Penang 2017 New Year Message By Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng In Komtar, George Town On 1.1.2017.
The Penang State Government Will Continue To Revive And Revitalised Past Abandoned Or Failed Projects In the Services Sector Especially Tourism, To Be The Main Economic Driver In 2017.
The Penang state government will continue to revive and revitalised past abandoned or failed projects in the services sector especially tourism, to be the main economic driver in 2017. Even though manufacturing sector will play an important role in our economy, its contribution to Penang’s GDP last year has dropped to 45% compared to 50% for the services sector.
Moreover, 2017 will be a even more challenging year following the the shock election of US President Donald Trump, whose golden rule, especially on global economy and trade, is that there are are no more rules. Donald Trump is intent on keeping and creating job in US and punishing American companies who move out of US by imposing tariffs on their products sold in US.
There is a need for Penang to adapt to these fast-changing geo-political developments. In view of uncertainty relating to US companies’ new manufacturing investments in Penang, there is a need to consider alternatives and new game-changers such as the services sector, especially tourism and art as new economic drivers.
As a first step, the Penang state government has launched tourism initiatives encompassing both new new green field projects and reviving abandoned and failed brown field projects. Some of new green field projects include:-
• both the new RM10 billion township in Batu Kawan with universities, hospitals, premium retail outlets(Penang Design Village) and Ikea super-retail mall;
• a new convention center in Jelutong(IJM’s Waterfront);
• new theme parks in Teluk Bahang, Pulau Jerejak and Batu Kawan;
• a new 5-star hotel and world-class hall in Seberang Jaya;
• Karpal Singh Drive, the new waterfront in Penang;
• RM30 million Penang Arts District near the UNESCO World Heritage site of George Town; and
• Malaysia best sea-front project, the magnificent Gurney Wharf that is being reclaimed from the sea.
A more significant success is the revival of abandoned and failed projects by the previous BN government(brown fields) such as:-
• Penang Hill which carries 1.6 million passengers this year, more than the 200,000 passengers yearly before 2008;
• Komtar’s RM200 million revival as the most exciting indoor theme park in Malaysia with spectacular views at the top of its 68 storey building;
• Revival of George Town as a world-class UNESCO heritage enclave;
• Refurbishment and upgrading of the golf course in Bukit Jambul now known as the Penang Golf Club;
• Entopia the most beautiful butterfly farm in the world; and
• Penang’s first exhibition center, the RM 750 million sPICE or sub-terranean Penang International Convention and Exhibition Center replacing the failed PISA in Bayan Baru.
The singular success of Penang state government in reviving the previous government’s failed projects is highlighted by Komtar’s RM200 million new look. The previous government had wanted to abandon Komtar for dead by escaping to Bayan Mutiara’s new administrative center. However, the new Penang state government in 2008 decided to stay put and fight, to revive Komtar through a unique public private people partnership.
Only our political opponents refuse to see the value and success of turning around their failed projects by bringing dead projects back to life. Who are the real frogs who live under the coconut husk(katak di bawah tempurung) by such continuous denial of facts and ignorance of reality?
The Penang state government will also explore new initiatives to expand medical tourism in our pursuit to establish Penang as a medical city and reinforce Penang’s position in commanding more than 50% of Malaysia’s medical tourism receipts. In pursuing these objectives in line with Penang as an entrepreneurial state, the state government will also work in parallel towards Malaysia’s first welfare state that is clean, green, safe and healthy.
Only then can we wish a Happy New Year 2017 to all 1.6 million Penangites.
LIM GUAN ENG
—-Mandarin —
槟州首席部长林冠英于2017年1月1日在乔治市发表元旦献词：
槟州政府将继续振顿及复兴服务业中从前被搁置或失败的计划，特别是旅游业，让它成为2017年的经济催化剂。
槟州政府会继续振顿及复兴从前被搁置及失败的计划，特别是旅游业，让它成为2017年的经济催化剂。虽然制造业将在我们的经济中扮演重要的角色，它去年在槟城国民生产总值所占份额中跌至45%，服务业则占了50%。
此外，2017年将是更具挑战的一年，虽着特朗普当选美国总统震惊世界，在世界经济及贸易中所谓的黄金规则，已经变成无规则可言。特朗普旨在为美国保住及创造就业机会，通过征收内销产品的税务，惩罚那些把工厂移到外国的美国公司。
槟城有必要适应这些地理政治发展的迅速变化。由于槟城制造业的美国投资额有许多不确定性，我们有必须重新考虑替代行业及改变游戏规则的创新推手，比如服务业，特别是艺术及旅游业为新的经济驱动器。
首先，槟城政府已经推展了数个旅游措施， 包括开拓全新领域以及振兴被搁置及失败的计划。全新设立的投资项目包括：
• 耗资100亿令吉打造峇都加湾新镇，包括大学、医院、精品零售店及IKEA购物中心
• 在日落洞兴建新的会展中心 (IJM’s Waterfront);
• 在直落巴巷、木寇山及峇都加湾兴建新的主题公园。
• 在诗布朗再也兴建新的五星级酒店及世界级礼堂
• 卡巴星大道做为槟城新的滨水区
• 在靠近联合国世界文化遗产区乔治市的地区耗资3000万令吉打造槟城艺术专区
• 正在填海打造一个全马最好的滨海区-新关仔角码头。
更加显著的成就还在于振顿及复兴前朝政府搁置或失败的计划，例如：
• 升旗山今年载客量达160万人，2008年之前为每年20万人
• 光大2亿令吉复兴计划包含了全马最好玩的室内主题乐园及68楼观景台。
• 复兴乔治市成为世界级的联合国世界文化遗产区
• 装修及提升武吉加姆高尔夫球场成为目前的槟城高尔夫球俱乐部。
• Entopia虫鸣大地是全世界最美丽的蝴蝶公园
• 槟城第一个会展中心SPICE，耗资7亿5000万令吉，取代峇央峇鲁委靡的PISA
槟城州政府在振顿及复兴前朝政府失败的工程中，最显著的一项成就就是耗资2亿令吉让兴大华丽转身。前朝政府曾经打算置弃光大，然后在峇央珍珠湾另外成立新的行政中心，但是，槟州政府2008年上台后，决定留守光大，通过独特的公私合作伙伴计划振兴光大。
只有我们的政敌拒绝看一看他们那些失败计划起死回生的价值及成就。谁才是真正的井底之蛙、继续否认及无视事实的存在？
槟城政府会继续探讨新的方法，拓展医疗旅游业，打造槟城成为一个医疗城市，加强槟城的地位，它占了我国医疗旅游收入的50%。在打造槟城成为一个企业州之际，槟城也矢将同时成为马来西亚第一个净、绿、安、康的福利州。
此时，让我们祝贺全槟160万人民：2017年元旦快乐。
林冠英