My Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng

Penang Bridge Massive Jam

2012-05-26T19:23:00.000-07:00

CM Lim Guan Eng, who experienced the congestion when he was heading to officiate Penang Free Wifi event in Prai, said the Penang Bridge operator should refund toll fare collected from motorists for failing to clear the bus earlier.

He said he was shocked to find out that the vehicle had broken down at 2am but was only cleared at about noon.

“Is this what we call performance first? We do not have to be here to be angry.

“Hearing about it alone can make us get angry,” he told reporters after launching the Penang Free Wifi Second Phase in Taman Inderawasih, Prai.

Lim claimed there was a bumper-to-bumper crawl along the bridge’s entire 13.5km stretch.

Lim said when there is a jam along a bridge for a certain period of time, the operator should not collect money from motorists stuck there.

“For example, if the jam is more than an hour, it should be free for motorists travelling along the bridge,” he said.

Source: Star

Build low-cost carrier airports in all states, Federal Govt urged

2012-05-26T06:17:00.000-07:00

Saturday May 26, 2012

Star

THE Federal Government should build low-cost carrier airports in all states, including Penang, in view of high demand for budget air travelling, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said.

He said such airports should not just benefit selected states.

Lim noted that Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir’s recent announcement of a proposed low-cost carrier airport in Perak was rather troubling to Penang.

“The Penang government regrets that there is no consultation from the Federal Government on the proposed Utara Malaysia Airport Terminal (Umat) in Perak.

“Clearly, the Federal Government is proceeding unilaterally with the building of Umat without taking into account the cost and economic viability of the project in view of its close distance with both Penang airport and KLIA, as well as any possible negative impact on existing airports in Penang and Kedah.”

He said this after opening the Penang Wanita Pakatan Rakyat Convention in Bandar Perda on Sunday.

Lim also called on Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha to look into the impact Umat would have on the Penang International Airport.

He said Kong should also shed some light on whether Penang would be given free port status or if recent talk about it by Penang Barisan Nasional chairman Teng Chang Yeow was merely a ploy to deceive Penang voters in the run-up to the general election.

Later, when officiating at the Penang Free WiFi second phase roadshow in his Bagan parliamentary constituency in Jalan Kampung Gajah, Bukit Mertajam, Lim said the free WiFi service was among the contributing factors why Penang was named in the ECA Location Ratings report as the most liveable city in the country for the second consecutive year this year.

He said 75 hotspots were now available in the Bagan parliamentary constituency, with 25 each in Sungai Puyu, Bagan Dalam and Bagan Jermal state constituencies.

Malay 'exodus' from Penang: All lies, says Guan Eng

2012-05-23T07:23:00.001-07:00

GEORGE TOWN -Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has dismissed reports that Malays are leaving the state as a result of being sidelined as claimed by his former deputy Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin.

The former Penanti assemblyman, who resigned from all posts in 2009 and joined Umno soon after, had claimed some 18,000 Malays have left the state due to the high cost of living.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the allegations were false and described such statements as “lies.”

He pointed out that Malay voters in the state had increased by some 35,000 as of last year since four years ago.

“If you include these voters, who are all aged 21 and above, and their families and children, there should be more,” he said at a press conference yesterday after attending the opening of the Small Medium Enterprises forum.

In his speech, Lim said the state was going to set up an Innovation Complex on a 0.97ha site at the Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone here.

He said the complex will be used for research and development and an incubator site for new products and technologies.

“The Penang Research, Innovation and Science Module will spearhead the state’s role in the increasingly rapid growth of scientific discoveries and technological innovations,” he said.

Lim explained that the state hoped to tap into the lucrative global biotechnology market with the establishment of the complex.

-thesundaily

Malacca violence: Stop the excuses, Umno-Perkasa, we know your despicable acts - Guan Eng

2012-05-22T03:37:00.000-07:00

DAP strongly condemns the violent behaviour of the unruly group of 200 people who disrupted Bersih co-chairperson Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan's scheduled visit to the Pusat Asuhan Tunas Islam (Pasti) As-Solihin, at Jalan Batu Gajah in Merlimau, for tea between 5pm and 6.30pm two days ago.

A group of non-governmental organisations and political parties including Perkasa and the Jasin UMNO Wanita and Youth wings had earlier lodged a police report at the Merlimau police station to object Bersih co-chairman Datuk S. Ambiga's visit to Merlimau.

Following such threats against Ambiga, she cancelled her appearance at the last minute after police advised the organisers against holding it. What's worse, the mob began pelting two DAP state assemblyman and their supporters as they began to leave the event.

The usual despicable acts

According to Ayer Keroh state assemblyman Khoo Poay Tiong, he and Badar Hilir assemblyman Tey Kok Kiew were attacked on their way out. Their cars were pelted with stones and eggs, resulting in smashed windscreens, broken mirrors and punctured tyres.

The fact that the violent attack by the red-shirted mob were from the group where Perkasa and UMNO members were gathered requires UMNO to fully answer for this ugly violence in Merlimau against 2 DAP Melaka Assemblyman that was intended to threaten the safety of Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan .

UMNO appears to try to explain such violence by claiming that one of the protesters was hit in an earlier accident but this was strongly denied by the DAP Assemblymen.

This incident follows the despicable acts of other pro-BN groups that harassed Datuk Ambiga by performing a "butt dance" and an illegal beef burger stall protest outside her home. Such acts constitute not only an invasion of privacy and sexual harassment, but also sheer disrespect when the protest involved the cooking of beef outside her home when she is known to be a vegetarian and a Hindu.

Now - illegal pasar malam!

Now there is even an illegal pasar malam(night market) proposed by a Datuk on Thursday and Friday in front of her house. It is ridiculous that Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur can refuse permits to hold a pasar malam but yet fail to act against such organisers.

Datuk Ambiga has not committed any criminal offence. She has not injured anyone nor harmed anyone with C4 plastic explosives. Neither has she stolen any public funds to buy condos instead of rearing cows. As a former President of the Bar Council, she upholds the rule of law to ensure justice is done. And yet she is vilified in a manner as if she is a greater threat to the nation than drug dealers or child kidnappers.

Her only crime is to defy BN by being part of Bersih 3.0 that mobilized 300,000 Malaysians in the largest peaceful gathering in Malaysian history pressing for clean, free and fair elections. Because of that, she has now become a victim of vile and disgusting attacks that have now turned violent.

LIM GUAN ENG IS THE DAP SECRETARY-GENERAL

Penang is safe, assures Guan Eng

2012-05-14T00:11:00.000-07:00

May 14, 2012

Star

GEORGE TOWN: Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has dispelled rumours about the security in the state and assured the people that Penang is the safest city in the country.

“The people may perceive that the state is not safe since the chief minister’s safety is not guaranteed. However, statistics showed that Penang recorded the most significant drop in the crime index nationwide for three consecutive years,” he told reporters at the Kampung Baru market yesterday after distributing 200 stalks of carnations to women.

On Thursday, a group of Perkasa members protested in front of Lim’s house in Pinhorn Road citing his “failure as a chief minister”.

CM laments lapse in security

2012-05-13T02:39:00.000-07:00

May 13, 2012

Star

GEORGE TOWN: Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has expressed his frustrations over the police’s failure to act when protesters hung his photograph decorated with a wreath on the main gate of his house in Jalan Pinhorn here.

“I was shocked when my wife, Betty Chew, showed me the video of Perkasa members protesting outside my house.

