Open Letter to Malaysians By Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng In Komtar, George Town On 28.7.2016.
A Fresh Mandate For A New Malaysia – An Entrepreneurial And Welfare State.
The proposed early general election for Penang is not intended to save Lim Guan Eng from trumped up corruption charges. Lim Guan Eng can not be saved politically. However it is clear that Malaysia and Penang can still be saved from BN’s dirty political manipulation to undermine the people’s yearning for change for a clean Malaysia, that is free from the massive corruption evident in the 1MDB scandal.
BN will not stop at their political conspiracy to character assassinate me that I abused my power to benefit Ms Phang, who sold her 30 year house to me. The truth that she made a profit and not a loss from selling her house to me, is overlooked. The fact that she has no direct business dealings and did not benefit from the state government is ignored – her land is still zoned as agricultural and could not be rezoned as housing, after the local government council rejected her application.
If it is not the two trumped up charges against me that did not involve a single cent of public funds, there would be other fictitious allegations. Again, powers are abused to conduct exhaustive investigations on the Penang state government’s public works projects that practices open bidding and competitive tenders whilst ignoring BN’s failure to practice open competitive tenders. Of course no action is taken against 1MDB for robbing Malaysians blind!
BN’s determination to finish me off by hook or by crook, is matched by our determination not to permit BN to undermine the people’s centric Pakatan government in Penang and escape punishment for the massive 1MDB scandal. My colleagues and I are determined to ensure the continued survival of the Penang Pakatan government and the people’s will, regardless whether I finally survive or not. Should my political victimisation by BN help to wake up the people from their political lethargy, I am willing to be that catalyst.
Penang Leads
This is the reason why we ask for a fresh mandate from the people of Penang. The proposed state general election is not just about being against the trumped up corruption charges against me. It is about the people of Penang deciding on endorsing the clean Pakatan government over the corrupt BN administration. It is about protecting and preserving the positive changes Pakatan has brought to Penang, that is now cleaner, greener, safer and healthier.
It is about the people of Penang taking the lead to condemn BN for establishing 1MDB that allowed the Prime Minister’s step-son Riza Shahriz bin Abdul Aziz, Jho Low and his family to steal and defraud Malaysians of US$3.5 billion(RM13 billion)! It is also about Malaysians’ yearning for change to a clean and new Malaysia – an entrepreneurial and welfare state.
Despite lacking natural resources and bereft of federal government funding, Penang has managed to prosper by relying on good and clean governance, building our human talent and relying on the private sector and civil society in a framework of Public Private Partnership(PPP). With the state government provide either the seed money or funding the entire project/initiative, we invite the private sector to invest either in funds or expertise on sustainable development.
Despite being publicly funded, many of these projects/initiatives are run by the private sector or civil society, with minimal or no interference from the state government. The RM20 million Penang Science Café project to give free classes to kids in applied science and robotics, the RM28 million Tech Dome of Penang to rekindle interest in science and technology, the RM 6 million German Dual Vocational Training scheme offering free 42-month advanced diploma courses where students learn on the job and work at factories that is recognised even in Germany, the new RM3 million Penang Digital library, the building of a RM1 billion fish farming on the sea industry out of nothing in 2008, and even the annual George Town Festival showcases the successes of Penang’s entrepreneurial state model.
Penang is also a welfare state in not forgetting about the poor and disadvantaged. Since 2008, more than RM400 million has been paid out to schools, senior citizens, new born babies, single mothers, the disabled, housewives, taxi drivers, fishermen, trishaw riders, primary, secondary and university students. We devote 12% of our budget annually in cash aid and even guarantee a minimum monthly household income of RM790 by topping up the income of those who earn less than RM790. In other words, if your monthly household income is RM600 per month, the state will pay RM190 every month. Perhaps this is why Penang’s Gini coefficient of income inequality has been reduced from 0.42 in 2009 to 0.364 in 2014, an improvement of 13% over 5 years, as compared to the national average of 0.401.
The entrepreneurial and welfare state is only possible because we record annual budget surpluses through clean administration. Penang’s CAT administration of Competency, Accountability and Transparency has allowed our reserves to increase from RM850 million to nearly RM1.6 billion in 8 years. Penang’s government debt has been reduced by 90% to only RM69 million – the lowest in Malaysia. Further Penang’s unemployment rate of 1.5% offers many job opportunities.
