Jimmy Leow

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.

As the state assemblyman of Pantai Jerejak, Pulau Jerejak is part of my constituency. I would like to urge The Penang State Government to stop the bleed and stop future UDA-PDC joint development of Pulau Jerejak.

The State Government has already lost RM30million in this UDA-PDC venture. Out of which RM 15.435 million was investment to TIR, RM3.6 mil loan and RM 11mil unpaid land premium. This is a huge lost to the state coffers and Penangites. It does not make sense to further develop the island with current lost-making venture. Please stop the bleed.

I also welcome the Parliament Public Account Committee Chairman Datuk Seri Azmi Khalid’s statement that the Auditor General should compile a special report on the Pulau Jerejak Resort Development. The matter is urgent and it is losing public money. The  previous State Government under the leadership of former Chief Minister Tan Sri Koh Tsu Khoon has made several wrong decisions on Pulau Jerejak Development. First, they have given all usable land to UDA. There are 4 phases of developments under UDA-PDC joint venture. The Tropical Island Resort is just the first phase of the development. The Second, third and fourth phase including luxury homes with private marina and medical tourism projects are all “white elephant” in nature. These further developments will not benefit the ordinary Penangites.

I would like to urge the State Government to reject all these further development. The PDC should stop further funding to these “white elephant” projects.

Second major wrong decision was to approve building water storage tanks on the northern part of the island. This has scarred the beauty of this beautiful island. It has also taken a large piece of land that prevent future development of the island. The PBA must try as much as possible to replant trees that have been chopped down to make way for construction.

Pulau Jerejak is an Island full of potential. It has now been gazetted to become a State Park. Development of the island should be along the same direction that is eco-tourism. My suggestion to the state government is to acquire the controlling stake of the development from UDA. UDA has failed in the development and now currently struggling to up keep Tropical Island Resort. UDA is not an expert in running resort and hotels. They should focus on their founding objectives that is Urban Development.

Tan Sri Koh Tsu Khoon must help to return the controlling stake to the people of Penang. UDA is a far-away developer in KL. They do not understand the situation in Penang. Tan Sri Koh must act on the benefit of Penangites, return the controlling stake to PDC now.

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

During this festive season, Jesus’ timeless message of love, peace and hope resonates with all Malaysians. We must remind ourselves that we are Malaysian First and that Malaysian unity is more important than Chinese unity, Malay unity, Indian unity, Iban unity and Kadazan unity.

Malaysians must reject those who seek to divide us whether by skin colour or religion. Why should the Malays be disunited just because UMNO loses Malay support? There is no talk of Malays being disunited when PAS loses Malay support. Similarly why should the Chinese be disunited just because MCA loses Chinese support or Indians be disunited when MIC loses the support of the Indians?

Malaysians should be united by the common platform of freedom, truth, democracy, justice and social welfare for all.

Jesus taught that we must learn to love each other even our enemies.  Then only can we open our hearts to peace and give hope to not only everyone but future generations.

Malaysians must reject those who preach hate and violence to the extent of calling for the bloody May 13 tragedy to be declared as a sacred day that should be celebrated.

Let us reject these pseudo-Malaysians who are extremists, racists and greedy cronies of corruption. Let us focus on real Malaysians as ordinary fathers and mothers who want to improve their economic livelihood and see a brighter future for their children.

We pray that we will stand united in one heart and one mind to serve one another and our community with love and compassion. We pray for all who are suffering from deprivations or ill or lost their loved ones that they have the strength to prevail and overcome. We pray that we awaken our conscience so that our need to act faithfully against all injustice is reflected in how we speak, how we serve and how we give.

Merry Christmas from the Penang state government!

Ketua Menteri(KM) Pulau Pinang YAB Lim Guan Eng tidak pernah mempersoalkan dan mempertikaikan kerakyatan mana-mana warga Malaysia dalam ucaptama beliau dalam Konvensyen Kebangsaan Kedua PR di Kepala Batas, Pulau Pinang pada 19.12.2010. Sila baca teks ucapan penuh beliau di bawah tajuk “Kerajaan Berjiwa Rakyat Untuk Rakyat Malaysia Sebenar”.

Jelas, Utusan Malaysia dan pemimpin UMNO Pulau Pinang seperti Dr Novandri Hasan Bari sekali lagi bertindak jahat menabur fitnah dengan menggembar-gemburkan kononnya KM mahu kerakyatan warga Malaysia dipersoalkan. Seperti yang dinyatakan oleh KM,

“Rakyat Malaysia (the real Malaysians) yang sebenarnya adalah rakyat biasa yang pentingkan hak ekonomi dan masa depan agar kehidupan mereka bukan sahaja lebih senang tetapi masa depan untuk anak-anak adalah lebih cerah dan baik. Rakyat Malaysia sebenar mahukan sebuah masayarkat aman, tenteram dan penyayang serta menyokong prinsip keadilan, kebenaran, kebebasan, kebajikan dan ketakwaan kepada Tuhan.

Yang bukan rakyat Malaysia sebenar adalah yang  hanya tahu benci-membenci dengan menggunakan fahaman eskstrimis baik aspek kaum, jantina mahupun agama, yang tamak haloba di mana demi godaan wang rasuah atau yang lain rela menjualkan segala-galanya serta kaki fitnah dan tohmah. Yang kesemua ini bukan rakyat Malaysia sebenar, mereka ini Malaysia Celup or pseudo-Malaysians.”

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

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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.