“My wife and 19-year-old son were at home when the protest took place. She is very upset over the matter. It was fortunate that my youngest son was at the kindergarten that day,” he told a press conference yesterday.

Lim added that he had received a letter from the police to inform him that investigations were being conducted but described what happened as “extraordinary”.

On Thursday, some 30 state Perkasa members showed up in front of the chief minister’s residence to hang a photograph of him decorated with a wreath before throwing posters of him printed with Nazi flag into the house compound.

The group also went to Komtar and did a similar act by putting Lim’s photograph with a wreath along with two pots of yellow chrysanthemum on the ground.

Lim said the state worked towards lowering crime rate and Penang had the highest (crime rate) drop in Malaysia.

“If they can’t ensure my safety, there’s nothing I can do. I’m sure that such a thing would not happen at any minister’s house.

“However, this incident will not affect the state’s co-operation with the police to reduce crime in Penang,” he added.

It was reported that state police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Wira Ayub Yaakob said every party had the right to voice their opinion, adding that police had lodged a report on the protest by Perkasa outside Lim’s house.

Meanwhile, the Malaysia Hindu Sangam Penang Council was upset that Perkasa had carried out a symbolic Hindu funeral rites in front of the chief minister’s house.

Its chairman G. Shanmuganathan said using Hindu rites was unacceptable and the council condemned the incident.

“The sensitivity of such religious rites should not be conducted on the road or used by other religions or race as it could provoke Hindu followers.

“I hope that the police will investigate the incident thoroughly and take the appropriate action against the perpetrators,” he said.

Lim calls Malaysians to reject hate

2012-05-13T02:26:00.001-07:00

Athi Shankar

May 13, 2012

freemalaysiatoday.com

GEORGE TOWN: Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng called on Malaysians to embrace love and reject hate in his Mother’s Day message here today.

This, he said would create a nation, in which all Malaysians can live together with dignity

He noted that there was growing concern among Malaysians on institutions that were either involved in violence or condone violence, such as racist and extremist organisations like Malay supremacist outfit Perkasa.

“The path towards non-violence is to embrace love and establish a civil society

“All mothers reject the language and actions of violence,” the DAP secretary-general said in his blog posting.

Last Thursday, Perkasa members conducted funeral rites for Lim outside his residence in Jalan Pinhorn in a 10-minute demonstration before holding another noisy gathering performing similar last rites in Komtar.

The group led by Penang Perkasa chief Mohd Ridzuad Azudin placed a garlanded portrait of Lim and pasted his posters with swastika logos on the gate of the residence.

They alleged that Lim had incited racial tension among ethnic Malays and ethnic Indians, in obvious reference to Lim’s remarks in the State Legislative Assembly early this week that “I feel all Hindu temples are in danger if Umno returns to power”

Lim said all Malaysians regardless of race, religions or gender were treated as children by embracing love and rejecting hate

“Children by embracing love and rejecting hate will help create a nation that allows everyone to live with dignity,” he said

Lim noted that a civil society was a shared society that would allow Malaysians to make diversity a positive force for equal opportunity and social justice.

He said democratic participation in decision-making, respect for diversity and the dignity of an individual, equal opportunity and the prohibition of discrimination were four major attributes of a shared society

He called on Malaysians to stand united to fight corruption and abuses of power because such successes can build trust, provide progress and development to the people.

“Only then people live with dignity.

“Our children possess the inalienable right to live in dignity in an environment that is clean, green, safe and healthy,” he reminded.

Another Mamak antics

2012-05-10T06:09:00.000-07:00

‘Perkasa antics will cost BN’

Athi Shankar

May 10, 2012

This morning some 30 Perkasa members held a protest and conducted funeral rites for Lim before holding another noisy gathering in Komtar.

GEORGE TOWN: A local Gerakan politician has warned Barisan Nasional that Perkasa’s political frolics would cost the coalition massive vote loss, especially among non-Malays, in the next general election.

Given the general perception that Perkasa is a ‘subsidiary’ of Umno, Baljit Singh warned that other BN component parties would suffer politically as they are seen as “guilty by association” with Umno.

“Component parties like Gerakan, MIC and MCA are going to be the innocent victims.

“These parties will pay a heavy price for Perkasa antics. The voters will punish component parties for being associated with Umno. Malaysians are sick and tired of this gutter politics,” he said.

The Penang Gerakan legal and human rights bureau head said Perkasa and other alleged Umno-linked groups, such as the Mamak group, were fast becoming sources of embarrassment for BN.

“These groups definitely are going overboard with their political dramas,” he said.

He was commenting on Perkasa’s latest political folly which involved the “funeral rites” for Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng at his residence in Jalan Pinhorn here this morning.

Previously these groups had carried out a ‘coffin protest’ against Lim’s political secretary and Komtar assemblyman Ng Wei Aik.

They also held an anti-Bersih riot in the city last July, and caused chaos and showed up their footwear at Lim during a peaceful anti-Lynas gathering in February.

They also roughed up newsmen in both incidents.

The groups also presented a ‘poop’ shaped cake to Lim during the chief minister’s 51st birthday last Dec.

‘Funeral rites’

This morning some 30 Perkasa members held a protest and conducted funeral rites for Lim outside his residence before holding another noisy gathering in Komtar.

The group led by Penang Perkasa chief Mohd Ridzuad Azudin placed a garlanded portrait of Lim and pasted his posters with swastika logos on the gate of the residence during the 10.25am demonstration.

They also chanted anti-Lim slogans and threw rolled-up posters into the porch and on the road.

Mohd Rizuad slammed Lim for stoking racial tension by claiming that Umno would pose a threat to Hindu temples if it ruled Penang.

He said Lim has always been busy politicking and never had time for people’s issues.

A group of policemen who arrived at Lim’s residence, secured the premise and the exterior, but made no arrests.

After the 10-minute protest, the Perkasa members proceeded on their motorcycles to Komtar and continued to strew Lim’s posters along their way.

At Komtar, the group repeated their funeral rites for Lim, by flanking two flowerpots and garlanding Lim’s portrait as a symbol of his death.

Mohd Rizuad said the funeral rites were Perkasa’s way of telling to the people that Lim was dead for failing to comply with the Malay supremacist organisation’s previous seven-point memorandum.

‘Who wants to meet with samsengs?’

Lim meanwhile told newsmen that he was upset that the protesters took their demonstration to his house without and care or consideration for the safety of his family.

“If my personal safety is not guaranteed anymore, what more that of my family?

“They are not decision-makers of the state so why target them?

“If my five-year-old son was at home, he would have been scared.

“These are the same people who were involved with the assault on pressmen during the Anti-Lynas Himpunan Hijau rally in Padang Kota.

“I am afraid of their violent attitude,” said a visibly upset Lim.

Asked if he would meet with them, he said: “Who wants to meet with `samseng’ (gangsters)? When you want to talk civilly with them, they rather yell and utter vulgar words.

“They believe in violence and racism. I cannot talk to such people. Let the people make their deductions about their characteristics,” said Lim, adding that action should be taken for littering.

Guan Eng: How can Hanif be considered 'neutral' - Najib is clearly desperate!

2012-05-09T22:14:00.000-07:00

by Lim Guan Eng

The appointment of former inspector-general of police Tun Mohamad Hanif Omar to head of the independent panel to probe incidents of violence during the Bersih 3.0 rally has raised deep public concerns that the investigation will either be a whitewash of police brutality on peaceful demonstrators, a massive cover-up of the sufferings of the victims or a pretext to justify BN’s wild lies that Bersih 3.0 was a coup d'état attempt.

