Speech by YAB Tuan Lim Guan Eng, Chief Minister of Penang at AMCHAM Penang Dialogue 2016
Introduction
I wish to thank the American Malaysian Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) for organizing and inviting me to speak at the AMCHAM Penang Dialogue 2016 today. Also, the presence of many industry captains is a strong testimony that Penang remains a vital investment and reinvestment locations for many of these American Multinational companies.
On July 1st this year, Mr. Joseph Y. Yun, former Ambassador of United States to Malaysia, and I marked the US 240th Independence Day at a Gala Dinner in Penang. The recently concluded US elections which saw the election of Mr. Donald Trump as the next US President. We regret and are concerned at his anti-free trade policies.
Penang investment records
Despite the challenging global economic environment, Penang has recorded strong investment over last 8 years. For the 8 years period between 2008-2015, Penang recorded an investment of RM 55 billion, a 90% increase compared to the previous 8 years period 2000 to 2007 of RM 29 billion. Out of the RM55 billion approved investment recorded from 2008-2015, RM13.7 billion or 25% were from US investors, which makes US as the largest FDI contributor to the Penang economy. In the first eight months of 2016, USA is the third largest manufacturing FDI contributor to Penang with FDI totalling RM390.3 million.
A large portion of Foreign Direct Investments in Penang is from the United States, and this includes luminaries such as Jabil, HP, Sandisk and Flex. Boston Scientific is the latest in a series of FDIs and is the direct result of the State government’s efforts in steering Penang towards becoming a high-income and a knowledge economy. Apart from manufacturing, US MNCs are also expanding into the Global Business Services (GBS) sector in Penang.
The State government will continue to focus on good governance and clean leadership, increasing our talent pool and improving public infrastructure. We also seek convergence in the public, manufacturing and services sector to enable us to partake in the 4th Industrial Revolution of Big Data Analytics, Cloud Computing, IOT and e-commerce.
Increasing talent pool
As part of the State’s effort in retaining talents, the Penang Future Foundation awards merit based scholarships to Malaysian undergraduates in local public as well as private universities studying in designated courses identified by the industry and services sectors. Upon completion of their studies, scholars would only be required to work in Penang in any company or agencies of their choice for a period of up to 8 years.
Another program launched late year is the first ever German Dual Vocational Training Program. This skill development program, based on the world renowned German vocational training module, will see apprentices hired by and working in factories (with guidance from experienced tutors) and studying in designated centres such as PSDC. The Penang State Government is allocating RM2 mil to pay the tuition fees. Being hired by the companies, students will also receive monthly salaries. In other words students under this programme are paid to study.
We have also invested RM23 million into @CAT at Wisma Yeap Chor Ee as a platform and launch pad in bringing the tech-startup community under one roof and provide the necessary support and services to build a strong ecosystem which includes promotion and teaching of coding and makerfest. Penang has also established Penang Science Café, RM28 million Penang Tech Dome and the recently launched RM3.5 million Penang Digital Library to spur the interest of our children and to provide an avenue for them to learn science and technology in an interactive and fun manner. We encourage them in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education to establish Penang as a Centre of Excellence for science & technology.
Improving public infrastructure
It is the state government’s belief that “the business of government is not to get into business”. The state government believes that we play a much better role when we work towards building public infrastructure for the people and businesses in Penang. Whilst it is not possible to list out all of our initiatives, I wish to highlight on Penang’s flood mitigation allocation and the Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP).
In the recently tabled Penang state budget 2017, the state government has allocated RM220 million for flood mitigation project, the largest Penang state allocation for flood mitigation. Whilst flood mitigation is under the responsibility of the Federal government, only RM150 million was approved by the Federal government, instead of the total cost of RM350 for RTB Sungai Pinang. To ensure that the Penang people and businesses is not affected by floods in the state, the RM220 million by the state will be able to provide long-term solutions to mitigate flooding caused by climate change.
The RM27 billion Penang Transport Master Plan which covers the Bayan Lepas LRT, Pan Island Link (PIL) and Penang South Reclamation (PSR) is the state government’s plan to address the lack of an efficient public transportation system and traffic congestion in the state. It will consist of a combination of LRT, monorail, BRT and tram and the Pan Island Link to address the strategic importance of traffic dispersal. We believe that an efficient public transport will make Penang more liveable and encourage more investments into the state.
Closing
Once again, I wish to congratulate and thank AMCHAM for organising this dialogue today. Penang is proud that we have over 40 years of industrial experience, and host to many reputable American MNCs that has chosen Penang to invest in. With the state government’s focus on good governance and clean leadership, increasing talent pool and improving public infrastructure, we are confident that Penang will remain as a destination of choice to the American investors for many more years to come.
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槟州首席部长林冠英于2016年12月6日 在槟城美国商会对话会上发表演讲，重点如下：
在最近结束的美国总统选举中，特朗普当选成为下一届美国总统，我们对于他的反自由贸易政策表示遗憾和关注。
槟城投资
尽管面对全球经济环境的挑战，槟城在过去八年的投资额相当稳健，在2008-2015年期间，槟城吸引到的投资额达550万令吉，比之前8年，即2000-2007年期间的290亿令吉增加了90%。上述在2008-2015年期间涌入的550亿令吉投资额当中，137亿令吉或25%来自美国投资者，美国因此成为槟城经济体贡献最大外来直接投资者。2016年首8个月，美国是槟州制造业第三大外来直接投资者，投资额达3亿9030万令吉。
州政府相信，政府的责任就是不做生意。州政府相信，我们在为人民及商业打造公共设施扮演更好的角色。我们不可能列出所有已经采取的措施，我想在此特别说明槟城治水拨款及槟州交通大蓝图。
在2017年的槟城财政预算案中，州政府已经拨出了2亿2000万令吉用于治水用途，是槟州为了防范水灾的最大笔拨款。尽管治水是联邦政府的责任，但是，联邦政府仅仅拨出了1亿5000万令吉，而不是槟榔河治水计划所需的3亿5000万。为了确保槟城人民及商家不受水患影响，州政府所拨出的2亿2000万令吉将为气候变化所导致的水灾问题提供长期的解决方案。
价值270亿令吉的槟城交通大蓝图将涵盖峇六拜轻快铁、泛岛连接及槟岛南部填土计划是州政府为了解决州内缺乏有效公共交通系统及交通阻塞的策略。上述大蓝图将包括轻快铁、单轨列车、快速公交系统（BRT）、电车及泛岛连接，用以疏导交通的重要策略。我们相信有效的公共交通将能够让槟城更加宜居、也鼓励更多投资。