Penang State Government 2016 Chinese New Year Message By Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng on 6.2.2016 In Komtar, George Town.
Transformation Of Penang Into An International And Intelligent City That Is Clean, Green, Safe And Healthy Depends On Democratisation And Traditional Values.
In making Penang as the preferred destination in Malaysia when celebrating festivals, including Chinese New Year, we must not forget the importance of transforming Penang into an international and intelligent city. A successful transformation depends both on democratisation and traditional values. Traditional values emphasizes respect, hard work and integrity.
Democratisation as a key to economic growth, is not limited to political, economic and social institutions. Nowadays democratisation of resources is seen as one of the sources of economic progress. Democratisation of information, finance and technology in the internet age has contributed much, by making resources more available, accessible and affordable to the largest number of people in human history.
Whilst the role of democratisation economic progress cannot be ignored, we should not discount the importance of China in providing an alternative narrative to the market economy. China’s role is not limited to lifting itself up from poverty to become the second largest economic superpower in the world in one generation. The health of the Chinese economy plays a major role in determining global economic progress.
Penang can learn from the Chinese economic success. From Mao Tze Tung’s first strike to restore its people’s dignity when he announced that “the Chinese people has stood up” after freeing the country from foreign influence 1949. To Deng Xiao Peng who was even more influential, when he liberalised and opened up the economy by declaring that “it does not matter whether the cat is black or white, as long as it catches mice”.
The next Chinese leader Jiang Tze Min focused on science and technology to develop the country followed by Hu Jin Tao stressing on the importance of promoting a harmonious society. The present Chinese leader Xi Xin Ping is coming back full circle by fighting corruption to restore the Chinese people’s pride and dignity.
Whilst Penang is committed to democratisation, these building blocks of Chinese successes deserves attention.Penang needs to focus on our human resources by building human talent. Investing in education is key to winning the future, especially in science and technology. Good governance only works when the government is clean and competent. A united nation where people live in harmony, celebrating diversity with full respect for different faiths and cultural practices.
Penang is focused on rekindling interest in science education amongst our young to transform Penang into a Centre of Excellence for science and technology. UNESCO has acknowledged our ability to live in harmony side by side and respect for each other with the World Heritage status of George Town and the growing recognition of Penang as the art and cultural capital of Malaysia. Penang has a clean government praised by Transparency International and a government that works in making Penang an international and intelligent city that is clean, green safe and healthy.
Equally important is that the people can live with dignity by together not only in enjoying the fruits of economic progress but in the expansion of fundamental rights where they have a say by being consulted instead of being told what to do. This is exemplified by the 11 public hearings of our RM27 billion Transport Masterplan(TMP) held over the last 2 months, even though the state government has not given approval, but leaves it for the people to decide.
The TMP resolves to overcome traffic congestion with a five-in-one mode to build an efficient public transport system combining buses, taxis, ferries/water taxis, LRT/monorail and cable car. The TMP awaits Federal government approval. No government in Malaysia has conducted public hearings even before a project has been approved. The TMP is the final challenge for Penang – to either ensure our sustainable economic development in the next 50 years until 2065 or allow the Federal government to choke us to death with traffic congestion.
LIM GUAN ENG
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槟城州首席部长林冠英于2016年2月6日在乔治市光大发表的2016年农历新年献词。
槟城转型为清洁、绿化、安全及健康的国际与智慧城市得取决于我们的民主化与传统价值。
当我们致力将槟城打造为马来西亚欢庆农历新年及各种佳节的首选旅游地的时候，我们不要忘记要槟城转型为清洁、绿化、安全及健康的国际与智慧城市，就得取决于我们的民主化与传统价值。所谓传统价值就是尊重、勤勉及诚信廉洁。
民主化作为经济成长的关键，已经不再不局限于政治、经济及社会制度。今天民主化谈的已经是资源民主化，资源民主化如今已经被看作是经济进展的来源；还有，就是在网际网络时代中的资讯民主化、金融民主化及科技民主化在人类历史中带来了巨大的贡献，让人类能拥有、使用及承担更多资源。
然而，经济进展的民主化所扮演的角色也不能忽略。我们不应该忽视中国在市场经济中作为另一“话事人”的重要角色。中国只凭着一个世代就把自己从原本的贫穷国家一举推上世界第二大的经济超级强国。中国经济的健全将决定全球的经济进展。
槟城可以借鉴中国经济的成功之道。从毛泽东在1949年从外国势力中解放中国后，第一件事就是要唤回人民的尊严，他高呼“中国人民站起来了”，到邓小平的影响力甚至更巨，他改革开放了中国的经济，高呼“不管是黑猫或白猫，只要能捉老鼠就是好猫”。
接下来的江泽明则致力以科学与科技发展中国，胡锦涛则强调提倡和谐社会的重要。如今的中国领袖习近平则凭着向贪污宣战，重新唤回中国人的骄傲与尊严。
虽然槟城所承诺的是民主化路线，但中国上述发展模式的成功之道却值得我们借鉴。槟城需要专注在我们的人力资源上。投资在教育是赢得未来的关键，特别是科学与科技。唯有廉洁与能干的政府才能良好施政，形成一个人们和谐生活、欢庆多元，尊重不同宗教及文化习俗的“联合国”。
槟城如今专注在重新吸引年轻人对科学的兴趣，好让槟城转型成为科学与科技的卓越中心。联合国教科文组织透过颁发世界文化遗产给乔治市承认槟城是一个和谐共存互相尊重的地方，同时槟城作为大马艺术与文化之都的声誉日隆。槟城的廉洁政府获得国际透明组织的赞扬，是一个正在致力以清洁、绿化、安全及健康，让槟城成为国际与智慧城市的政府。
同等重要的是，槟城人民不能只是共享经济果实，而是要可以生活得更有尊严，透过有权力发言咨询，让基本权力得以伸张，而不只是听命该怎么做。最好的例子就是270亿令吉的槟州交通大蓝图，即便州政府还没有批准这项计划，但我们将留给人民决定，因此已经举办了共11场的公众听证会。
槟州交通大蓝图以五合一方式一并解决交通阻塞，包括建立综合巴士、的士、轻快铁/单轨列车及缆车的有效公共交通。公共交通大蓝图正在等待联邦政府的批准。马来西亚不曾有过任何政府在计划还没批准前，召开公众听证会。公共交通大蓝图将会是槟城的终极挑战，是否能确保在接下来50年永续发展至2065年，还是让联邦政府以塞车把我们塞到快断气。
林冠英