Hanif, who is now Genting Malaysia Bhd Deputy Chair, had claimed that communist sympathizers were involved in the Bersih 3.0 rally, and supported Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's claim that the Bersih 3.0 rally was an attempt to overthrow the government. Hanif further stated that the tactics of using provocateurs to cause the demonstrators to clash with police and to bring children along in the hope they would get injured were tactics learnt from past pro-communist demonstrations.

Najib is clearly desperate

How can Datuk Seri Najib Razak consider Hanif as a “credible, experienced and respectable” individual that ensures its investigation panel is independent and unbiased, when Hanif has adopted such a prejudiced and partisan stand against the Bersih 3.0 rally as an attempt to overthrow the government?

What makes those claims of a coup d’tat by Najib and Hanif most ridiculous is that both of them ignored the fact that six local pressmen and about 12 photographers and journalists from the foreign media were reportedly assaulted during the fracas on April 28 Bersih 3.0 rally by police.

To add insult to injury, Hanif is now heading the investigation panel raising doubts about the integrity, reliability and credibility of its findings. As a former Inspector-General of Police, Hanif is first and foremost disqualified from serving on the investigation panel due to this conflict of interest as the police is being accused. Secondly, by publicly condemning Bersih, Hanif’s prejudiced bias would also disqualify him to serve on the investigation panel. Finally, by linking Bersih to communism, Hanif is still fighting yesterday’s long-concluded wars, making the outcome of these investigations a foregone conclusion.

For these reasons, the Prime Minister should try to salvage or restore some credibility and public confidence as well as renew faith that “justice will not only be done but be seen to be done” by replacing Hanif with an independent, apolitical, unbiased and an upright person of integrity.

Lim Guan Eng is the DAP secretary general and Penang Chief Minister

MAS-AirAsia debacle: Typical of BN's financial malpractice

2012-05-07T04:56:00.000-07:00

After eight months, the controversial MAS-Air Asia share swap has been terminated, purportedly because it has become an impediment to the recovery efforts of the loss-making flag carrier. Under the original deal, MAS would swap a 20.5% stake for 10% in Air Asia. Now, as part of the reversal of the deal, AirAsia’s chief and founder Tan Sri Tony Fernandes and deputy Datuk Seri Kamarudin Meranun have resigned from the MAS board, with MAS director Mohamed Azman Yahya following suit from AirAsia’s board.

Eight months ago, Malaysians were told that the share swap would be the cure needed to save the ailing national airline. Unfortunately, not long after that, MAS recorded a shocking net loss of RM2.52 billion for 2011, which is the tip of the iceberg for the airline that has been on a downward spiral since the departure of Dato’ Sri Idris Jala in 2009, with its bottomline declining from a net profit of RM490 million in 2009 to RM234 million in 2010 to the staggering loss of RM2.52 billion in 2011.

And now in a complete reversal, Khazanah has admitted that the latest merger of cross-holding of shares, which was intended to create economies of scale for the major shareholders, Khazanah and Tune Air, had become a distraction to the management’s efforts to turn around MAS. In other words, first we were told that the MAS-Air Asia swap would save the airline, and now after eight months we are told that it was actually causing it to fail.

Making money at the public's expense

The failure of MAS is a direct reflection of the fundamental problems of the BN legacy, from firstly privatising and subsequently re-nationalisation. Even the 2001 bailout in which the Federal Government paid double the market price at the time could not rescue MAS from its fundamental problems. The Federal Government paid RM1.8 billion or RM8 per share to Tan Sri Tajudin Ramli instead of the market value of RM3.68 at the time.

The failure of the MAS-Air Asia share swap is not just an ordinary failed corporate merger but a failure of the Prime Minister’s much lauded ETPs that is supposed to stop the rot of mismanagement, financial malpractices and failed strategies in Government-Linked Corporations(GLCs) such as MAS.

LIM GUAN ENG IS THE DAP SECRETARY-GENERAL

Guan Eng to sue NSTP, Utusan over national secrets ‘leak’ claim

2012-05-04T22:08:00.000-07:00

By Ida Lim

themalaysianinsider

May 04, 2012

KUALA LUMPUR, May 4 — The DAP’s Lim Guan Eng said today he will sue New Straits Times Press (NSTP), Utusan Melayu Berhad and Perkasa for allegedly defaming him in news articles accusing him of leaking national secrets to Singapore’s top leaders.

The DAP secretary-general referred to “a false news report” carried by the pro-government publishers on October 2 last year in which the right-wing Malay movement claimed that Lim had alleged leaked national secrets at a dinner with senior leaders of Singapore’s ruling People’s Action Party (PAP).

“I will be instructing my lawyers to proceed to file an action for defamation in the High Court against Perkasa, the New Straits Times Press and Utusan Melayu Berhad,” he said in a statement.

NSTP publishes New Sunday Times and Berita Minggu, while Utusan Melayu (M) Berhad publishes Mingguan Malaysia as their weekend editions, which had carried the allegations.

Lim said while NSTP and Utusan had apologised to corporate captains Datuk Mohamed Azman Yahya and Datuk Seri Kalimullah Hassan — both were similarly accused of spilling national secrets — for “their false and defamatory allegation”, the papers had not apologised for their reports against him.

He added that the papers “have refused, in spite of my lawyers’ requests, to pay any damages or publish any clarification or apology concerning the allegations against me.”

Lim, who is Penang chief minister, also justified the state government’s barring of Umno-controlled papers from covering its press conferences and state functions.

He described it as an “act of self-defence”, saying that the newspapers’ refusal to “abide by the basic ethics of truthful journalism” and “blatant fabrication of lies passed off as news” forced him to do so.

Lim said this following Australian senator Nick Xenophon’s decision today to sue the New Straits Times (NST) despite the daily’s apology and removal of a misleading news article from its website.

The NST had yesterday admitted to having falsely quoted Xenophon in its article on Wednesday as calling Islam instead of Scientology a “criminal organisation” during his 2009 speech in Australia’s Parliament.

Last December, the Penang High Court found Utusan Malaysia guilty of making “malicious”, defamatory and untruthful statements against Lim and ordered the Malay daily to pay damages.

The Bagan MP had filed a suit against Utusan for publishing allegedly defamatory words in an article titled “Kebiadapan Guan Eng (Guan Eng’s Rudeness)”.

In his statement of claim then, Lim said the words used, among others, were meant to portray him as a racist who objected to anything related to Malays.

Modest aim of retaining Penang

2012-05-03T23:22:00.000-07:00

May 4, 2012

Penang Pakatan scales down aim of giving Barisan zero seats in polls

Star

GEORGE TOWN: Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has re-adjusted Penang Pakatan Rakyat’s “best case scenario” in the next general election to a modest aim of retaining the state government.

Saying that his statements on giving an ‘egg’ or zero seats to Barisan Nasional were taken out of context, Lim said the current electoral roll made winning all the seats “impossible”.

“I (previously) gave two scenarios — the best case where we win and the worst case where Pakatan loses.

“However, the best case scenario is the only issue that was highlighted by certain parties to portray the state as arrogant and proud.

“I don’t want this issue to continue to be manipulated so I take this opportunity to say that our best case scenario is now to keep the situation at status quo,” said Lim when debating a motion of thanks to Yang Di-Pertua Negri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas’ opening address.

