Jimmy Leow

DAP insists that all top SPM scorers should get an overseas Public Service Department (PSD) scholarships and not 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) grants to study in local public and private universities in the interests of fairplay, reward performance based on excellence not mediocrity and demonstrate the country’s commitment to retain our human talent.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz announced yesterday that 500 special education grants would be disbursed by 1MDB to the rejected applicants. The scholarships to public universities would be worth RM7,500 a year and scholarships for study of critical courses in private universities would be worth RM15,000 a year while grants for non-critical courses would be worth RM7,500.

At the same time, DAP condemns the BN government for failing to uphold transparency and accountability by making public the detailed results of all those who were awarded overseas scholarships. MCA President Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek has still not explained why MCA Ministers failed to fulfil Chua’s promise to award all top SPM scorers with PSD overseas scholarships. Chua would do well to read the article by his predecessor Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat in Malaysiakini that BN’s failure to award overseas PSD scholarships equally to all SPM top scorers has reflected negatively on BN.

Instead of responding to MCA’s failure that even his predecessor Ong had criticised, MCA is trying to distract attention by attacking the Penang PR state government for lying that Penang does not have enough money to provide scholarships to top students. MCA claims that Penang has vast wealth to spend on overseas scholarships because Penang came out top in investments with RM 12.2 billion in 2010.

If MCA can not differentiate between foreign and domestic investments with revenue then MCA does not deserve to be part of government. Investments are held by the private sector to spend to generate jobs and economic growth, not revenue for the state government to spend. Perhaps all MCA leaders should undergo a basic course of finance. Further the Penang PR state government is still trying to clean up years of BN’s misrule and abuse of power in the state that caused RM230 million in losses to Majlis Perbandaran Seberang Perai(MPSP) until MPSP became practically bankrupt and the Tang Hak Ju land scam that costs the state RM40 million.

Despite these revenue constraints, Penang PR has continued to award loans at local public universities to all deserving Penang students equally. Penang PR has also increased the primary and secondary school grants(not loans) to poor students. DAP pledges that unlike Barisan Nasional (BN), all deserving top students in the country will be awarded the same scholarships if Pakatan Rakyat (PR) wrins control of the federal government.

This pledge to award overseas scholarships equally to all top students is necessary to win Malaysia’s future by escaping the middle-income trap to become a high-income economy with USD15,000 per capita income. Malaysia would be sending a wrong message if we reward mediocrity instead of excellence, do not have a level-playing field that is fair to the best and brightest and allow the brain drain to continue. The time has come to invest our resources in the future by spending tens of billions of ringgit on human talent instead of squandering it on corruption and white elephant projects likes the RM 5 billion 100-storey Menara Warisan.

Lim Guan Eng

Desperate tactics by BN to racialise PR’s opposition to price increases will not succeed in deceiving and distracting the people that subsidy cuts only affect 27 million ordinary Malaysians but not impact the big companies like Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and Felda. BN is so desperate to justify its subsidy cuts that  Domestic Trade, Cooperative and Consumerism Deputy Minister Datuk Tan Lian Hoe is accusing DAP of trying to spark a a racial issue over a cut in the sugar subsidy by involving the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda).

This is a stupid argument by Tan as those affected by the price increase of sugar by 20 cents to RM2.30 per kg includes Malays. Or is Tan saying that price increases in sugar and petrol affect only non-Malays?

Tan said in Kuching 2 days ago that DAP had accused Felda of profiting from the subsidy cut in sugar. This is untrue. Tan is deliberately distorting my expose of the profits earned by Felda in the sugar business that was revealed during the listing of its subsidiary, MSM Malaysia Holdings Bhd.

MSM produces close to 60 % of the refined sugar production in Malaysia and is valued at RM2.46bil or RM3.50 a share at by CIMB Investment Bank Bhd. For 2010, MSM made a profit of RM 232 million before the sugar price was increased by 20 cents to RM2.30 per kg.