NO TO KLEPTOCRACY
We believe that Malaysians prefer a democracy to an autocracy and never a kleptocracy. At no time did the people vote for a government of thieves, a kleptocracy where government leaders steal public funds or natural resources from the people to enrich themselves.
In its court action filed under laws relating to USA’s Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative (“KARI”), the United States(US) Department of Justice has sought the seizure of valuable assets of up to USD1 billion owned by various individuals alleged to have been purchased from monies “stolen” from 1MDB. The US Attorney-General said that the US1 billion assets is only part of the total US 3.5 billion or RM13 billion stolen by 1MDB from the people. The rationale of KARI is to prevent corrupt leaders in foreign countries practising kleptocracy, from enjoying the fruits of their corrupt acts by committing money laundering in US.
In contrast to BN turning Malaysia into the largest kleptocracy in US history, the Pakatan state government is proud of turning Penang into a model state of integrity, accountability and transparency. Penang achieved the distinction of being the only government in Malaysian history to becommended by Transparency International for adopting an open competitive tender system. The annual Auditor-General Report has also praised Penang for the best financially managed state administration in the country. And yet Penang has been subjected to repeated corruption investigations into our public projects granted by open tender.
Penang can fire the first salvo to save Malaysia from kleptocracy. There are those who said that DAP should just dissolve the Penang state Assembly on our own to mirror PKR’s unilateral Kajang move to change the Selangor Menteri Besar with a sudden by-election. I do not agree.
Unlike BN’s kleptokrats, DAP leaders are democrats. DAP will not make an unilateral decision to call for an early general election but will try to seek a consensus amongst all 3 parties in Pakatan Harapan. Despite being unfairly criticised, we will hold on to keeping our word and display trustworthiness as a basis towards forging a strong coalition.
Despite justifying the need for an early state election, there will continue to be those who miss the wood from the trees by insisting that a Pakatan victory will not rid Malaysia of the 1MDB scandal. This displays both a lack of faith in the decency and righteousness of Malaysians as well as underestimates the power of the people to effect change by rejecting wholesale robbery by BN in the 1MDB scandal.
Keeping The Future Safe For Our Young
I still remember asking Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, whether the Kajang move was worth it, when he received criticisms from his friends in the civil society, reiterated that change even though painful and risky was necessary if it brings about good in the long run.
Yes, we all run the risk of losing seats to the machinations of BN. However, we must have faith in Penangites. We must not lose faith in the people’s innate goodness to choose right over wrong, good over evil and a clean government over a corrupt government. Malays, Chinese, Indians, Kadazans and Ibans encounter the same problems and share the same dreams as Malaysians, all linked directly to the economic problems brought about by the 1MDB scandal.
The depreciation in the ringgit, the imposition of GST, loss of business and the difficulty of finding high-income employment are all related to the 1MDB scandal. Are we to be forever imprisoned by our fears that the politics of hate over race and religion will be exploited to cover up the 1MDB scandal and distract attention from BN’s gross abuse of power and injustice? If so, how can the political situation be better and more favourable to Pakatan 2 years later, when general elections are held and anger over 1MDB has slowly dissipated?
Yes, we must avoid three corner fights but is there any assurance of a one-to-one contest against BN, 2 years from now? Pakatan must have faith in the people to rise up to the occasion to save the country from BN. Malaysia is spiralling down a dangerous path when Umno Youth lodged a police report against former Bank Negara governor Zeti Akthar Aziz, outgoing Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief Abu Kasim Mohamed and former attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail for being involved in a conspiracy to topple Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and the Malaysian government. Umno Youth vice-chief Khairul Azwan Harun even accused the three of providing confidential information to foreign agencies without authorisation, including the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
When will this madness end, where the innocent whistle-blowers are persecuted whilst the corrupt who stole billions of ringgit from ordinary Malaysians escape unpunished? Political parties can only do so much, it is ordinary Malaysians that possess the power to effect change.
Let Penang be the first state to lead the change. We must boldly lead the charge for reform and freedom from corruption and injustice even at the cost of losing seats or our votes. For the terrifying alternative, is to lose the hopes and future of our next generation. Our present generation have suffered enough by letting BN steal our future. Let us not allow BN to steal the future of the next generation. We believe that Penang and Malaysia can be saved, and that Penangites will support Pakatan to keep the future safe for our young.