He said issues like phantom voters guaranteed that Pakatan would not win all of Penang’s state seats.

“Batu Maung, for example, has an unprecedented increase in voters since the last general election.

“We first thought that it (this seat) would not be a problem, but now we are worried,” said Lim.

He was responding to Opposition Leader Azhar Ibrahim’s (BN-Penaga) call not to be arrogant in predicting the results of the next polls.

Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah (BN-Seberang Jaya) then urged Lim to use the objection period available to air his grouses on the electoral roll to the Election Commission (EC).

“Now is the time to make objections. Use this opportunity.”

To this, Lim replied that the EC had not entertained their appeals.

Arif Shah then said: “Don’t tell me with Bersih 2.0 and 3.0, your appeals will not be entertained. That is impossible.”

Lim then replied that “another Bersih” might be necessary to get the electoral roll cleaned.

LGE - Set up Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC)

2012-04-30T04:00:00.000-07:00

On Bersih 3.0

2012-04-26T08:04:00.000-07:00

Press Statement By Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng In Komtar, George Town On 26.4.2012..

Tan Sri Muhyidin Yassin Should Direct Penang Port Commission (PPC) And Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB) To Make A Full And Unconditional Apology For The Demolishing The 50 Year Old Muniswarar Shrine Without Notice And Rebuild The Shrine Before The Next General Elections.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhydin Yassin in his visit to Penang today should direct Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB) Chairman Dato Seri Dr. Hilmi Bin Hj. Yahaya and the Penang Port Commission (PPC) Chairman Datuk Seri Chua Soi Lek to make a full and unconditional apology to the Hindu community for demolishing the 50 year old Hindu shrine and rebuild the shrine immediately before the next general elections. The demolition of the shrine on 20 April at the Prai Bulk Cargo Terminal in the Prai Industrial Area, shocked devotees as it was done by PPSB without any demolition notice pasted on the shrine.
Whilst the Penang state government welcomes Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak recent announcement of RM 8.5 million in development funds to the Nibong Tebal Parlimentary constituency, many Penangites are disappointed that he did not give the same amount to each of the other 12 Parliamentary constituencies in Penang. Such discrimination against the other 12 parliamentary constituencies, including BN areas, is regrettable as it gives the impression that only Nibong Tebal parliamentary constituency matters for BN at the next general elections.
Further some Nibong Tebal residents are also unhappy that the Prime Minister did not give any money to the newly approved Seberang Perai Selatan Jit Sin Secondary school, whose organizers are seeking RM 20 million of Federal funding for the RM 30 million school. Hopefully Tan Sri Muhyidin will not disappoint the Indian community by directing PPC and PPSB to fully repent for their outrage to the Hindu community.
Prai Bulk Cargo Terminal (BCT) Abdul Halim Abdul Kader has told me when I visited the area on 23.4.2012, that there are no plans by PPSB to rebuild the 50 year old Hindu shrine on a small 6.1m X 6.1 m site. So far there is only silence from PPC Chair Datuk Seri Chua Soi Lek and PPSB Chairman Dato Seri Dr. Hilmi Bin Hj. Yahaya, who is also the UMNO ADUN for Teluk Bahang.
The Penang state government hopes that Tan Sri Muhydin understands the sentiments of the Indian port workers and the Hindu community who are hurt by what they perceive as a barbaric act of demoliton done without any notice on their religious place of worship. Tan Sri Muhydin should make PPC and PPSB realize that nothing less than an apology and rebuilding the Hindu shrine can atone for their grievous mistake.
Lim Guan Eng

Penang named most liveable city for second time

2012-04-23T03:10:00.000-07:00

April 23, 2012
Star
By ANDREA FILMER

GEORGE TOWN: Penang has been named as the country's most liveable city for two consecutive years, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said.

Quoting the annual ECA Location Ratings research, Lim said Penang had maintained its position as Asia's eighth most liveable city, while Kuala Lumpur had dropped from ninth to 10th.

"If we only beat them once, people may say it's a fluke. But we have repeated the feat this year.

"It's not a fluke, it's a fact," Lim told a press conference in Komtar here Monday.

2012-04-22T04:52:00.001-07:00

April 22, 2012
Star

BALIK PULAU: Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has lambasted his critics, describing their suggestion that he should intervene in the Penang Islamic Affairs Council (MAIPP) chairmanship debacle as “bodoh”.

Lim said he was in no position to intervene as he is a non-Muslim.

“How am I, as a non-Muslim, to intervene in MAIPP issues?

“This is a stupid suggestion. Totally ‘bodoh’. I will not intervene in Islamic matters,” he said when addressing recipients of state aid at Dewan Balora Mastika.

Lim also questioned why Umno and the ruling coalition Barisan Nasional had stayed mum over such a suggestion.

“Why when stupid suggestions like these are aired, no one from Umno and Barisan Nasional criticises?” he asked.

Former Penang PAS Youth head Mohammed Hafiz Nordin had claimed that Lim, as the chief minister, was being insensitive to Penang Muslims by “washing his hands” off the matter.

The MAIPP leadership issue first came to light when state Religious Affairs, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Committee chairman Abdul Malik Abul Kassim got the consent from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to helm MAIPP when the post had been promised to Penang PAS commissioner Datuk Mohd Salleh Man.

On Wednesday, Penang Deputy Chief Minister I and Penang PKR chairman Datuk Mansor Othman said Mohd Salleh was the preferred candidate for the post.

Mansor said the state had previously recommended Abdul Malik to the MAIPP top post as Mohd Salleh’s nominations in 2010 and 2011 had been unsuccessful.

He added that the state government had submitted Mohd Salleh’s name to the King in January but the King appointed Abdul Malik to the post on Feb 10 based on the earlier recommendation.

The MAIPP post fell vacant on Jan 1 this year after Universiti Sains Malaysia lecturer Ellias Zakaria declined an extension.

Abdul Malik, who was also present at the aid giving ceremony here, said the issue had been settled.
“We have resolved the issue,” he said in his speech to the crowd.

Abdul Malik, however, declined to comment further when probed after the function, but said the state was still waiting for an audience with the King on the issue.

Guan Eng: Attacks on students barbaric, police inaction unacceptable

2012-04-20T00:51:00.000-07:00

Friday, 20 April 2012 15:02
Written by Lim Guan Eng

At around 2.45am yesterday morning, a bunch of thugs descended upon the group of university students peacefully assembling at Dataran Merdeka and assaulted them, resulting in one student ending up in hospital. Besides physically roughing the students up, the thugs also destroyed the tents that the students were camping in.

The group of student activists had been camping peacefully at Dataran Merdeka for 6 days now, in an attempt to exercise their democratic rights to protest against what they claim to be high interest rates and administrative charges imposed by the national educational loan fund (PTPTN).

The barbaric use of violence against peacefully assembling students has drawn immediate condemnation from all quarters, including human rights groups and Malaysians at large. Since when have thuggery and gangsterism become part of our culture? It is indeed a sad day when our children who are merely trying to express their democratic rights are victimised in such an ugly and violent manner.

Police did nothing

Worse, reports have come in stating that policemen had been on duty in the area but had not intervened until the student leaders pleaded for help. And although they finally quelled the violent attacks, it was too little too late and most of the thugs had already left. In the end, only one person was apprehended.

