Opening speech by DAP Secretary-General and Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng during the DAP Penang State Annual Convention
Delivering Penang's Promise Of Success To Those Who Are Honest, Work Hard, Invest In The Future And Follow Rules In A Penang That Is Clean, Green, Safe And Healthy.
Let us all begin by thanking the people of Penang for their support during these five years on DAP’s historic mission to establish a clean and people-centric government in Penang. Let us not forget you the leaders and members, who have stood steadfastly by the DAP over these last 46 years through all the pain and sorrow, overcoming all the trials and tribulations so as to ensure that the party survive to serve the rakyat.
DAP can stand up proudly that we have demonstrated that whilst we are good in opposition, we are even better as a government. When we won power in 2008, there were some doubts on our ability to govern due to our lack of experience and even some concern on our competency as we were all politicians who had spent time in prison.
After 5 years in power, not only have these doubts cleared, but there is now greater concern that we do not remain in power in Penang. What happened during these 5 years that caused this transformation from being an effective opposition to an even more effective government?
I would venture to say that DAP’s qualities of being clean and honest, loyalty to principles and the people and our unbreakable team spirit amongst DAP leaders were the basis of our success as exemplified in our slogan of CAT governance of competency, accountability and transparency. There were 6 initial challenges which set the tone of this CAT administration.
One, the public transport crisis in our very first month when Rapid Penang boycotted routes in Komtar in protest against harassment from illegal buses. We met and decided that to come our in support firmly in support of Rapid Penang and phase out illegal buses, resolving a 20 year old problem that has plagued Penang consumers.
Two, the spectre of bankruptcy in Majlis Perbandaran Seberang Perai(MPSP) which lost RM230 million in 7 years. We implemented key reforms and forced out key officials buying Mercedes Benz and suspected of accumulating extraordinary wealth. We managed to record a surplus in our very first year at the end of 2008 for MPSP after 10 previous years of deficit. Now MPSP is in the black and the PR state government has saved MPSP from bankruptcy by the BN.
Three, the land scams created by the BN state government over the last 50 years resulting not only in losses but also control over the state’s resources. The previous BN state government had given 4,000 acres of land at either low pricing, free or very attractive payment terms. Some like the Jelutong Expressway reclamation project was given a 10 year repayment term and title deeds of Pulau Jerejak was issued to UDA even though the land premium was not paid. Worse was the RM40 million Tang Hak Ju land scandal, where the state government is still trying to retrieve the money from court. Again we transferred out land officials involved in these scams with the BN state government. YB Chow Kon Yeow is now preparing a White Paper on these 4,000 acres of land scams by the BN state government.
Four, the attempt by BN to pinning the blame on the PR state government for the 150 year old Kampung Buah Pala land scandal when BN had sold off the state land secretly and given all development approvals. PR had resolved this by forcing the developer to provide a double-storey house, the best compensation package in Malaysian history. Kampung Buah Pala is not demolished but still lives in dignity and comfort. Unfortunately BN had sabotaged the state government’s efforts resulting in 9 families missing out of this package.
Five, racist and extremist demonstrations by UMNO and Perkasa towards our reforms in implementing open competitive tenders, giving annual allocations to schools and putting up bilingual road signs in George Town. We faced down these nearly weekly demonstrations by proving that we are fair to all regardless of race and religion. Many times more money has been allocated for Islamic affairs than compared to the previous state government and the PR state government even took the bold step to acquire Chinese-owned land for a Muslim cemetery in Jelutong.
Six, the greatest challenge to Penang state government’s right to appoint the best person for the job in the civil service regardless of race, religion or gender. Penang can not succeed in our goal of being an international and intelligent city without a civil service that is also intelligent and internationally benchmarked. We persisted, no, insisted that only those who are competent and clean without any political ambitions qualify. Fortunately Penang PR has a 2/3 majority which is why it is important for PR to retain this 2/3 majority for Penangites to decide their own destiny instead of being dictated to by Putrajaya. Remember, only when we appoint the best, only then can we be on top of the rest.
DAP leaders together with our PR colleagues faced these intial challenges together firmly and with decisive leadership. We succeeded because we are clean and loyal to principles and the people. And look at the successes of CAT governance in Penang.