This profit of RM232 million should be sufficient to cover any savings in sugar subsidies’ cuts by the government following the increase in sugar prices. Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry secretary-general Datuk Mohd Zain Mohd Dom had announced that the sugar price increase was to reduce government sugar subsidy by RM116.6 million from RM400 million per year.

What is RM 116.6 million savings from subsidy cuts in sugar by 20 cents compared to RM 232 million in profits earned by MSM last year? The BN government can easily transfer this M116.6 million cost, which is only half of the RM232 million annual profits, to MSM since it is owned by Felda.

Instead, in line with BN’s misguided and corporate-centric policy of helping the rich companies at the expense of poor ordinary Malaysians, BN has chosen to hit the pockets of 27 million Malaysians first than the already huge profits of corporate giants such as Felda or MSM. MSM should be asked to contribute by transferring half of their profits to the government and allow the sugar price to be maintained at RM2.10 per kg.

How can DAP be playing racial politics for asking the Federal government to get Felda to use half its profits to “subsidise” the government as a form of social corporate responsibility that will also help Malays? This is typical of BN’s racial politics that tries to pit Malays and non-Malays in a classic case of divide and rule.

All ordinary Malays and non-Malays are equally affected by the price increases. And all rich Malays and non-Malays equally benefit from not having to suffer any subsidy cuts as that suffered by ordinary Malaysians, especially those benefits enjoyed by the Independent Power Producers.

Clearly BN and Tan have run out of ideas by not been able to explain why no action has been taken to reduce gas subsidies of RM 19 billion annually to Independent Power Producers(IPPs), when it can take action to reduce diesel and gas subsidies of a few hundred million ringgit that hurts ordinary Malaysians.

A more just and fair socio-economic policy should be to cut the subsidies of the rich first instead of the poor.  The failure by BN to do so clearly shows that BN is about Barang Naik instead of PR (Price Reductions)

LIM GUAN ENG

The Penang state government welcomes the postponement of the implementation of the Solid Waste and Urban Cleansing Management Act 2007 (Act 672) to another date to be announced by the Federal government. Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Chor Chee Heung said in Alor Star yesterday that the enforcement of the Act which was supposed to be effective this April 30 but the Prime Minister wanted it to be postponed as some technical aspects needed to be sorted out first.

The Penang state government had opposed the policy of privatising solid waste management set by the federal government because of three principal reasons. First, neither the state government nor the local authorities has been consulted about the entire privatisation exercise. The privatised contracts are all forcibly imposed on the state governments or local authorities.

Secondly there is lack of accountability, as neither the state government nor the local authorities have a say in the running of the privatised project by the preferred contractor. If the people suffer because of poor management, the state government has no power to enforce compliance or punish non-performance. There may also be long delays in attending to problems because the matters can only be finalised in Putrajaya not in Penang. This goes against the basic concept of Think Globally but Act Locally.

Finally there is no open tender by the federal government in choosing the contractor who succeeded in gaining the privatised contract. This may lead to crony projects which will burden the people with inflated price, poor quality of services rendered and sub-standard management. The experiences in some states who have adopted privatised contractors selected without open tender by the Federal government has been costly, frustrating, time-consuming and thoroughly unpleasant.

Choosing contractors without an open public tender, without practicing consultation and without respecting accountability goes against the very tenets of “Blue Ocean Strategy” of finding new markets with new and innovative ideas or products. Relying on crony projects and burdening the public with inflated prices and poor service is not the Blue Ocean strategy been promoted by Prime Minister Dato Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Therefore, the Federal government should allow state governments the choice to opt out of the Solid Waste and Urban Cleansing Management Act and instead choose its own contractor to be responsible for these critical urban cleansing duties.

Semalam satu lembaran baru sejarah telah tertulis di Malaysia, sebagai sebuah Negara Islam kita telah menjadi yang pertama dalam Negara-negara Islam membenarkan satu Tayangan Perdana sebuah filem lucah di sebuah Hotel yang bertaraf lima bintang iaitu Carcosa Seri Negara.