When Kuala Lumpur Police Chief Mohmad Salleh was asked why only one out of a whole mob of attackers was nabbed, despite there being eyewitness videos to identify other attackers, he responded that “it was early in the morning and we could not differentiate the attackers from those already there.”

This police inaction is similar to the incident at Speaker’s Corner in Esplanade in Penang on 26 February when UMNO and Perkasa members behaved like thugs, violently attacking and injuring 2 reporters during an anti-Lynas rally. One of the reporters had to endure 8 stitches to close his injury.

The policemen present just stood by and did not act to stop or arrest those involved in the barbaric attacks of UMNO and Perkasa members attacking peaceful anti-Lynas demonstrators and physically force the anti-Lynas demonstrators to leave. Up to now not a single person has been arrested by Penang police.

Regretfully, the police inaction were also seen in Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur by dragging their feet once again and not taking pro-active measures against what can only be described as a politically-motivated hate crime.

Umno leaders endorsed the violence

To make matters worse, no UMNO Minister has spoken out to condemn the atrocious incident. Home Minister Dato’ Seri Hishamuddin Hussein merely downplayed the incident and even claimed that it could be a deliberate attempt to stir up emotions.

Worse is the arrogant and inexcusable response by Higher Education Minister Dato’ Khaled Nordin, who as the minister responsible for universities and university students should have been protecting them instead of condoning such barbaric attacks. Dato’ Khaled had tweeted: “No one asked them to camp out at Dataran Merdeka. When somethinghappens, don’t go asking for sympathy.”

Dato’Khaled’s remarks in telling the hapless students not to “go asking for sympathy” when they had just been beaten up and abused for merely exercising their basic human and democratic rights is nothing short of sheer arrogance and a statement that is unbecoming of a minister.

DAP strongly condemns this incident as it is not only an attack on the sacred principles of human rights but also a blatant affront to Malaysian culture and values. DAP regrets police inaction during the barbaric attacks university students exercising their rights by peacefully assembling at Dataran Merdeka and shameful refusal by UMNO Ministers to condemn these attacks.

Lim Guan Eng is the DAP sec-gen and Penang Chief Minister

Guan Eng proposes curbs on foreign speculation of Penang property

2012-04-18T23:33:00.001-07:00

19 April 2012 13:18
Written by Lim Guan Eng

There are 3 pressing habitat issues in Penang that requires urban solutions that offers sustainable development. One is traffic congestion. Unfortunately traffic congestion in Penang as a result of policy failure and leadership apathy and neglect over the previous 18 years, can not be overcome overnight.

The state government through the 2 local authorities of Majlis Perbandaran Pulau Pinang(MPPP) and Majlis Perbandaran Seberang Perai(MPSP) had undertaken:-

> short-term measures of forcible clamping and removal of vehicles that block traffic, synchronization of traffic lights and redirection of traffic flows;

> medium-term measures of widening roads and building lay-bys and connecting roads to widen transport accesses;

> long-term measures of at least 4 major infrastructure structures project to provide four lane highways to connect heavily congested areas, including a 3 rd link between Gurney Drive and Butterworth through Malaysia’s first underground sea tunnel.

The Penang PR state government has also help to fund the RM3.2 millon Penang Transport Master Plan(PTM). Even though 2 proposals are mooted by the transport consultants, certain irresponsible parties appear to blame the state government for either ignoring the PTM or not developing public transport.

The Penang state government agrees that public transport is the most coherent and effective method to reduce traffic congestion in line with the principle of moving people, not vehicles. Unfortunately the state government has no control over public transport which is a Federal jurisdiction. So powerless is the state government that we have no powers to impose meters on taxis or even ask buses to provide for free bus services paid by the state government.

2 proposals

The PTM consultants realizes the limits of state government’s powers and is making two proposals,

1. a RM13 billion balanced public transport option assuming full co-operation and assistance from the Federal government; and

2. a RM12.5 billion highway option as a fall-back position of 7 highways, including the state government’s 4 infrastructure projects, in the event federal co-operaton and assistance is not forthcoming. So far, the Federal government has not fulfilled its promised monorail/tram or road by-pass as promised before the 2008 general elections.

In other words, the traffic consultants’ 7 proposed highways is more than the 4 proposed by the state governments.

Two, habitat protection requires rigorous enforcement and restrictions on hillslope development. The PR state government is proud of our record of not approving any hillslope development and has asked the local authorities to ensure compliance. I have been informed by the two local authorities that any hillslope developments are either approved are undertaken by the previous state government.

Unfortunately, such approvals given by the previous state government is still in legally in force and the procedures that follow from such approvals usually can not be stopped. As a rules-based government, the present state government has to observe the laws and respect approvals given, even though it is from the previous state government. Again those who try to pin the blame on the state government for any hill-slope development should explain why they gave approvals in the first place.

Thirdly provide affordable housing. The PR Penang State government will be outlining a complete and holistic framework of providing affordable housing to Penangites involving not just the government but also the private sector. For the past four years, the state government has saved and gathered funds. An initial sum of RM500 million and free land has been provided for this purpose with the first project of 12,000 units in the new satellite town of Batu Kawan. More of such affordable projects will be proposed, including on the island of Penang.

Foreign speculation

As a first step to protect the interests of local Malaysians, the state government is proposing to increase the minimum limit for foreign purchases of all properties from the existing level of RM 500,000 to RM1 million with a higher limit of RM 2 million for landed properties only in Penang island and retaining the present RM 500,000 limit for Permanent Residents.

In 2010 and 2011 there were 774 and 890 property transactions involving foreigners. These transactions constitute only 2.98% and 2.26% respectively of the total number of transations in Penang. However to protect the interests of locals to ensure that they enjoy priority for less expensive properties, this restriction will help to provide a level playing field since foreigners have the advantage of a higher currency.

The Penang state government stresses that we welcome foreign participation in our economy including our property market. The state government feels that foreign participation can be profitable to both Penangites and foreigners in the higher end market where they can add value by helping Penang to transform itself into an international and intelligent city.

We would like to get feedback and opinions from NGOs, property developers, foreigners and the public on this proposal. The state government hopes to implement this proposal the earliest by 1 June 2012 or the latest by 1 July 2012.

Lim Guan Eng is the secretary-general of DAP and the Penang Chief Minister

Guan Eng in Bangkok for official 2-day visit

2012-04-05T00:04:00.000-07:00

05 April 2012
Written by Cheong Yin Fan

Penang Chief Minister LimGuan Eng will be visiting Bangkok, Thailand on 4th till 5th April 2012 to reciprocate the recent official visit by the Mayor of Bangkok His Royal Highness Sukhumbhand Paribatra to Penang.

The visit will also witness the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) of friendship cities between Bangkok and Penang.This MOU is to be signed between the Mayor of George Town Ar Patahiyah binti Ismail and the Mayor of Bangkok to strengthen not just Government to Government ties but also people to people relationship between both cities.

Such MOU of friendship cities between Penang and the Thai capital demonstrates the growing importance and international profile of Penang in our quest towards Penang being a world class and intelligent city. This is the second time that such a MOU has been signed with capital cities, the first being with Taipei.

Penang has also attracted widespread international attention and positive international media coverage, including Bangkok Post, in transforming Penang into an attractive destination of choice for tourists and location of choice for investors. For the past 2 years, Penang topped investment amongst all states in Penang and despite being the second smallest state contributed nearly 30% of Malaysia’s FDI in 2010 and 2011.

