2012 New Year Message by Lim Guan Eng in George Town on Saturday, 31^st December 2011: 

Let us embrace a future of a cleaner, greener & safer Penang that rewards those who works hard, works honestly and works smart 

For nearly 225 years since Penang first appeared on the world map, the fortunes of Penang has risen and fallen. Penang has prospered when we realise that for a state without any natural resources, we need to rely our human resources and develop human talent. Penang has declined when we forget that it is the energy, expertise and entrepreneurship of our people that makes Penang so unique.

Despite the divergent paths taken by different governments over these 225 years, Penang has managed to survive because our ties to each other were bonded by blood, tested by time and driven by shared values of respect for diversity that endured till this day. This tradition of harmony and mutual respect amongst the different ethnic groups and cultures, symbolised by mosques, churches, Indian temples and Chinese temples built near to each other, was recognised by UNESCO when George Town was awarded World Heritage City status on 7.7.2008.

For this reason, there is confience that Penang can defeat the extremists who appeal to beastly emotions and overcome the racists who play up to our worst fears that it is either to dominate or be discriminated. Let us not be stuck in the past of neglect, indifference or even intolerance.

Penang is willing to embrace the future. For this reason Penang aspires to transform ourselves into an international and intelligent state as this is the only route to survival in the globalised world.

As a state without any natural resources, we need to build up our human capital by training, retraining, retaining and attracting new human talents.

Penang must embrace a sustainable future with affordable housing and more green spaces. We must embrace green technology of the future, especially renewable and solar energy. Whilst green initiatives will continue to ensure that resources used today will still be available tomorrow, this must include affordable housing. The Penang state government has allocated the largest amount for affordable housing amongst all state governments in Malaysia, a RM500 million Affordable Housing Fund to ensure that we can bring up our children with dignity.

We must embrace a future without poverty. Penang is the first state to wipe out hard-core poverty in Malaysia in 2009 and implement social cash handouts. Penang will ensure that all households receive a minimum of RM600 monthly next year. Penang intends to also be the first state in Malaysia to wipe out poverty by 2015.

We must embrace a future of safe neighbourhoods where crime is low and the city safe for women and children. Whilst the police in Penang has done their share to keep crime low, the state government has done its part by installing CCTVs and start community policing to make Penang the safest state in Malaysia.

We need to rekindle our memory and renew our ties to the values of working hard, working honestly and working smart. Only by establishing institutions and creating conditions can we succeed in inspiring innovation especially centered on high technology, high-value added and knowledge intensive economy.

We must embrace a future of integrity and no corruption. Malaysia has endured a lost decade from 2000-9 of losses of 1,007 billion in illicit funds according to the Washington-based Global Financial Integrity Report, including corruption money, secretly taken out of Malaysia. In contrast Penang has achieved record budget surpluses every year including rescuing the Majlis Perbandaran Seberang Perai from bankruptcy ever since the PR state government implemented CAT governance of competency, accountability and transparency that has won praise from Transparency International.

Let us embrace a future of a cleaner, greener and safer Penang that rewards those who work hard, work honestly and work smart. Happy New Year 2012!

*Lim Guan Eng, Penang Chief Minister