Boleh dikatakan hampir seluruh editor media baik media cetak mahupun media alternatif samada yang Pro UMNO mahupun Pro PR dijemput untuk menyaksikan tayangan perdana filem lucah yang dianjurkan oleh seorang lelaki yang dikenali sebagai Datuk ‘T’.

Tindakan Datuk ‘T’ menganjurkan tayangan perdana filem lucah itu seolah-olah direstui atau diberikan permit khas oleh pihak berkuasa kerana kita melihat tiada sebarang sekatan atau halangan yang dikenakan terhadap tayangan itu.

Adalah mustahil untuk mengatakan pihak berkuasa tidak tahu menahu akan tayangan perdana filem lucah itu kerana menterinya sendiri iaitu Menteri Dalam Negeri telah mengeluarkan kenyataan mengatakan sesiapa yang berasa teraniaya dengan tayangan filem lucah itu boleh membuat laporan polis.

Timbul persoalan disini apakah pihak berkuasa kita hanya bertindak berdasarkan laporan yang dibuat sedangkan jenayah atau salahlaku itu sedang berlaku dihadapan mata? Atau mungkin tayangan filem lucah yang cuba untuk mengaibkan pemimpin utama pembangkang dan keluarganya itu adalah dibenarkan daripada segi undang-undang.

Najib pula tanpa ditanya menyatakan dalam tweeternya bahawa pihak polis tidak terlibat dalam rakaman video lucah aksi seks pemimpin pembangkang itu.. hairan.. mengapa Najib juga kelihatan tergesa-gesa menafikan keterlibatan pihak polis tanpa ditanya?

Tetapi perlu kita ketahui tugas polis adalah menguatkuasakan undang-undang negara. Namun dengan membiarkan Datuk ‘T’ menganjurkan tayangan perdana filem lucah itu seolah-olah mereka memejamkan mata terhadap satu jenayah yang sedang berlaku.

Mungkin dalam hal ini pihak berkuasa kita telah dikilas tangannya oleh pihak yang lebih berkuasa dari pihak berkuasa itu sendiri..

Jika benar lelaki yang dikatakan berperut buncit itu adalah pemimpin utama pembangkang yang sedang melakukan hubungan seks dengan seorang pelacur di sebuah hotel di tengah-tengah ibu kota apa perlunya Datuk ‘T’ menayangkan video itu kepada wakil media selain daripada untuk mengaibkan pemimpin utama pembangkang dan keluarganya sahaja..

Agak janggal juga apabila Datuk ‘T’ tidak melaporkan kepada pihak berkuasa akan penemuan rakaman video aksi seks pemimpin utama pembangkang itu kepada pihak berkuasa, tetapi menayangkannya kepada wakil media.

Tujuannya jelas, iaitu hanya mahu mengaibkan pemimpin utama pembangkang dan keluarganya semata-mata.
Kenapa Datuk ‘T’ tidak mahu menyerahkan salinan rakaman itu kepada pihak berkuasa tetapi mahu menyerahkannya kepada NGO untuk dilakukan analisa akan keaslian video itu? Adakah Datuk ‘T’ meragui atau memandang rendah akan keupayaan pihak polis kita?

Tindakan Datuk ‘T’ ini juga menunjukkan kepada kita bahawa ada agenda politik yang sedang dijalankannya kerana beliau telah memberikan tempoh selama  tujuh hari kepada pemimpin utama pembangkang dan isterinya untuk meletak jawatan dari parti politik jika terbukti benar lelaki di dalam video itu adalah pemimpin utama pembangkang.

Datuk ‘T’ juga berkata rakaman aksi seks pemimpin utama pembangkang itu ditemui disebuah hotel yang diketahuinya menjalankan kegiatan tidak bermoral iaitu menawarkan perkhidmatan seks dan juga spa ini menunjukkan kepada kita semua betapa sebagai seorang warganegara Malaysia Datuk ‘T’ amat tidak bertanggungjawab dengan membiarkan perkara begitu tanpa melaporkan kepada pihak berkuasa.