The Chief Minister will also take the opportunity to meet Thai businessmen and industrialist. Recently,Thailand has faced various calamities such as natural disasters and threats of terrorism in the Thai nation. The Chief Minister hopes to extend his solidarity and support to the Thai people.

Condolences will be extended as well as confidence in the ability of the Thai people to overcome these adversities when the Chief Minister meets former Thai Prime Minister and current Opposition Leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, former Minister of Foreign Affairs 2008 – 2011, Kasit Piromya and the current President of the Thailand Trade Representative Kiat Sittheeamorn.

The Chief Minister will be accompanied by his wife, YB Betty Chew, Deputy Chief Minister 1 Yang Berhormat Dato Mansor bin Othman, Deputy Chief Minister 2 YB Professor P. Ramasamy YDP MPPP Patahiyah binti Ismail as well as other state government and MPPP officials for this 2 day trip to Bangkok, Thailand.

You too can be like Penang, Guan Eng tells Malaysia

2012-04-01T05:08:00.000-07:00

By Shannon Teoh
April 01, 2012
themalaysianinsider.com

KUALA LUMPUR, April 1 — Lim Guan Eng has called on Malaysians to vote for Pakatan Rakyat (PR) if it wants to see Penang’s success replicated in their states as speculation mounts of a general election this June.

The Penang chief minister brushed aside doubts over the federal opposition’s election manifesto when it goes up against the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) in upcoming polls, calling on voters to judge the two coalitions according to their track records.

“Now we have a track record to show. Penang’s record is topping investments for the first time in 50 years and then repeating it,” he said when questioned why PR’s polls pledges brought “nothing new.”

Lim (picture) said that after PR has governed four states as a coalition, “it allows you to show your report card to the people.”

“If you want to be as good as Penang, you must vote for us. See what we’ve done for Penang,” the DAP secretary general told The Malaysian Insider in a recent interview.

Although he said “Selangor also has the same achievements” and the PKR-led state was a “safer state” for the coalition than Penang, Lim has repeatedly talked up the island’s topping of national investment charts while reducing its debt and maintaining a surplus budget.

The state has won praise from international media including the Economist, Wall Street Journal and Singapore’s Straits Times, which compare the DAP-led administration favourably against BN’s federal government.

Penang attracted the most manufacturing investments of any state in Malaysia in both 2010 and 2011 with RM12.2 billion in 2010 and RM9.1 billion last year.

Lim has also claimed that Penang’s public debt fell by 95 per cent to RM30 million at the end-2011 from RM630 million in 2008 with budget surpluses every year since taking office.

The Bagan MP also said in the interview that before ending BN’s uninterrupted rule of Malaysia since Independence in 1957, “there must be a successful precursor.”

“We have to show Penang to be a model of good governance, then people will be more confident of delivering support for a PR federal government,” he said.

He offered other areas which George Town compared favourably to Putrajaya, such as social aid where it has dished out RM100 annually to senior citizens, single mothers, the disabled and school children in Primary 1 and 4 as well as Form 1 and 4.

“This is institutionalised social aid, not just once every five years but every year. BR1M should be done every year, annuallised and institutionalised,” he said, referring to the Najib administration’s Bantuan Rakyat 1 Malaysia cash handouts this year.

Lim had previously called the RM500 given to households earning less than RM3,000 a month “a naked attempt to buy votes” as it was only offered prior to an election that must be called within the next 14 months.

PR has repeatedly talked up a “new deal” for voters and PKR especially has said that “as a reformist party, we cannot go into an election with the same old.”

Although, PKR promises to put forward concrete ideas reforming higher education, land transport and the civil service in its manifesto it says will be ready by next month.

But the coalition’s joint manifesto launched in January was a “marriage” of previous policies in its Common Policy Framework (CPF) and Buku Jingga policy, as described by PKR strategic director Rafizi Ramli.

The coming elections will likely be the most keenly contested in history after PR made record gains in March 2008, winning 82 federal seats and denying BN its customary two-thirds supermajority in Parliament as well as taking power in five states.

CM: Penang effective in dealing with graft

2012-03-29T07:26:00.000-07:00

March 29, 2012
Star

GEORGE TOWN: Arrests made by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) show that Penang has been successful in fighting corruption.

Of the 57 arrests made nationwide last year, 37 were civil servants but only one of them was from the state.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said this was proof that the state’s measures were effective in improving the civil service.

He said although the state government had “many miles to go”, there had been much improvement in the administration at both the state and local authority levels.

“We aspire to be an international and intelligent city so we need to transform the civil service in order to drive our initiative.

“What’s important is to have in place a preventive system internally so that people will be afraid to try any hanky-panky,” he said.

Lim said that before blaming the local councils for delays in carrying out their duties, complainants should first look at themselves.

He added that there were cases where professionals engaged by complainants to handle the work were at fault and not the councils.

“If the local councils are wrong, we will act but there are cases of the councils’ officers chasing documents so delays are caused by those hired by the complainants themselves.”

Lim, who was speaking at the launch of a forum organised by the Malaysian Professional Centre (BIM) yesterday, said proposals to improve the administration were welcome.

He said the state government was willing to work closely with professional bodies so that they would have a role and say in the administration.

In his speech, BIM president John S.C. Loh said integrity and ethical behaviour was a culture that needed to be passed on to the next generation, adding that people skills were invaluable.

Mosque land: Fed-up Guan Eng to sue Umno, Utusan and other BN papers

2012-03-29T01:41:00.000-07:00

29 March 2012
Mosque land: Fed-up Guan Eng to sue Umno, Utusan and other BN papers
Lim Guan Eng

I will not comment on Penang UMNO Youth’s repeated lies but will take defamatory court action to prevent UMNO, Utusan Malaysia and others BN papers from playing with fire by stoking racial and religious sentiments to undermine the PR Penang state government. I had tried to be patient when UMNO uses racial and religious rhetoric to undermine my leadership of Penang and the PR state government. But such dangerous and religious political games have crossed the limit with lies by Penang UMNO Youth chief Shaik Hussein Mydin that I have sold off mosque land.

Utusan Malaysia has even printed vulgar and defamatory words attacking me with the lie that I have sold off mosque land. This is not the first time that UMNO has made defamatory allegations against me. Before that Shaik Hussein together with other UMNO leaders had attacked me with lies that I did not sell 102.6 acres of Bayan Mutiara land by open tender. He had continued with such lies even though the Penang state government and the developer had shown proof that the land was sold by open tender.

Shaik then continued with his lies that I had said that I did not need the support of Indians. When his lie was exposed, Shaik not only refused to apologise as promised but changed to another lie that I have caused mosque land to disappear. This time, the lie is explosive because it touches on religious sentiments and designed to create hatred amongst Muslims against me as a non-Muslim leader.

Sold through open tender

When the 102.3 acres of Bayan Mutiara land was sold by open tender, there was no sub-division of title but the entire piece is to be sold. The developer will only do sub-division of title after submission of new plans to MPPP for approval. The new plans and sub-division of title has not even been submitted, how can UMNO claim that the mosque or school land has been sold or disappeared? UMNO must remember that there are standard requirements for school and places of religious places of worship including surau or mosque that are compulsory by local government or must be included in any development project.

