Penang Christmas Day Message By Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng In Komtar, George Town On 25.12.2016.
The Penang state government wishes both Penangites and the record number of tourists here a Merry Christmas. 1.6 million Penangites must remain united in fighting religious extremism, racism and corruption as well as stand steadfast against those who try to bully the public by using the weapons of money politics, lies and fear.
We must uphold rule of law that is colour-blind and reject racists who try to look at every action through the racial lens of being either anti-Chinese, anti-Malay or anti-Indian. Enforcement action taken against a Chinese or a Muslim, does not make the state government anti-Chinese or anti-Muslim.
We must uphold Islam as the religion of the Federation without jeopardizing freedom of religion. The state government shall not allow unilateral conversion of religion by any one parent but preserve the present situation where both parents must agree before allowing the changing of the religion of their child.
We must uphold prioritizing education and health whereby these two key sectors will not be the first to face budget cuts. The Penang state government guarantees that the yearly allocations for vernacular and religous schools shall be continued and not reduced every year.
Is the Federal government is so “poor” that for the second year running, it can not even find RM50 million development funds promised for Chinese primary schools this year. The Penang state government repeats its offer to lend RM50 million to the Federal government to help them meet their promise to give RM50 million for Chinese primary schools.
We must uphold CAT governance of competency, accountability and transparency to continue to record annual budget surpluses and low debts. Since 2008, Penang has recorded accumulated budget surpluses of RM574 million over the last 8 years, which is more than what BN achieved over the last 50 years they ruled Penang from 1957-2007. The Penang state government received a total revenue of RM4,947 million since 2008. Land sales revenue since 2008 amounted to RM658 million or 13% of the total revenue of RM4,947 million. The state government had allocated RM500 million out of the land sales revenue for the Public and Affordable Housing Fund.
We must uphold our dream of making Penang the first green state in Malaysia. Penang has the highest recycling rate at 32% compared to the national average of 11%. Penang is installing a common bike sharing system and building a dedicated bicycle land across the state. Not a single square inch of forest reserves have been cut down and 271,000 new trees have been planted since 2008. No high-rise development is permitted beyond 250 feet. CAT governance, protecting our forests and hills has resulted in our water dams being full and no water rationing being imposed in Penang, unlike in other states.
We must uphold our focus on building basic infrastructure and human talent so that Penang can be a location of choice for investors, a destination of choice for tourists and a habitat of choice for those who desire a livable city that is clean, green, safe and healthy.
LIM GUAN ENG
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槟城州首席部长于2016年12月25日在乔治市光大发表的圣诞节献词。
槟城州政府祝全体槟城人民及到槟城旅游的游客圣诞快乐。160万名槟城人必须向极端的宗教主义、种族主义及贪污抗争，还有必须坚定不移的对抗那些以金钱政治、谎言及恐惧当武器欺压公众的人士。
我们要崇尚“色盲”的法治制度，也就是一视同仁没肤色之分的法治，同时要拒绝那些动辄以种族放大镜指责反华人、反马来人、反印度人的种族主义分子。执法大队向华人或穆斯林采取行动的时候，并不表示州政府就是反华人或反穆斯林。
我们秉持在不影响宗教自由之下伊斯兰教作为联邦的宗教。州政府不会允许一位家长单方面为孩子转教，会坚持如今的规定就是孩子转教必须获得两位家长的同意。
我们必须秉持教育与健康卫生为优先，减少预算绝不能以这两项领域率先下手。槟城州政府保证每年华小、国民型中学、教会学校及宗教学校的教育制度化拨款会继续下去而且不会减少。
如今联邦政府是否已经穷到连续两年筹措不到教育拨款，连承诺今年要拨给华文小学的5000万令吉发展拨款也筹措不到。槟城州政府要再次提出可贷款5000万令吉予联邦政府以协助他们兑现要拨款5000万令吉给华小的承诺。
我们要秉持能干、公信、透明的良好施政，才能持续的获得财政盈余及低债务。自2008年至今，槟城财政盈余8年来累积5亿7400万令吉，较国阵1957至2007年治下50年所累积的还要高。槟州政府自2008年以来的总收入是49亿4700万令吉。自2008年出售土地的收入共6亿5800万令吉或49亿4700万令吉的13%。同时州政府在售地的收入中拨出5亿令吉作为兴建公屋及可负担房屋基金。
我们要坚持把槟城打造为马来西亚第一个绿州的梦想。槟城有着全国最高的32%垃圾回收率，相比全国平均只有11%的垃圾回收率。槟城正在进行及安装更多的脚车共租系统及在州内各处兴建脚车专用道。自2008年以来没有任何一片森林保留地被砍伐过，并且在州内种植了27万1000棵新树。没有在超过250尺的地方批建高楼。能干公信透明的施政，保护了我们的森林及山峦，所以造就水坝蓄水满涨，不像其他州属必须面对制水。
我们要坚持在专注建设基础设施及培养人才，如此槟城才能继续成为投资者的投资地点、游客的旅游胜地及人们安居乐业，清洁、绿化、安全及健康的宜居城市。
林冠英