Persoalan utama di sini ialah siapa Datuk ‘T’ yang begitu berani menganjurkan tayangan perdana filem lucah di sebuah hotel ditengah-tengah ibu Negara tanpa mendapat halangan dari pihak berkuasa?

Pihak hotel iaitu Carcosa Seri Negara juga perlu dipersalahkan kerana membiarkan premis perniagaannya dipergunakan sewenang-wenangnya sebagai tempat untuk menayangkan tayangan video lucah. Sepatutnya premis perniagaan perlu memenuhi etika sosial daripada mengejar keuntungan yang tidak bermoral.

DAP wishes to extend our congratulations to the Royal Malaysian Navy for its success in capturing 18 Somali pirates and preventing their attempted hijack of a Malaysian chemical tanker near the Gulf of Aden. This successful operation in saving the tanker and their crew without any loss of life inspires confidence in a professional navy that justifies the people’s faith.

Not Just Petronas But BN Must Come Clean On The Scandal Of Huge Illicit Capital  Outflows Of RM888 Billion From Malaysia In 9 Years From 2000-2008, The Fifth Highest In The World Amongst Developing Countries.

Whilst our navy boys are heroes for their successful capture of Somali pirates in international waters, DAP regrets that land “pirates” are allowed to roam freely in Malaysia. The US-based financial watchdog Global Financial integrity (GFI) reported that illicit money outflows from Malaysia tripled to US$68.2 billion (RM208.1 billion) in 2008, from US$22.2 billion in 2000.

For the period 2000-2008, China tops the chart among the world’s exporters of illicit capital with a whopping US$2.8 trillion of outflows, followed by Russia (US$427 billion), Mexico (US$416 billion), Saudi Arabia (US$302 billion) and Malaysia (US$291 billion or RM888 billion). Other Asian countries with high illegal capital flight are Philippines ($109 billion), Indonesia ($104 billion) and India ($104 billion).

Clearly illegal capital flight from Malaysia of RM888 billion over 9 years from 2000-8 has dwarfed legitimate capital inflows into the country. GFI defines illicit financial flows as generally involving the transfer of money earned through illegal activities such as corruption, transactions involving contraband goods, criminal activities, and efforts to shelter wealth from a country’s tax authorities.

GFI said that poor governance, pervasive corruption and rising income inequality as contributory factors, making serious allegations that even GLCs such as Petronas could probably be driving illicit flows. This is a devastating indictment of the lack of enforcement, rule of law and a culture of corruption that has eroded confidence in our capital market.

GFI also pointed out the significant discrimination in labour markets was another factor which moved not only people but also illicit and unrecorded capital out of the country. Sadly, Malaysia’s loss of human talent has not only dimmed our future but also made all of us poorer.

Clearly, not only Petronas but BN must come clean on the scandal of huge illicit money outflows RM888 billion from Malaysia in 9 years from 2000-2008, the 5^th highest in the world amongst developing countries.

GFI proposes increasing transparency as critical to reducing the outflow of illicit money from developing countries.This is in line with Penang state government’s CAT governance of Competency, Accountability and Transparency, which has resulted in Penang being commended by the Auditor-General’s Report as the best financially managed state and won praise from Transparency International.

The refusal of BN to come clean will not only cause greater losses in the future, there is a possibility that the country may even go bankrupt by 2019 as Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Idris Jala had warned. RM888 billion in only 9 years is a huge sum by any measure, and more than four times our 2011 National Budget. If RM888 billion was given to 27 million Malaysians, each man woman and child would receive nearly 33,000/- each over 9 years.

Any clean and responsible government with integrity would have immediately established a Royal Commission of Inquiry into this RM888 billion illicit capital outflow scandal. However BN’s reluctance to establish a Royal Commission of Inquiry into other scandals such as RM52 billion bumi shares scandal, where Malays/bumis lost RM 52 billion of bumi shares which just “disappeared”, leaves Malaysians with no choice but to change the government if we want to unearth the truth and punish the culprits responsible.

