the 100th day of the new state government, led by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng. How has Penang fared and where's the direction? Sharanjit Singh, Lee Keng Fatt, Marina Emmanuel, Melissa Darlyne Chow and Phuah Ken Lin talk to the government, stakeholders and the ordinary people
The DAP-Parti Keadilan Rakyat state government has been basking in glory and is still in high spirits since taking over Penang after the March 8 elections.
And who can blame the opposition pact for its joy.
It has after all been relatively smooth sailing for the partners.
The only foe they will face in the state legislative assembly are 11 Umno representatives, who are still coming to terms with being the opposition. Gerakan, the MCA and MIC have all been reduced to playing bit roles now that they are completely out of the assembly.
Unlike some other Pakatan Rakyat and even Barisan Nasional-held states, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng could not have asked for a better start when his predecessor Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon handed over power without any drama once the election results were known.
That there is anticipation of a better Penang since the new state government was formed is undeniable. The people have been closely scrutinising developments since the two opposition parties took over.
Realising the high expectations of an electorate that had been so riled with the previous administration, Lim's administration started off by trying to discredit what Gerakan had done in the 18 years it was in power.
He pulled no punches in attacking Koh's administration, starting off with alleged land scams, which Lim claimed had cost the state millions of ringgit in losses, then moving to the Penang Global City Centre (PGCC) project, which the state government revealed had never been approved.
Even the wives of former assemblymen were not spared when they were accused of not following the correct procedures in dissolving Pertubuhan Bunga Tanjung and transferring RM350,000 from its coffers into the account of the Association of Wives of Ministers and Deputy Ministers (Bakti).
The attacks initially generated much excitement among the people ever eager to digest juicy news, but the accusations and counter response from Koh's side reached a point where people are beginning to question the point of it all.
Political observers question the motive of bringing up the issues over and over again. Interestingly, the state has not lodged a single report to back its allegations of abuse or criminal breach of trust.
"It is time the state government get on with governing Penang and taking it to greater heights instead of harping on past events," a long-time resident, Pravind Balram, said.
He said the state government should lodge reports with relevant agencies like the Anti-Corruption Agency instead of continuously bringing the matter up in the press and issuing threats to former elected representatives.
However, it has to be noted that the state government, mindful that it is being watched closely, has initiated reforms by introducing several firsts.
The appointment of an Indian deputy chief minister in Professor Dr P. Ramasamy has been well received.
Lim has also been highlighting his non-racial, non-religious approach by attending religious functions of all races, including the recent state-level Maulidur Rasul celebrations.
These moves and Lim's constant mantra that the state government was committed to doing things the unconventional way based on its principles of competency, accountability and transparency have certainly won him much admiration.
Even Muslim non-governmental organisations have expressed support for the state government's call for transparency in implementing the New Economic Policy.
Other popular measures include a directive barring DAP elected representatives from applying for state land, a one-off waiver of summonses and compound notices for illegal hawking and traffic offences, cancellation of orders for new cars for state executive council members and the establishment of an inter-religious goodwill council.
However, the latest move to allow for the conversion of leasehold land to freehold status has won the state government its greatest praise from all quarters.
Even its staunchest critics have admitted that it is going to be difficult for BN to unseat the opposition pact if it continues to introduce such people-friendly policies.
Tomorrow: Q & A with Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng
Openness... but Penangites want more
THE state administrative offices at the landmark Komtar have been at their busiest after the elections.
People from all walks of life can be seen streaming in and out of the offices of various state executive councillors and even the chief minister and his two deputies.
Yes, there is a new kind of openness in the way the state government deals with the people and this has resulted in the ever-demanding Penangites taking the slightest of their problems right to the top.
"That is what they promised and it is exactly what we expect... nothing more and nothing less," said hawker Ooi Ah Ba, 55.
Ooi had gone to meet state Local Government Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow to have some licensing issues sorted out.
Such a people-oriented approach has certainly left its mark on the people here and this has forced agencies, especially the two municipalities in Penang to buck up.
Local council workers suddenly seem to have an extra spring in their steps when attending to complaints forwarded to the state.
On the cleanliness front, a perennial source of shame, it would seem that much more needs to be done.
Sales manager Paul Yan, 31, said he had yet to see any extra personnel deployed to clean up the streets.
"Some public toilets are still dirty, although in this sense, the blame falls on the public."
Retiree M. Kashinathan, 58, complained that most drains are also clogged, especially the covered ones. Like Yan, he blamed the public and a lack of enforcement.
Apart from the personal touch that the new state administration has introduced, it is also going all out to woo non-governmental organisations.
Citizens for Effective Public Transport (Cepat) coordinator Dr Choong Sim Poey noted the new state government's openness in listening to their grouses.
He said if the state government wished to make significant progress, it will have to show much greater political will than the previous state government.
Meanwhile, state Umno, MCA and Gerakan leaders have slammed the Pakatan partners for not living up to their general election promises.