Penang became No.1 in investment in Malaysia for the first time in our history in 2010. We repeated that again in 2011, proving that our success was no fluke but a fact. Penang contributed 28% of Malaysia’s FDI during those 2 years. 10 days ago Agilent Technologies announced a USD 200 million investment and B. Braun a RM1.75 billion investment in Penang;
Penang remains No.1 in medical tourism with 60% of total medical receipts. Penang was voted as one of the top 8 islands in the world you must explore before you die by Yahoo Travel. The George Town Heritage Festival and our efforts at heritage conservation has brought George Town back to life, with our mural painting on the walls of old shophouses gaining international recognition. The tourism sector has grown with the capacity of Penang International Airport reaching the new capacity of 5 million passengers a year by next year. There has to be a new expansion project immediately upon completion of the Airport next year;
The yearly record budget surpluses and 95% reduction in state government debts that was commended by the Auditor-General’s Report;
Adopted the 6 integrity measures of fighting corruption that has won praise from Transparency International of making a public declaration of assets, implementing open competitive tenders, bar family members from being involved with government contracts, protect genuine whistleblowers, remove leaders with extravagant lifestyles and come clean on political donations;
Allocating RM500 million for the Penang Affordable Housing Programme to build 18,000 units throughout the state including the island, the largest amount by any state government. To ensure quality affordable housing, HDB Singapore has been appointed to ensure that good quality public housing in Singapore will also be available in Penang. 12,000 units of public housing has been built over the last 5 years, 4,000 units by Penang Development Corporation and 8,000 units by the private sector;
Spending RM100 million in cash to the people under the various “golden” programmes to senior citizens, disabled, single mothers, public university students, new parents, primary and secondary school children as well as annual allocations to Sekolah Agama Rakyat, Chinese and Tamil schools;
Becoming the first state in Malaysia to wipe out hard-core poverty in 2009 and will become the first in Malaysia to wipe out poverty by 2013 under the Agenda Ekonomi Saksama(AES). As the poverty line indicator is RM763 per month for every household, Penang can only be free from poverty if every family is assured of receiving RM770 per month.To ensure every family gets RM770 per month, the state government will make up the shortfall monthly. In other words, if a family gets RM600 per month, the state government will top up with RM170 every month – not every 5 years or every 50 years;
Implementing democratic reforms such as the setting up the first Speakers Corner in Malaysia, passing the Freedom of Information and the Penang Local Government Elections Enactment to provide for freedom of speech and information as well as the 3rd vote to strengthen grassroots democracy;
Respecting Islam as the religion of Penang and freedom of religion by increasing allocation funding, land and setting up Majlis Syura and the non-Islamic Religious Affairs EXCO portfolio to manage matters relating to non-Muslims. No tokong, kuil and surau has been torn down except for one Hindu shrine by the Federal Government’s Penang Port Sdn Bhd(PPSB). Instead the Kek Lok Si Temple and Murugan Waterfall Temple was finally opened during the PR state government.
Spending 55% more on development infrastructure than the previous government in building roads on the island and the mainland, futsal courts, public halls, Syariah courts and drainage. Proposing major infrastructure projects such as the 3rd link of a sea tunnel between Gurney Drive and Butterworth as well as revitalising Komtar and a new exhibition and convention centre in sPice at PISA. There will also be a new exhibition and convention centre to be announced next week.
Becoming the first to adopt green initiatives such as no free plastic bags, banning polystyrene bags, no-smoking zones, creating more public parks and bicycle lanes, car-free Sundays and achieving a recycling rate of 26 % this year when the national target is 20% by 2020;
Making George Town the most livable city(according to ECA International) for the first time in Malaysia in 2011 and repeated again in 2012.
There is so many more achievements. But no one can deny that we have done more in 5 years than BN has one in 18 years. We have shown that despite our inexperience we can perform better than BN anytime, anyplace anywhere.
All these achievements are under threat. UMNO had declared their confidence of winning not only a 2/3 parliamentary majority but also Penang. Do not underestimate BN and UMNO. Do not underestimate the effectiveness of lies, threats and money politics as well as racist and extremist sentiments. UMNO are masters at these dirty tactics.
I know DAP leaders and members are not afraid of losing. But the people of Penang can not afford to lose their future to UMNO and BN. For the next general elections determines not just the fate of DAP but the destiny of the people. UMNO will ensure all our “golden programmes” for the rakyat and yearly allocations to schools will be gone. UMNO will ensure our democratic reforms and integrity measures will be replaced by a harsh repressive regime that is corrupt. UMNO will ensure a people-centric government will be replaced by a crony-driven government.
Just look at the way the RM43 million Tanjung City Marina is abandoned and the RM250 million expansion of the Penang International Airport is built serves to remind us how BN will govern Penang.
The next elections is crucial because it is about the people not about the politicians, it is about their future not about who holds what posts, it is how the people benefit from good policies and not about cutting off your ears and jumping into the river! Let us therefore unite as DAP who can bring change, prosperity, justice, freedom, democracy and public welfare to the people!
We in the DAP offer to deliver the Penang’s Promise of success to those who are honest, work hard, invest in the future and follow rules in a Penang that is clean, green, safe and healthy. DAP believes in the Penang basic character that to succeed we must be honest, to prosper we need to work hard, for our children to do well we as parents and government must invest in the future and for Penang to succeed, there must be rules – rule of law not rule by men.
This is the basic character for Penang’s past successes. Without any natural resources, it is the people who are the reason for Penang’s successes. And that is why the Penang PR state government and the DAP remains optimistic and confident in Penang’s future because we have faith in you the people. Whatever our obstacles or our problems we believe that the people will find a solution as long as the government is of the people, by the people and for the people.
We believe in Penang because we believe in the goodness of the people of Penang –Malays, Chinese Indians that goodness and hard work prevails. The state government will strive to reflect that basic character of Penangites because we believe in you!