According to Malaysian International Development Agency(MIDA), Penang is the No.1 state for total capital investments in manufacturing projects in 2010 attracting RM 12,238 million, up nearly 5 times as compared to RM 2,165 million in 2009. This is the first time in history that Penang has topped the list of investments amongst all states and is the highest investment received ever. This success is due to the hard work by the 1.6 million Penangites together with state government leaders and agencies as well as federal government agencies from MIDA and the Ministry of International Trade and Industry.

Penang’s investments were derived from new investments of RM 2,846 million and expansion by existing investors of RM 9,392 million. Clearly these figures only captured those industries that sought incentives from MIDA and not the new or expansion investments that did not require grants from the federal government.

The significance of this historic achievement is highlighted by Penang contribution of RM 12,238 million to Malaysia investment constituting 26% of Malaysia’s total investments of RM 47,177 million of 2010. Yesterday Minister of international trade and industry Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed announced a 45% increase in Malaysia 2010 investment performance from RM 32,637 million in 2009 to RM 47,177 million in 2010. Penang moved up from No. 4 in 2009 to Nol 1 in 2010, increasing by 465% from RM 2,165 million in 2009 to RM 12,238 million in 2010.(see attached)

The 465% increase in investments in Penang reflects confidence in the energy, expertise and entrepreneurship of our human talent. Further this is an affirmation of the state government’s strategy of promoting Penang as a location of choice based on 7 critical success factors(CSF) of growth:-

1. Ready availability of skilled human talent;

2. Effective and efficient supply chain management;

3. Competent and reliable logistics and communications hub

4. Strong Intellectual Property protection;

5. Good governance and effective leadership;

6. Building creativity and innovation in science and technology; and

7. Livable and intelligent city.

Penang believes that CAT governance of competency accountability and transparency has also built confidence that a government with integrity can make things happen and both execute and deliver. Penang was not only the best performer in managing state finances in Malaysia according to the Auditor-General Report for 2009 but also received accolades for anti-corruption from Transparency International.

As the newly-crowned champion amongst all states in attracting investments, the Penang state government wishes to congratulate the people of Penang. With the best financial performance, the best state in clean governance, the best green practices and now the top performer in investments, Penangites can now proudly say “Penang Leads!”.

LIM GUAN ENG

Mesyuarat EXCO pada pagi ini telah membuat satu keputusan untuk menghormati mendiang Tun Dr. Lim Chong Eu, mantan Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang Kedua dengan menamakan semula Jalan Pesisiran Pantai Timur Pulau Pinang (Jelutong Expressway & Jalan Bayan Lepas) kepada Lebuhraya Tun Dr. Lim Chong Eu.

Penamaan Jalan Pesisiran Pantai Timur Pulau Pinang (Jelutong Expressway & Jalan Bayan Lepas) merangkumi keseluruhan jalan dari Gat Jalan Prangin sehingga Persimpangan Jalan Batu Maung/ Jalan Permatang Damar Laut. Ini melibatkan 4 seksyen yang terdiri daripada Jalan Negeri dan Jalan Persekutuan iaitu:-

a. Lebuhraya Pantai Jelutong dari Gat Jalan Prangin ke Jalan Tengku Kudin (4.14 km);

b. Sebahagian jalan yang masih belum dinamakan lagi iaitu di bawah tanggungjawab Lembaga Lebuhraya Malaysia (LLM) iaitu dari Persimpangan Bertingkat Jambatan Pulau Pinang ke Jalan Tengku Kudin (2.53 km);

c. Lebuh Sungai Nibong  di antara Persimpangan Bertingkat Jambatan Pulau Pinang ke Jalan Tun Dr.   Awang (3.19 km); dan

d. Lebuh Bayan Lepas di antara Jalan Tun Dr. Awang dan Persimpangan Jalan Batu Maung/ Jalan Permatang Damar Laut (7.98 km).

