Speech by
Lim Guan Eng in Komtar Building upon his swearing-in on Tuesday,11st March 2008:
Penang DAP
& PKR coalition government’s Agenda for Change to re-establish rule by
the rakyat
Three days
ago, the people of Penang voted for change by giving DAP and PKR a clear
mandate of a two-thirds majority to form a coalition government. Today,
we present you the Agenda for Change – from this Government of the
rakyat.
DAP and PKR’s coalition government’s Agenda for Change to re-establish
rule by the rakyat will centre on the key areas of Economy, Governance
and the Social Needs of the People.
This is a government that is based on democracy – the core of
governance. This is a government that advocates and practices Integrity
and Transparency. This is also a government that believes in equal
opportunity and socio-economic justice.
PKR wakil rakyats led by their President YB WAN AZIZAH BINTI WAN ISMAIL
and Penang PKR Chair YB Datuk ZAHRAIN MOHAMED HASHIM as well as DAP
wakil rakyats are humbled by the strong mandate given by the people of
Penang to us. We are committed to fulfilling our promises made in the
last general elections. We shall work hard to try and not disappoint
you. With the support of the Penang people, we are here to build a
Dynamic Penang for All.
A dynamic economy for Penang’s future
We want to foster a harmonious relationship between the federal and the
state governments in all aspects, as it is our earnest endeavour to
create a strong, dynamic economy for the benefits of the people of
Penang. To this purpose I shall be seeking an appointment to meet with
the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on listening and
addressing the needs of the people of Penang expressed in the general
elections on 8 March such as using Petronas proceeds to fully fund the
construction cost of the Federal government’s 2nd Penang Bridge project.
We will adopt an investor-friendly policy and take active steps to
attract local and foreign investments that create more high-paying jobs.
Besides reviewing the incentive programmes to encourage the high-tech
and manufacturing industries in upgrading themselves on the global value
chain, we will also seek ways to assist the SMIs/SMEs to align
themselves with the export markets in the region by using Penang as the
base for their enterprises. We will hold dialogues and hear the inputs
of investors and businesses to make Penang a competitive market economy.
More importantly, we will run the government administration free from
the New Economic Policy (NEP) that breeds cronyism, corruption and
systemic inefficiency. We will implement an open tender system for all
government procurement and contracts. We will also practice transparency
by uploading information of such tender bids in an internet portal to be
set up in future for public access.
Instead, we strongly advocate a stakeholders’ economy for all –
irrespective of race and religions – and based on the principle of
shared prosperity in an equitable manner. We will encourage companies
which undertake government contracts worth above RM10 million in Penang
to contribute part of their profits for the benefits of the people.
Tourism
Tourism has been a significant revenue generator for the state, and we
want to see Penang re-capture its past glory as a major in-bound tourist
destination for tourists from the local and the global markets. Health
tourism that has now gained immense popularity in the region will be
fully exploited as Penang could offer service packages that are similar,
if not better, than those available outside the country. Tourism
infrastructure will be enhanced and we will seek the views of the
tourist industry on any regulatory obstruction that hampers the
promotion of Penang as a major in-bound tourist attraction.
The state government of Penang will depend on Penang’s home grown talent
to develop and prosper Penang to secure our place in the rapidly
changing globalised world where skill and capital resources are of prime
importance. Towards this objective, we will introduce various strategic
steps to culminate in a “Brain Gain” effect where vast talents of the
‘Penang Diaspora’ now residing in all parts of the world, will either
return to Penang, or network with the State Government’s initiatives
from their adopted bases, to generate business opportunities.
Demoracy in governance
The DAP-PKR Coalition Government is a government that is based on the
tenets of democracy – the core of governance.
We shall attempt to restore Local Government elections in accordance to
provisions under Article 113(4) of the Constitution. We will take the
necessary steps to return the third vote of the Parliamentary Democracy
by the end of our term. In the interim, we will review the current
practice of only political appointees as representatives in the
municipal councils. We shall exercise section 10(2) of the Local
Government Act by appointing some professionals in their respective
profession, commerce or industry and representatives from the
Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) as members of local government.
Strict measures will also be taken to ensure municipal councilors and
council officials enhance the quality of public services. We will not
compromise on the responsiveness in service delivery.
This state government will uphold the spirit of the Constitution to
allow all people to enjoy basic human rights including freedom of
religion and speech. We will direct our Members of Parliament, alongside
other elected representatives, to initiate the enacting of a Freedom of
Information Act to allow full access of available information that does
not harm public interest.
Open tender system for government procurement and contracts
We subscribe
to Integrity and Transparency in our governance. Government procurement
will only be awarded through open tender, and priority will be given to
Penang-incorporated contractors. An online portal will be set up to
publish the list of qualified contractors, and the tendering process and
relevant details, for public scrutiny.
Similarly, the Chief Minister, State EXCO members, Speaker and Deputy
Speaker together with the respective heads of Majlis Perbandaran Pulau
Pinang and Majlis Perbandaran Seberang Perai will be required to publicly
declare their personal assets.
Social needs of the people
Scarcity of
land for residential holdings has led to escalating costs and prices of
housing. This government will seek ways to bring affordable housing to
the Penang People besides enhancing the quality of life of the house
owners.
Traffic congestion has become worse and a public transport that is still
unreliable. We shall be seeking views and inputs to see how both
problems can be resolved and commit ourselves to a significant
improvement by the end of our term.
I will meet the president of the Majlis Perbandaran Pulau Pinang (MPPP)
and other relevant state agencies today to review the suitability of the
entire Penang Global City Centre (PGCC) project that has aroused much
concern among the Penang People.
I will also meet up with the relevant federal agencies today on how and
whether it is possible to cancel the collection at the Sungai Nyior toll
plaza that has triggered serious public complaints and unhappiness.
Waiver of all summonses involving hawker licenses and parking fees
before March 11 2008
The Penang
state government firmly believes in shared prosperity, and we have a
heart for the lower income group who are burdened by the escalating cost
of living. We have promised to take care of the poor and the lower
income group of the society.
As a first step, I hereby announce that all compounds and summons for
offences involving parking and hawker license issued by MPPP and MPSP
before today, March 11, shall be waived.
However, we need to stress vehemently that it takes both the government
and the People to realize the ideals for a Dynamic Penang. We must
remember that the waiver for the arrears of offences for parking and
hawker licences is just a one-time arrangement to help reduce the
burdens faced the people, especially the poor.
On the other hand, there are larger-picture issues involved. In the
past, Penang has earned recognition for the wrong reasons, including the
notoriety as being “filthy”, and having a “chaotic traffic system”. As
the Penang people have voted for change, we should also bid farewell to
such stigmas and resolve to change our past habits. Let us each do our
part to keep our traffic orderly, and to help our hawkers maintain a
clean and healthy environment.
But more importantly, the new Penang state government is the Government
of the People. We want the people of Penang to treat your government as
your friend. And friends must work together and complement each other to
make a Dynamic Penang a reality.
*
Lim Guan Eng, Chief Minister of Penang,
MP for Bagan, SA for Air Puteh & DAP Secretary-General