Representatives from the three political parties said the state government had failed to reveal concrete plans and the direction it planned for Penang.
"Many people are still in the dark and do not know what is in store for them," said Umno Sri Kalui branch chairman Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah.
Arif Shah said he had observed that all the present state government had done over the last three months was to talk about the weaknesses of the previous state government.
"That can wait. What they should do now is to show the plans they have for the people," said Arif Shah, who is also the Seberang Jaya state assemblyman.
State MCA Youth chief Ooi Chuan Aik felt that those who alleged that there were scandals in land deals should substantiate their claims.
Will the money still flow into Penang?
WHEN two new high-profile investments in Penang were announced, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng basked in the glory. The real challenge, however, is whether he will be able to sustain the momentum for industrial development.
After all, Japanese printed circuit-board maker Ibiden Co Ltd's announcement that it would invest RM1.2 billion in the first phase of its new printed wiring board plant at the Penang Science Park, and the RM115.2 million Honeywell International, through its business group Honeywell Aerospace, will pump into its avionics manufacturing facility, must surely be the result of groundwork done by Lim's predecessor Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon.
That Koh and Penang's second chief minister Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu have laid the foundation for drawing foreign direct investments cannot be denied -- the factories are concrete evidence.
Lim thus has his work cut out to show that he can sustain, or even improve, the momentum for industrial development.
So far, Lim has established contact with potential investors in Hong Kong and Korea and embarked on a networking exercise as he takes steps to ensure that Penang remains the destination of choice for investors.
He has also indicated that efforts are in place to woo high-tech investments, biotechnology firms and sectors engaged in the acquisition of new technologies.
Also on Lim's industrial development radar, is the creation of high wage job opportunities.
This should bode well for Penang, in the face of lay-offs by several multinational investors.
The benefits to be accrued from the tourism industry have not been missed by Lim either, as he looks to giving the tourism and services sectors a much needed boost.
Although he has indicated a willingness to spawn the development of small- and medium-sized industries in the state, not much has been unveiled by Lim so far in terms of actual follow-up programmes or policies.
Thus, all eyes will be on whether Lim and his team can bring in investments on their own, rather than reap the reward of efforts expended by others.
The fact that Lim still has not announced the full line-up for the board of investPenang (a non-profit entity formed by the state government to drive investments and economic growth) has given rise for concern in the business community on the seriousness, and even ability, of the state authorities in ensuring that Penang continues to remain an economic powerhouse.
For its part, the new Penang government has announced it will target countries like India, Indonesia and Australia for smaller investments to serve as a cushion for the state's economy, in anticipation of hard times ahead.
Lim's willingness to work with the Federal Government has been reflected in the interest and support shown towards the Nothern Economic Corridor projects which could benefit the people of Penang.
Besides stressing the urgency to see the completion of the Second Penang Bridge to woo more investors, Lim and his team have also looked into the federal government-initiated monorail project, in a bid to alleviate the island's long-standing and worsening traffic congestion.
On the property front, Lim has made several players jittery, although he has the support of the ordinary Joe on this.
One case in point is Gurney Plaza Sdn Bhd which had a stop-work order slapped on its RM70 million extension project for the sea-fronting Gurney Plaza shopping mall for continuing to carry out work till the wee hours of the morning despite directives against it.
Ivory Properties which is developing the RM1 billion "Times Square" project has also been taken to task by Lim, after nearby residents complained that cracks are emerging in their pre-war properties surrounding the project area.
The prompt attention paid by Lim to concerns raised by the man in street in hauling up corporations, is being watched closely and is said to bode well in ensuring that corporate social responsibility is practised and that companies in Penang can no longer do whatever they please.
'I cannot just focus on Indian problems'
PROFESSOR Dr P. Ramasamy created history when he became the first Indian to be appointed deputy chief minister II of Penang following the March 8 election, but the high expectations from the community have turned into criticism.
The 58-year-old former Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia lecturer said some of the criticism may be because people were struggling to come to terms with Pakatan Rakyat's non-communal approach to handling issues and settling problems.
Ramasamy agreed that Pakatan Rakyat's victory gave birth to high hopes.
"However, they cannot expect us to resolve all the problems involving Indians overnight. We have to handle the situation delicately.
"I have been trying hard to change the mindset of not only the Indians, but also other races. We have adopted a multiracial approach to handling issues. I am an Indian, but I don't hold an Indian affairs portfolio.
"Many Indians still come and see me because of their mindset that Rama (Ramasamy) is an Indian and he must be in charge of Indian affairs.
"I tell them, look, the state government represents all communities and if they have problems involving local government issues, they have to see the executive council member in charge of that.
"It is difficult to satisfy every wish of all segments of society, but we are trying our best. We are taking a gradual approach to right the wrongs and make Penang a glorious place to live in once again."
NST Online
17/06/08
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