UMNO can only say that the mosque or school land has been sold or disappeared if the new plans by the developer are approved by MPPP without any mosque land or school land. As a people-centric government, PR Penang has consistently held on to our fundamental principle of NOT allowing any land that has been allocated or marked for school, places of religious worship, mosque, suraus, churches, Chinese, Hindu or Buddhist temples to disappear.

By consistently telling lies and even stoking racial and religious tension, UMNO is creating racial and religious hatred against me as Chief Minister and the PR state government. Creating hatred against a non-Malay and non-Muslim based on lies shows that 1 Malaysia is an empty slogan designed to deceive the people to vote in the coming general elections for race-based extremist parties in BN.

LIM GUAN ENG IS THE DAP SEC-GEN AND PENANG CHIEF MINISTER

槟州首席部长林冠英于2012年3月29日在乔治市光大所发表的文告

我将不会对巫青团一再重复的谎言做出回应，但将会透过法庭起诉巫统、前锋报及其他国阵媒体，利用种族及宗教课题破坏及诽谤槟州民联政府。

我将不会对巫青团一再重复的谎言做出回应，但将会透过法庭起诉巫统、前锋报及其他国阵媒体，利用种族及宗教课题诽谤槟州民联政府。面对巫统三番四次利用种族及宗教课题破坏我所领导的槟州民联政府，我已经多次尝试冷静，但是槟州巫青团团长赛胡先迈丁变本加厉污蔑我出售回教堂土地，这种玩弄宗教政治游戏的危险谎言，真的太过分了。

前锋报甚至在其报章上污蔑我出售回教堂土地的时候，刊登脏话及诽谤性字眼。这已经不是第一次巫统对我进行诽谤。在此之前，赛胡先连同其他巫统领袖已经诬蔑我在没有公开招标的情况下出售峇央珍珠的102.6依格土地。既便槟州政府及发展商已经证明这片土地是通过公开招标出售的，他仍然继续污蔑及说谎。

这还不止，赛胡先的谎言还包括诬蔑我说不需要印裔同胞的支持。当他的谎言被揭穿之后，他不但没履行其道歉承诺，断然拒绝道歉，更变本加厉诬蔑我导致回教堂的土地消失。这次的谎言影响非常大，因为它触及到宗教课题，企图制造回教徒对我及其他非回教领袖的不满及仇恨。

当这片102.6 依格的峇央珍珠土地透过公开招标出售时，并没有任何的分割地契，反之，是以整片地皮的方式出售的。只有在获得槟岛市政局的新计划批准后，发展商才能够分割地契。目前，有关的新计划及分割地契均尚未提呈上来，巫统何以能够指控说回教堂保留地及学校保留地被出售或已经消失了呢？巫统必需要记得，在任何的发展计划内，地方政府指定必须有学校保留地及包括回教堂及祈祷室在内的宗教场所保留地，这是一个标准的要求。

巫统只凭着“若槟岛市政局的计划批准内没有学校或回教堂，就代表有关的学校保留地及回教堂保留地已经被出售或消失”。作为一个以民为本的政府，槟州民联政府贯彻我们的基本原则，即不允许任何被例为学校、宗教场所、回教堂、祈祷室、基督教堂、神庙、兴都庙或佛寺的保留地消失。

巫统以他们习惯的撒谎手法，甚至以煽动种族和宗教紧张来制造对我及民联州政府的种族及宗教憎恨。这种以谎言来制造憎恨，以对付一个非马来人及非回教徒的做法，证明了“一个马来西亚”只是一个空洞的口号，一个设计来欺骗人民在来届大选支持国阵内极端种族政党的方法。

林冠英

Guan Eng: Pakatan can defend Kelantan, Selangor better than Penang

2012-03-22T07:09:00.001-07:00

22 March 2012
The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR— Lim Guan Eng has played down the strength of Pakatan Rakyat (PR) in Penang, saying it is only the third safest state for the federal opposition to retain in an election that must be called by May next year.

The Penang chief minister told The Malaysian Insider in a recent interview the safest state for PR in its first federal polls as a formal coalition was Kelantan, which has been under PAS rule for 22 years.

“Then Selangor, then only Penang. (Tan Sri) Khalid (Ibrahim) is the smartest mentri besar or chief minister in the country and he is stronger than he appears.

“He makes sense in meetings and I think Selangor is stronger than it looks,” he said, dismissing the suggestion that Penang was a “safe deposit” for PR as “appearances are deceiving.”

Kedah is the fourth state controlled by PR and was recently rocked by a split in the state leadership of PAS, which heads the administration there.

The Bagan MP had come under fire from politicians and the public for suggesting last week that Barisan Nasional (BN) could “eat eggs (win zero seats)” in the state.

But he told The Malaysian Insider in a recent interview that “I did not say they will ‘makan telur’.”

“I said if we are vigilant and we work hard, and we get 90 per cent of the non-Malay support and 40 per cent of the Malay support, then they can ‘makan telur’. But it’s going to be hard,” the DAP secretary-general said.

He said reports of his speech at a fundraising dinner had taken his statement out of context as he had also told supporters not to “take for granted we will win as there is no guarantee in politics.”

“I’m giving a worst-case scenario and best-case scenario. Worst-case, we lose power. Best-case, we get that result (a clean sweep).

“But you think you’ll either get the best or worst? You won’t. It will be somewhere in the middle. But you must strive for the higher target,” he explained.

Penang has been repeatedly lauded by the international press for its economic growth and Lim has also praised its residents for attracting the most manufacturing investment of any state in Malaysia for two consecutive years.

But he said that “Selangor also has the same achievements” and dismissed Umno’s claim that Kelantan voters are tired of the lack of development under PAS.

“They are more tired of corruption,” he said, making specific reference to allegations that Wanita Umno chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil and her family had abused RM250 million in public funds meant for a national cattle farming scheme.

Despite the National Feedlot Centre (NFC) scandal that has stretched since October last year, Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s approval rating surged by 10 percentage points to 69 per cent in a survey conducted last month.

But Lim said “I don’t deny Najib’s popularity but he cannot contest to be the MB of Kelantan, Kedah, Selangor or CM of Penang. He is contesting to be PM of Malaysia.”

Discrimination to Penang: CM appeal to PM

2012-03-21T07:51:00.001-07:00

Kenyataan Akhbar Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang Lim Guan Eng pada 20 Mac 2012 di Komtar, George Town, Pulau Pinang.

Kerajaan Negeri Pulau Pinang telah menghantar surat kepada Perdana Menteri pada hari ini agar Y.A.B. Perdana Menteri dapat memberikan layanan setimpal kepada Pulau Pinang dengan menambahkan peruntukan daripada RM2.88 bilion di bawah RMK-10 kepada lebih RM7.2 billion.

Kerajaan Negeri Pulau Pinang telah menghantar surat kepada Perdana Menteri pada hari ini agar Y.A.B. Perdana Menteri dapat memberikan layanan setimpal kepada Pulau Pinang dengan menambahkan peruntukan daripada RM2.88 billion di bawah RMK-10 kepada lebih RM7.2 billion. Kerajaan Negeri Pulau Pinang kesal bahawa hanya RM2.88 billion diperuntukan bagi melaksanakan 259 program/ projek bagi RMK-10 berbanding dengan RM6.54 bilion bagi melaksakan sebanyak 993 program/ projek di bawah RMK-9.