Panjang keseluruhan Jalan Pesisiran Pantai Timur Pulau Pinang (Jelutong Expressway & Jalan Bayan Lepas) dari Persimpangan Gat Jalan Prangin/Lebuhraya Pantai Jelutong/Pengkalan Weld ke Persimpangan Lebuhraya Bayan Lepas/Jalan Batu Maung/Jalan Permatang Damar Laut adalah sepanjang 17.84 km.

Terdapat 3 persimpangan bertingkat, satu jambatan dan satu jejantas sepanjang lebuhraya ini. Lebuhraya ini bertujuan menghubungkan Jambatan Pulau Pinang   ke Bandar George Town dan Bandar Bayan Lepas.

Penamaan semula lebuhraya ini bertujuan untuk memberi penghargaan, pengiktirafan dan penghormatan ke atas sumbangan dan jasa bakti yang tidak ternilai mendiang Tun Dr. Lim Chong Eu kepada pembangunan Negeri Pulau Pinang khasnya dan Negara Malaysia amnya.

Sebelum ini Kerajaan Negeri telahpun memaklumkan akan hasrat untuk menamakan semula lebuhraya tersebut kepada keluarga mendiang Tun Dr. Lim Chong Eu.

Mesyuarat EXCO pada pagi ini telah dipendekkan bagi membolehkan ahli-ahli EXCO menghadiri upacara istiadat pengkebumian dan memberi penghormatan terakhir kepada mendiang Tun Dr. Lim Chong Eu.

YAB Ketua Menteri juga telah membatalkan semua program awam dan politik beliau sebagai tanda berkabung ke atas pemergian mendiang Tun Dr. Lim Chong Eu.

The Penang state government and 1.6 million people of Penang mourn the passing of the Penang’s 2nd Chief Minister Tun Dato Seri Utama Dr Lim Chong Eu. I have directed that all government departments to fly the Penang state flag at half mast until after his funeral as a sign of deep mourning and sorrow.

All Penang state flags at state government institutions will be flown at half-mast to mourn the passing of Penang’s longest serving Chief Minister and father of Penang’s economic transformation of industrialization and modernisation, Tun Dato Seri Utama Dr Lim Chong Eu.

I have asked the State Secretary Dato Zainal Rahim bin Seman to request all Federal government departments and schools to fly the Penang flag at half-mast until after his burial is carried out as a mark of respect for this giant of a politician who ushered in a new age for Penang. The state government has announced that it will accord Tun Dato Seri Utama Dr Lim Chong Eu a state funeral subject to the wishes of his family. However the state government is willing to give way should the Federal government wishes to conduct a national funeral to honour his immeasurable contributions.

LIM GUAN ENG

The obsession by MCA leaders for mega projects instead of people’s interests is very unhealthy. Transport Minister Kong Cho Ha has continued his unjustified criticism against the stop-work order on the RM 13 billion Ipoh-Padang Besar Electrified Double Track Project (EDTP) even though the stop-work order was lifted when the contractor complied with Penang’s request to issue written letters of guarantee to protect the public against major floods.

Kong’s insistence that the stop-work order should not have been issued in the first place because the contractor can give any briefings, misses the critical point of protecting public interest with written letters of guarantee. I fail to understand how the state government has done a U-turn by backing down and lifting the stop-work order, when the contractor has fully complied with our 2 conditions in writing that it:-

· will bear all losses should a similar flood problem as in Kedah arise on the mainland in Penang as a result of the project.

· must also remove and tear down any structure built by them that causes water retention or water to overflow if flooding occurs.

Kong Cho Ha should explain what is wrong for MMC-Gamuda JV Sdn Bhd to give letters of gurantee protecting the public against floods when the Transport Ministry can issue letters of guarantee to private companies embroiled in the RM 12.85 billion Port Klang Free Trade Zone scandal? Or are private companies more important than the public?