LIM GUAN ENG
槟州首席部长林冠英于2016年7月28日写给全体马来西亚人的一封信：
为一个全新的马来西亚寻求一个全新的委托 – 打造一个创业及福利州
较早前我们提议在槟州提早举行选举，不是为了将林冠英从编造的贪污指控中拯救出来。林冠英也不可能逃得过政治陷害。但是，很明显地，马来西亚和槟城还是可以从国阵操控的肮脏政治中被拯救，国阵玩弄政治破坏人民求变的渴望，人民要的是一个廉洁的马来西亚，免于一马发展公司丑闻那样明目张胆的贪污。
国阵不会停止他们对我进行人格谋杀的政治阴谋，他们指控我滥权、让出售30年房子给我的彭丽君小姐从中获益。她在出售房子给我之后有赚无亏的事实被忽略。事实上她与州政府没有直接的生意关系，也没有从州政府得到好处，在地方政府拒绝她的申请后，她的土地还是农业地，不能被转为住宅地。
就算没有这两个根本没有涉及一分公款、被编造出来的控状，也还是会有其它的编造的指控。再者，当局滥权针对槟州政府进行公开招标、公平竞争的公共工程进行彻底的调查，完全无视国阵根本没有进行公开招标。光天化日、明目张胆盗取人民钱财的一马发展机构却一点都没有受到对付！
国阵执意采用各种手段解决我，正如我们立志不允许国阵破坏槟城以民为本的希联政府，也绝不允许国阵在一马公司丑闻上脱罪。不论我最后下场如何，我的同事和我立场一致，即捍卫槟城希望联盟政府继续执政及人民的意愿。如果国阵对我的政治陷害，能够让人民从政治倦怠中醒过来，我自愿牺牲，成为那股力量。
槟城领先
这就是为什么我们需要举行选举，要求槟城人民重新委托。我们提出进行州选，不只是为了对抗我所面对的贪污指控。也是为了让槟城人民来决定，他们要的是廉洁的民联政府还是贪污的国阵政府。这是为了保护及保存希望联盟政府为槟城带来的极积改变，现在的槟城可说是净、绿、安、康。
这场州选，是关于槟城首先站出来、谴责国阵设立一马公司，纵容首相的继子里扎沙里、刘特佐及他的家庭，盗取及骗取马来西亚人民35亿美元（约130亿令吉）！这也是为一个全新的马来西亚寻求一个全新的委托 – 打造一个创业及福利州。
尽管缺乏天然资源、并遭联邦政府一次又一次的剥夺属于槟城的拨款，槟城成功地凭借良好施政继续繁荣，我们栽培人才，在公私合作伙伴的框架上依赖私人界及公民社会的协助。州政府提供种子基金或资助整项计划，在永续发展方面，我们邀请私人公司投入资金或专才。
尽管是公共投资，很多计划或项目还是由私人界或公民社会进行，州政府极少甚至不干预。价值2000万令吉的槟城科学咖啡店计划提供孩童免费的应用科学及机器人制作训练；价值2800万令吉的槟城科学馆点燃科学工艺的兴趣；600万令吉德国双元教职培训计划提供42个月的高级文凭课程，让学生可以在工厂边做边学，德国也承认；300万令吉的槟城数码图书馆，还有每一年的乔治市节庆都展现了槟城做为创业州的模范。
槟城也是一个福利州，我们没有遗忘穷苦及弱势群体。自2008年，我们拨出超过4亿令吉的援助给学生、乐龄人士、新生儿、单亲妈妈、体障人士、家庭主妇、德士司机、渔民、三轮车、中小学至大学的学生。我们在年度预算案中拨出12%在现金援助，甚至通过加额补贴，确保月入少过790令吉的家庭获得790令吉。换句话说，如果你的家庭月入600令吉，州政府每个月加额190令吉给你。这就是为什么槟城在贫富悬殊的基尼系数从2009年0.42减少至2014年0.364，在5年内进步了13%，全国系数为0.401。
唯有通过廉洁施政，我们才能取得预算盈余，然后打造一个创业及福利州。槟城的能干、公信及透明施政让我们的储备金在八年里，从8亿5000万令吉增加至16亿令吉。槟城的政府债务也减少90%至6900万令吉，成为全马债务最低的州属。槟城的失业率为1.5%意味着还有很多就业机会。
拒绝盗贼治国 （ KLEPTOCRACY）