Memandangkan bahawa RMK-10 telah ditambah sebanyak 10peratus berbanding RMK-9, maka jumlah peruntukan untuk Pulau Pinang juga harus ditambah 10peratus daripada RM6.54 bilion di bawah RMK-9 kepada RM7.2 bilion di bawah RMK-10. Kegagalan Kerajaan Persekutuan berbuat demikian akan dilihat sebagai tindakan terus meminggirkan rakyat Pulau Pinang atau diskrimanasi terhadap negeri Pulau Pinang hanya kerana rakyat negeri ini telah memilih secara demokrasi Pakatan Rakyat untuk memerintah Pulau Pinang.

Kerajaaan Persekutuan harus ingat bahawa Pulau Pinang memberikan sumbangan signifikan dalam pembayaran cukai dan duti kepada Kerajaan Persekutuan. Tambahan pula, Pulau Pinang memainkan peranan penting dalam pembangunan ekonomi dan menarik pelaburan ke Malaysia dan Pulau Pinang. Ini ketara dibuktikan dengan pencapaian cemerlang Pulau Pinang menjadi jaguh pelaburan di Malaysia secara dua tahun berturut- turut dengan RM12.24 billion dalam tahun 2010 dan RM9.1bilion dalam tahun 2011.

Sekiranya Kerajaan Persekutuan terus mengambil pendekatan diskriminasi yang tidak matang ini, ia hanya memakan tuan kerana yang rugi bukan sahaja Pulau Pinang tetapi juga Malaysia. Bak kata pepatah Melayu “marahkan seekor nyamuk habis kelambu dibakar”.

Soalan bertulis yang dikemukakan oleh saya kepada Perdana Menteri adalah seperti berikut :

Tuan Lim Guan Eng (Bagan) minta Perdana Menteri menyatakan jumlah peruntukan yang diberikan kepada Pulau Pinang di bawah RMK-10 berbanding dengan RMK-9 dan sila nyatakan secara terperinci projek-projek, khususnya kos projek jalan demi mengurangkan kesesakan lalu lintas dan perparitan/ longkang untuk mengatasi banjir kilat.
Jawapan:
Tuan Yang di-Pertua,
Untuk makluman Ahli Yang Berhormat, Kerajaan Persekutuan telah memperuntukkan sebanyak RM2.88 bilion bagi melaksanakan sebanyak 259 program/projek bagi rolling plan pertama Rancangan Malaysia Kesepuluh (RMK-10) bagi Negeri Pulau Pinang. Sementara itu, dalam Rancangan Malaysian Kesembilan (RMK-9)bagi tahun 2006-2010, Kerajaan Persekutuan telah memperuntukkan sebanyak RM6.54bilion bagi melaksanakan sebanyak 993 program/projek.
Untuk makluman Ahli Yang berhormat juga, daripada jumlah tersebut, Kerajaan Persekutuan telah memperuntukkan sebanyak RM873.43juta bagi melaksanakan 50 projek pembinaan jalan dan jambatan untuk mengurangkan kesesakan lalu lintas.
Manakala itu, sebagai langkah untuk mengatasi masalah banjir kilat, Kerajaan Persekutuan telah memperuntukkan RM234.96 juta bagi melaksanakan 30 projek untuk mengatasi masalah banjir kilat dalam tempoh RM-9 hingga rolling plan pertama RMK-10.

LIM GUAN ENG

槟州首席部长林冠英于2012年3月20日在槟城乔治市光大发表的文告。

槟州政府今日正式致函给首相，吁请首相公平拨款予槟州，在第10大马计划下，望能从28亿8千万的拨款增加至超过72亿令吉。

槟州政府今日正式致函给首相，吁请首相公平拨款予槟州，在第10大马计划下，望能从28亿8千万的拨款增加至超过72亿令吉。相较于第9大马计划下槟州获得65亿4千万令吉进933项计划，槟州政府对于只能在第10大马计划下获得28亿8000万令吉进行259项计划感到失望。

纵观第10大马计划已经比第9大马计划增加10%，因此，槟州理应从原本第9大马计划下所获得的65亿4千万令吉，在第10大马计划下增加10%至72亿令吉。联邦政府无法做到这一点，让人看到其边缘化槟州及其是槟州，只因为槟州人民透过民主程序选择了民联政府管理槟州。

联邦政府须谨记槟州上缴联邦政府的税收是占非常重要的比例。更何况槟州在马来西亚的经济发展及吸引外资到大马及槟城方面扮演着举足轻重的角色。这可从槟州在2010年及2011年，连续吸资高居全国冠军，获得证明。2010年槟州获得了122亿4千万令吉投资，2011年则获得了91亿令吉投资。

如果联邦政府继续不成熟地采取歧视政策对付槟州，联邦政府将自食恶果，因为槟州损失，大马也将会损失，就如马来谚语所说的“为了迁怒于一只蚊子，竟然把蚊帐给烧了”

我询问首相的国会问题如下 :

峇眼国会议员林冠英要求首相列出相较于第9大马计划，在第10大马计划下的拨款，同时详细列出其拨款内的全部计划，特别是列出造路解决交通阻塞计划及造沟渠解决闪电水灾计划的费用。

答案:

联邦政府已经在第10大马计划下拨出28亿8千万令吉给槟州进行259项计划，而在2006年至2010年的第9大马计划下，联邦政府已经拨款65亿4千万令吉在槟州进行993项计划。
联邦政府已经拨款8亿7千343万令吉在槟州进行50项造路及造桥计划，以减少交通阻塞。
同时，为了减少闪电水灾，联邦政府已经在第9及第10大马计划拨款2亿3千496万令吉进行30项治水计划。

林冠英

Time to put lid on vandalism

2012-03-20T06:45:00.000-07:00

March 20, 2012
Star
By TAN SIN CHOW

THOSE who vandalise public toilets should be penalised with a heavier punishment including a jail term, said Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

He urged local authorities to look into whether such acts could be termed as “des-troying public property” so that a heavier punishment could be meted out.

Such a move, he said, is vital as it will act as a deterrent to teach the public to be more responsible for the cleanliness of public toilets.

“Those who destroy public property should face the full brunt of the law, and not be let off leniently.

“Imposing a fine on the culprits is no longer sufficient to curb the problem,’’ he said.

He added that it was pointless for the state government to spend thousands of ringgit to build five-star toilets if the public was not appreciative.
Winning message: Nor Aziah showing the trophy and certificate she won for her slogan 'Tandas Bersih, Rakyat Selesa, Pulau Pinang Sejahtera' which will be used for the toilet cleanliness campaign.

“Some who were caught vandalising the toilets or littering there did not even pay the fine.

“I hope that with a deterrent sentence, the public will be more responsible and think twive about vandalism,” he said at the launching of Penang Cleanliness Toilets Campaign 2012 held at Eastin Hotel recently.

State Local Government and Traffic Management Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow, who was also present at the lauching, said the campaign would focus on the cleanliness of toilets in schools, bus stations, malls, restaurants, recreational spots, government buildings and areas like wet markets as well as commercial offices.

He said there would be a ‘Star Rating’ competition for public toilets.

The judging criteria are the adequacy of water supply, lighting, sanitary conditions, cleaning schedules and maintenance.

“The contest result will be announced during the World Toilet Day at the end of the year,” he said.

The event also saw Nor Aziah Md.Desa, 29, receiving her trophy and a certificate for her winning slogan ‘ Tandas Bersih, Rakyat Selesa, Pulau Pinang Sejahtera’.

The slogan will be used for the Penang Toilets Cleanliness Campaign 2012.