To-date the contractor has been co-operative and not protested when the stop-work order was issued. Only Kong has protested. I wish to remind Kong that the people are the real bosses, not the contractor nor the Transport Ministry.

Kong even twisted this issue into one where the state government is trying to make life difficult by not working with the federal government on mega projects. Such attacks are baseless as the state government would not have otherwise approved this RM13 billion project.

Kong should be clear that the issue is simply one between the state government’s insistence that the contractor gave a written guarantee on flooding and Kong’s insistence that there is no need for one. The matter is closed when the contractor has fully complied with the state government’s requirement of a written guarantee.

The major floods in Kedah have shown that the normal flood control measures in place by the contractor after full consultation with JPS and JKR no longer works. The state government has thereby chosen to adopt an aggressive pro-active approach in flood crisis management by adopting pre-emptive measures aimed at either avoiding a mitigating the adverse impact.

Kong should realize that the peole’s homes, livelihood and billions of ringgit in investments high-tech industrial parks in Prai and Bukit Minyak are at stake. Penang and our 1.6 million people just can not afford another Kedah-type flood and all preventive measures must be taken to ensure that in the event such floods occur, losses can be minimized.

Lim Guan Eng

The Penang state government reminds Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha that the stop-work order on the RM 13 billion Ipoh-Padang Besar Electrified Double Track Project (EDTP) is not issued against the Transport Ministry but against the contractor MCC-Gamuda Joint Venture Sdn Bhd. I am puzzled as to why Datuk Seri Kong is even more excited than the contractor in protesting when the contractor has not make a single comment.

Kong is wrong to say that we have used the stop-work order to politicize the issue or as a weapon to threaten the Federal Government, as it is directed only against the contractor. At no time did we criticize the Federal government or Kong and yet he is scolding us so ferociously.

I wish to reiterate the Penang state government’s commitment to work with the Federal Government on mega projects that benefit the country. However this commitment should not used as a blank cheque and excuse to sacrifice public interests. Let Kong scold us if he wants to, but the state government has a responsibility to be pro-active because to act only when the major floods have happened would be too late.

On 12 November 2010, the Penang Government had directed Majlis Perbandaran Seberang Perai(MPSP) to issued a stop-work order as a pre-emptive move necessary to prevent major floods in the Penang on the same scale as in Kedah. This follows the statements by both the Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Chor Chee Heung and Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak that the recent major floods in Kedah were possibly due to the project.

The contractor must provide a written guarantee that it will bear all losses should a similar flood problem as in Kedah arise on the mainland as a result of the project. Further MMC-Gamuda must also remove and tear down any structure built by them that causes water retention or water to overflow if flooding occurs. The contractor would also be required to conduct inspection on flood-prone areas in the project construction zone with Penang state EXCO members Lim Hock Seng and Law Choo Kiang. I will be awaiting their reports before deciding whether and when to lift the stop-work order.

I am willing to meet Kong without any conditions. I respect Kong’s decision for refusing to meet me unless the stop-work order is revoked immediately. Kong’s pre-condition is unreasonable as the stop-work order is necessary to safeguard the people’s and investors’ interests because we do not want the major floods in Kedah to recur in Penang.

The losses for a similar flood in Kedah to recur in Penang would be unimaginable putting tens of billions of ringgit in investments, expensive machinery and high-technology equipment at risk. We should put the people’s welfare and public interests above profit considerations of one or two companies.

Just yesterday I had officiated the ceremony of the manufacture of the world’s only smart pen called the Echo pen in Prai, that can capture and transfer data on paper to the computer. We are proud that Penang is the place that produces such high-tech pen that is part of Apple’s i-Pad applications. However, Penang would lose all credibility if we recklessly permit flood waters as high as four feet to enter homes and factory premises without taking pro-active and pre-emptive measures as we have done.

Whilst Kong has the right to severely criticise Penang state government’s decision to issue the stop-work order, I hope he respects our right to carry out our duty and obligation to protect the livelihood of Penangites and investments of our investors.