2012 Penang Chap Goh Meh Message by Lim Guan Eng in Komtar, George Town on Sunday, 5^th February 2012: 

2012 Penang Chap Goh Meh Message  

Penang shall trust the future in the young not only by practicing integrity In leadership and good governance but also by fulfilling the promise of providing digital intelligence, building a culture of innovation and good education

As the Chinese New Year celebration ends with Chap Goh Meh, Penang awaits another year of challenges towards greater prosperity as well as a cleaner, greener and safer Penang.

Penang shall trust the future in the young not only by practicing integrity in leadership and good governance but also by fulfilling the promise of providing digital intelligence, building a culture of innovation and good education. Whilst integrity and good governance has been the success story behind Penang as the best governed state in Malaysia, these two elements alone are not enough to secure the future for Penang.

The promise of digital intelligence must be fulfilled to connect to cyberspace. Connectivity has become as essential as roads and electricity. Once connected to the Internet, this is one of the last things anyone would be willing to give up if they had to reduce their expenses. Being connected is not only crucial for keeping up with friends' activities socially, it increasingly means access to income.

For this reason, Penang has undertaken an ambitious first ever free wifi project in Malaysia with 1,550 free wifi hotspots throughout Penang. So far 1,300 free wifi hotspots have been installed and will be completed by next year.

The promise of building a culture of innovation must be fulfilled with the establishment of a Penang Science Council(PSC). The PSC aims to establish Penang as a center of excellence for science and technology by rekindling interest amongst the young to choose science as their career choice. PSC is unique in that despite being supported by the government and with participation by the academia, it is driven purely by industry. Amongst some of the projects:-

• the annual Penang International Science Fair, the first one in Malaysia that is held in a sports stadium;

• the proposed Penang Tech Center showcasing the latest technology available in Penang; and

• the open tender for the Penang International Research And Innovation Incubator, the first privately-funded science research center in Malaysia at Fishermen Wharf in Bayan Baru.

Penang must fulfil the promise of providing a good education through the annual allocation for schools, encouragement of more private schools of excellence in Penang and the proposed Education Hub in Balik Pulau. The Penang PR state government believes that education can bring the young together where they can be united by common goals of rewarding performance, open ideas and principled ideals regardless of race, religion or gender.

Penang shall trust the future to the young, they have longer to live in it.

*Lim Guan Eng, Penang Chief Minister