Remember DAP Is Not Interested In Only Being Better Than BN. Penang DAP Wants To Advocate A New Model Of Governance For Malaysia Based On Institution That Is Built Around Integrity And Centred On Competency.
All comrades from Penang,
Happy New Year 2014, Selamat Maulidur Rasul, Happy Ponggal and Thaipusam and Happy New Year of the Horse!
January 2014 is proving to be a big month with a whole series of important announcements that allowed Penang to start off the new year with a bang. The state government has relentlessly pursued a transformation of Penang into an international and intelligent city that allows Penang to escape the middle-income trap into a high-income economy as well as ensuring economic equity with balanced development in infrastructure and economic programs, cash aid and creating history as the first state in Malaysia to wipe out poverty.
The latter social welfare aspect, amounting to RM150 million over 5 years as part of a people-centric government, can only be achieved if we have sufficient funds. An efficient budget administration that is essentially corruption-free and performance-based, which the Auditor-General’s Report consistently praises as the best-managed in the country, has provided the necessary budget surpluses, debt reduction and increased assets.
All this is achieved without any price hikes in 2014 by the state government whether in quit rent, assessment or water tariffs. In contrast the BN Federal government is starting their new term in office with price hikes in petrol, sugar, power tariffs and highway tolls for 2014. To distract and divert attention from the price hikes, UMNO is relying on stoking the dangerous fires of racial and religious hatred.
Whilst we are proud of Penang as the only state in Malaysia that did not impose price hikes, we must not dismiss the effectiveness of UMNO’s extremist games. For this reason, apart from supporting the Hindu Endowment Board, the state government is proposing a similar structure of a Chinese Temple Endowment Board that does not interfere in the existing management and running of Chinese temples.
For the next stage in our second term in office, it is critical that we rely not only on savings and cost-cutting but also on generating revenue sources. The state government is moving up the value chain from a budget-based to an outcome-based administration, with emphasis not just on optimizing “value for money” but also on the broad effectiveness in achieving the desired socio-development goals.
To escape the middle-income trap is more difficult. Whether Penang will create a second historical record and become the first high-income state in Malaysia, would depend on whether we can be the location of choice for advanced manufacturing and services sector, the destination of choice for tourists and the habitat of choice for human talents who desire sustainable living.
Developing and attracting human talent is the critical success factor for Penang. An ecosystem of high quality educational system from primary to tertiary level, good and reliable healthcare as well as a dynamic entertainment, art,culture and heritage center that will allow the best and brightest to live, learn work and play in Penang.
We have recorded some early successes with companies in the advanced manufacturing and services sector. Penang was No.1 in terms of investment in Malaysia from 2010 to August 2013. Citigroup, Air Asia and Wilmar (the USD 45 billion edible oil giant) have invested in the services sector in Penang. On the tourism front, we have now two theme parks Escape Theme Park and WWW water theme Park in Batu Ferringhi.
After a long wait, we have finally succeeded in drawing in IKEA to come to Batu Kawan, the first IKEA store outside Kuala Lumpur. A premium retail outlet, the second one in Malaysia after Johor, will also be in Batu Kawan.Batu Kawan will also be the home of universities like KDU and UK’s Hull that will offer courses in law, engineering, logistics, business studies and accounting.
Our festivals and events, whether George Town Heritage Festival, Tropfest (the world’s No. 1 short-film festival, Penang International Jazz Festival and street art by Ernest Zacharevic are world-renowned. The freedom given to artists, both local and foreign, has combined to make George Town being described as the Bohemian art capital of Malaysia.
Finally for the first time in history, Penang will make Malaysia proud by hosting the first World Women Squash Championships in Malaysia in March 2014. Let us all witness our very own world squash queen, Dato Nicole David, create history by winning her 8th world crown!
Penang has been voted by Guardian newspaper of United Kingdom as the 8th best tourist destination in the world, the only one from South-East Asia. Penang and Kuala Lumpur is also the 3rd best place to retire in the world. In short we must work harder for a Penang that is clean, green, safe and healthy to attract human talents.
All this is only possible because of the strong team spirit, dedicated sense of purpose and principle as well disciplined party unity of DAP leaders and members. Whilst we strive towards CAT administration of competency, accountability and transparency we recognise that we are not the best and need to find the best to help us to be on top of the rest.
We must also be wary and fend off continuous attempts by our enemies to destroy Penang DAP’s leadership by trying to undermine our team spirit, principles and purpose as well as party unity. Our enemies will never give up because the prize of Penang is a valuable treasure they will go through any lengths to attain and exploit.
Remember DAP is not interested in being better than BN. Penang DAP wants to lead the way by advocating a new model of governance for Malaysia based on institutions that is built around integrity and centred on competency.
A DAP culture of integrity, steadfastness principles and willingness to sacrifice for public interest has been built up by party leaders over the last 50 years. Penang DAP and state Chairman Sdr Chow Kon Yeow will be bringing all of us to the next stage of showing that not only can we be a good opposition but and even better government.
We stand strong only because we stand together!