Penang CM's Statement after swearing-in

I feel Proud for the Penangites, Bravo! A good leader makes a GREAT difference to a state and to a country, and I am sure to a family too. Unity speaks for itself and created the results of today, Penang is getting excited for its progress with so much positivity to be anticipated. Penang CM's Statement after swearing-in
Well done, Penang!
Let's move back to Penang... seems like another country :) This is how a wise and responsible LEADER should speak! Subject: Penang CM's Statement after swearing-in Press Conference Statement by Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng After The Swearing-In Ceremony By Penang Governor At Sri Mutiara, Penang on 7.5.2013
      We are extremely grateful to the people of Penang not only for proving that Penangites can neither be bought by the blatant and shameless money politics nor threatened with violence that had occurred in the last few days of the GE13 campaign in Penang. Clearly Penangites valued a government that performed and delivered over the last 5 years much more than those who only appeared during the last 5 days of the campaign to buy votes or threaten voters.
       We are humbled and thank the people of Penang for their support. Just as we have delivered in the previous 5 years, we shall continue to do so for the next 5 years in preparing not only the future for the young but preparing the young for the future. We are prepared to build upon our successes to make Penang Cleaner, Greener, Safer and Healthier than ever. 5 years ago, we introduced clean governance based on the CAT principles of Competency, Accountability and Transparency. Through measures such as open competitive tenders, assets declarations, disallowing family members from doing business with the state government, we have managed to garner the largest investments ever in the history of Penang.
       In the last 5 years from 2008-2012, we received RM 36.1 billion in investments, compared to only RM 18.7 billion in the preceding 5 years from 2003-2007. Through CAT, the PR state government was able to achieve surpluses every year since 2008, reduce debt by 95% and increase state assets from RM800 million in 2008 to RM1.2 billion in today. From the savings and surpluses we achieved, we shall abolish poverty this year by topping up monthly the income of all families who receive less than RM770 a month, continue with yearly cash aid to schools, senior citizens, single mothers, the disabled, school students, university students and trishaw pullers. From our feedback, the fear that BN will abolish these popular programmes caused many, especially Malays, to reject BN and support PR.
       On the back of clear increased support amongst Chinese and Indian voters coupled with the slight increase in Malay support, PR Penang recorded an increase in popular votes from 63% to 66% and won all our seats with increased majorities. PR Penang managed to win an additional state seat in Seberang Jaya, increasing the 29 state seats won to 30. PR will not follow BN’s racial games of bashing the Chinese voters and make the Chinese community scapegoats for BN’s loss. Instead, PR will treat all Penangites fairly regardless of race, religion and political background. Before I was sworn in for my second term as Chief Minister, I had visited Kampung Melayu in Air Itam, my constitutency in the Indian settlement of Ujong Batu in Bagan and Air Putih. The PR Penang state government 2.0 will be fair to all, even towards those who supported BN. Propose An Annual RM 100 Golden Mother Programme To Record Our Appreciation To All Homemakers Below 60 Who Do Not Work But Look After Their Children From 2014 Onwards.
       If PR had won Putrajaya, a PR Federal government would have given RM600 annually to all homemakers who did not work so that they can take care of the families. This general election showed the power of women, many who voted for the first time enthusiastically for justice, freedom, truth, integrity and good governance. In appreciation for their support, I shall propose a Golden Mother programme of RM 100 annually to all homemakers below 60 who do not work but look after their children and families from 2014 onwards.
        All Pakatan Rakyat State Assemblypersons Shall Publicly Declare Their Assets Annually Certified By An Accounting Firm. We will continue to further enhance CAT governance, including extending public asset declarations annually to all elected reps certified by an accounting firm, instead of confining it only to the Chief Minister and EXCO members.
         We shall continue with our pro-growth, pro-jobs and pro-poor policies, especially empowering the SMEs, halal industry and expand our microcredit programme with an additional RM5 million.We will also encourage the growth of the aquaculture industry by abolishing boating licenses and provide nets on an annual basis to inshore fishermen. Apart from existing tourism projects, we want to improve the hospitality service by giving an annual good service incentive of R600 to all taxi-drivers.
        We will seek to establish Penang as a center of excellence for science and technology through the Penang Science Cluster and the RM25 million Tech-Dome initiative. We will also make Penang a regional education hub by building Penang Learning Centers in all districts and attracting world-class educational institutions such as the Asian Women’s Leadership University (AWLU). Our ultimate goal will always be to build human talent by training, retraining, retaining and attracting new talent.
      The Penang state government proposes to work with the Federal government on the Penang Transport Masterplan to establish a public transport system and expand existing road networks to ensure that our children do not grow up as a traffic jam generation. Not just the 4 major highways in Penang but also new roadwork projects in Seberang Perai, such as Jalan Bukit Minyak and Jambatan Kampung Tanjung Berembang.
       In terms of housing, we will continue the RM500 million Affordable Housing Fund by building 22,000 units of affordable quality housing in George Town, Teluk Kumbar, Butterworth, Bukit Mertajam, Batu Kawan and Juru, covering all 5 districts.
          Finally, making Penang liveable by being clean, green safe and healthy remains top on our agenda. We are now the most liveable in Malaysia and fourth best place to retire in the world. We will continue to preserve and strengthen George Town as a UNESCO World Heritage City as well as in arts and culture. Being the only green state practicing the “No Plastic Bags Campaign”, achieving the highest recycling rate in Malaysia at 24%, we will now target to achieve a recycling rate of 40% as well as reduce the generation of waste per capita by 50% by 2020.
          The state government also plans to increase the number of CCTVs, as well as street lights to ensure that Penang keeps its status as the safest state in Malaysia. We will continue with our agenda of returning the third vote to Penang in order to empower local democracy through local government elections.
          The people of Penang have spoken loud and clear and given an unqualified endorsement towards the people-centric policies of PR. There will be no room for cronies in Penang. Let us all unite to make Penang the No.1 liveable state in Malaysia.
LIM GUAN ENG