人民除了备受制水之苦，他们更需要比槟城人民缴付高出4倍之多的水费！柔佛州家庭用户最低的水费为每1000公升1令吉30仙，而槟城人民只需要缴付每1000公升32仙的水费！
感谢CAT良好施政带来的效应，槟州的外国直接投资额连年增加。从2008年至2014年期间，我们成功吸引了482亿令吉的投资额，这比国阵执政的6年，即2001年至2007年的249亿令吉投资额高出93%。
在2014年，槟州创下国内生产总值7.4% 的增长率；第11 大马计划也估计今年槟州的国内生产总值成长率将会是同样有力的6.2%。同时，截至去年为止，槟州的失业率只有仅仅的1.2% 新低，甚至面对缺乏2万名员工的局面。良好的就职市场让槟州在2012至2104年之间的家庭收入，获得了每年7.6%的增长率
若不是因总额420亿令吉的一个马来西亚财务丑闻，加上涉及首相在内的26亿令吉“捐款”风波，导致马币惨跌30%，槟城在今年年杪就可以达致高收入经济体的地位。马币在过去的一年内，大幅贬值28%，贬至 1美金兑4令吉30仙，换句话说，在以美金计的情境之下，我们要比之前穷了28%。
槟州在马币大幅贬值上付出了代价，我们理应在今年走向高收入经济体，但现在却被拖回中等收入的阶段。根据世界经济论坛人力资本报告界定，当国内生产总值达人均收入1万2千467美元，或4万零841令吉（以1美元兑3令吉27仙为准），就能称为高收入经济体。
原本我们以4万零841令吉就能晋身成为高收入经济体，但，现在马币贬值28%，意味着标准已提高到5万2千令吉。根据原先预测，槟州今年的国内生产总值将达人均收入4万2千251令吉，这个预测建基于168万1千922人口，以及2015年国内生产总值7千106万之上。按此推算，槟州的国内生产总值达人均收入4万2千251令吉，易言之，我们已达4万零841令吉高收入经济体标准。
然而，在马币贬值28%后，槟州今年预测的国内生产总值达人均收入4万2千251令吉，让我们与高收入标准的5万2千令吉变得有一段距离。这显示我们不仅要为马币贬值赔上通膨的代价，更让槟州在迈向高收入经济体的路上止步。
人才是普遍的，但机会并不是。州政府希望透过各项努力为人才提供机会。我们准备投资教育以投资未来。只有投资未来，我们才能赢得未来。
槟城在这方面重本投资在培养人才，特别是在全面性的科
学与科技卓越中心方面。成立4000万令吉的“槟城未来基金奖学金计划”，让凭着绩效的大马人才申请。唯一的条件就是毕业后要在槟城州内的公家或私人机构工作一段时间。
槟城州政府在三年努力不懈与德国洽商之下，成功在今年9月1日，出资200万令吉，推展德国双向技职训练计划。德国技职训练的特色在于学生可以一边在工厂工作一边学习，学费则由州政府负责，更好的是学生还获得参与该计划的厂商给予每月900令吉的津贴。换句话说，参与该教育计划的学生是付薪读书。
从200万令吉所能提供的500至 600个学额，我们有意扩大至不只是槟城人，但还要为全马来西亚人民开放更多的学额。若有需要，我们准备再注资200至400万令吉以建塑人才。人才需要被赋予权利及义务。为此，我们必需赋予他们自由–平等机会的自由、选择实现他们潜能的自由。
我们无需通过种族威胁、宗教暴乱、互相针对及剥夺马来西亚人民自由的方式，就能够达致这些成就。槟城是一个多元化的绿州，我们的乔治市获得世界教科文组织颁发世界文化遗产城名录。我们岂能让不同的语言不同的文化来分化我们呢？要求推展单元教育体制及间接地关闭华淡小会让所有人成为输家，因为目前这些学校的非华裔生已经越来越多。
槟城从互相尊重、拥抱科技、宽容对待新思路等多元性中获益，更获得国际的认可。民主行动党相信，我们可以透过好点子、道德原则及廉正来团结马来西亚人民。
谁能够提供更好的经济未来，谁就能赢得下届大选。一旦我国破产，所有关于要有一个干净廉洁领导人的说法都再也不相干了；或者说，如果没有良好的经济管理以提升人民的生活—不管是协助穷人、协助水灾灾民、提供更优质的服务及教育，这一切一切都变得没有意思。
槟州希望联盟政府的表现已证明，我们可以透过对所有人有利的包容性经济成长团结人民。如果我们可以在槟城做到，那么我相信希望联盟肯定能够将这个成功的模式复制在马来西亚各地，以拯救我们已陷入困境的经济，恢复我们的尊严。
林冠英