我们相信马来西亚人民会优先选择民主，而不是独裁统治、更不是盗贼治国。人民从来不是投给强盗政府，盗贼统治纵容政府领袖窃取公款或全民的天然资源，为自身谋利。
美国在追回盗窃资产行动组（Department of Justice’s Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative）入秉的法庭案件中，司法部充公了总值10亿美元、由不同人士利用一马公司“盗取”金钱购买的产业。美国总检察长说，上述10亿美元的资产，只是一马公司从人民身上盗取的35亿美元或130亿令吉的一部分。追回盗窃资产行动组的理论是为了阻止贪官在外国利用盗贼统治偷来的钱，在美国洗黑钱、享受贪污带来的荣华富贵。
国阵将马来西亚变成美国史上最大的盗贼治国案件，相反的希盟州政府自豪的将槟城转化为廉洁、公信与透明的模范州属。槟城成为大马历史上首个被国际透明组织因为公开招标系统而点名称赞的州属。国家稽查报告每年也称赞槟城是国内财务管理最佳的州属。然而，我们各项透过公开招标的公共计划，还是成为目标，面对一次又一次的调查。
槟城能点响拯救大马免于盗贼治国的首炮。有一些人认为行动党应该直接自行解散州议会，比照之前公正党在雪兰莪撤换州务大臣时单边的方式推出加央行动闪电补选。但我不同意。
有別於国阵的盗国主义，民主行动党的领袖是民主主义者。民主行动党不会独行独断，以单边的方式宣布提早选举，反而会尽力和3个希盟盟党达成共识。尽管面对不公平的批判，但我们仍会坚守承诺，展现诚信，因为这将是型塑一个强大联盟的基础。
撇除对于提前州选举的必要与否的争论，仍旧有些人见树不见林坚持认为希盟胜利也不能帮大马解决1MDB的丑闻。这无疑对马来西亚人民的尊严与正义感没信心，也低估了人民能改变的力量，也就是一举拒绝国阵在1MDB丑闻的偷盗行为。
我仍然记得当安华被他那来自市民社会组织的朋友批评之时候，我问过安华，加央行动到底值不值得，他重申改变虽然是痛苦及冒险，但这是有必要的因为长期来说将带来好处。
是的，面对国阵的机器，我们得冒失去议席的风险。然而，我们要对槟城有信心。我们不可以对在对与错、正与邪、廉政与贪政之前，择善固执的良善人民失去信心。马来人、华人、印度人、卡达山人及伊班人都面对共同问题，共享着马来西亚人一样的梦想，大家都得因为1MDB丑闻面对经济问题。
马币贬值、强行落实消费税、生意惨淡经营、难以觅得高收入的职位……凡此种种，都和1MDB的丑闻息息相关。难道我们终身都要囚禁在憎恨政治里，看着种族宗教间的怨愤不断发生，却模糊掉1MDB的丑闻，以及国阵滥用权力以及操弄司法的种种恶行？果真如此，我们怎能幻想未来的政治前景会变得更好，两年后变得对希望联盟更有利？那时候再办选举，恐怕大家对1MDB的怒气已经逐渐消失了。
的确，我们必须竭尽所能避免三角战，不过，谁来保证两年后，一定就是一对一单挑国阵的局势？希望联盟必须对人民有信心，在关键时刻站出来拯救我们的国家。马来西亚现在显然正走向一条危险的道路之上，我们看着巫青团针对国家银行总裁洁蒂、前反贪会大头阿布卡欣、前总检察长阿都甘尼报警处理，指这三人涉及拖首相纳吉下台的阴谋。巫青副团长凯鲁甚至指控上述三人在未获得许可之下，提供密件予外国单位包括美国的FB!……他们的所作所为，实在不可思议。
无辜的吹哨者遭到逼害、盗走马来西亚人民数十亿令吉的人却可以成不受对付的情况下继续逍遥法外。到底这些疯狂的事，什么时候才能结束呢？政党能够做的就是这么多。真正拥有权力实现变革的，就是普罗通的马来西亚人。
让槟城成为首个领导变革的州属。我们要大胆打头阵作出改革，以让我们摆脱贪污及不公正– 即使我们可能面对失去议席及选票的代价。更可怕的选择是我们失去下一代的希望和未来。我们这一代已经受够了。因为我们让国阵偷走了我们的未来。我们不能够再让国阵偷走我们下一代的未来。我们相信槟城及马来西亚是有得救的，我们也相信，槟城人会支持希望联盟，来许他们下一代一个美好的未来。
林冠英