Gearing up 展望槟州 2030 for Sukma 《珍珠快讯》 pg 17-20 封面 SEPTEMBER 1 – 15, 2018 Taking Penang to the next level Story by Victor Seow State” of Penang and the success of Pix by Alvie Cheng Penang 2030 that will serve as an inspiration across the nation as a THE people of Penang were given whole. an overview of what is in store for “We cannot plan for what an them in the coming 12 years under inspired population will achieve but the leadership of the state govern- we know that an inspired population ment of Chief Minister Chow Kon is a happy one – and a creative one Yeow during a dialogue and Q&A as well. Once our own people are session dubbed “Penang 2030” on inspired, they will inspire the nation Aug 29. as well and even the world,” noted Attended mostly by captains of Chow. industry, representatives from a The chief minister further elabo- wide array of NGOs active in the rated on the four themes under area of environmental protection, Penang 2030 – increased livability, the arts and heritage, SMEs, senior upgrading of the economy, empow- civil servants and Pakatan Harapan erment of the people and investment elected representatives, Penang in the built environment – all of 2030 which lasted nearly three which share a common notion of a hours witnessed the first half being Penang in the future which will rise managed by the chief minister who up in the economic value chain and spoke earnestly on his approach and having the means of providing a vision for the state to be achieved The chief minister responding during the Q&A session with the various stakeholders. With him is Ooi. quality and happy life for her citi- by 2030. zens. Titled “Penang 2030: A Family- Interestingly, Chow also sug- focused Green and Smart State to gested having some sort of a happi- Inspire the Nation” in its entirety, ness index mechanism to gauge the the dialogue session provided Chow level of happiness of Penangites the platform to provide details of his towards the state government. policy-direction aiming to achieve “Now something that you might Staying smart to a family-focused state adhering to Family focus to take Index to gauge how Upgrade economy have heard about. We also propose such core human values. to increase household master new ways of to do a happiness index (to gauge) Penang to next level happy people are doing things “By that we mean that apart from income how happy you are in Penang. How our policies being people-centric, unit of society, will allow for the anced development. The economy Penang which concern the digital happy are you with the Penang state we are aware that our family is development of support systems for needs to develop to face new chal- revolution and hence, the vital im- government? We hope this happi- central to everything we do. That is the needy which will be not only lenges but the managing of these portance of being ‘Smart’ in master- ness index will be constructed and very much a core value for Malay- sustainable but effective in the changes must retain and improve ing the new ways of getting things regulate the ways things are done sians. More often than not, thinking medium and long run,” he said. the wonderful natural and cultural done in the modern economy, the so that all the arms of government of the individual as part of a family “The word ‘Green’ signifies the assets we have,” added Chow. inseparable territorial entities of will have a better sense of how so- and generating statistics and knowl- (state) government’s awareness that The chief minister also outlined Penang island and Seberang Perai ciety is feeling. edge that see the family as the basic there is really no alternative to bal- the challenges to be embraced by that collectively make up the “Smart * Turn to page 3 2 SEPTEMBER 1 – 15, 2018 Almost 1,000 sessions on PTMP Story by Christopher Tan THE Penang government has en- gaged 16,527 people on the state transport initiatives since December 2015 until Aug 23. The state transport initiatives are the Bayan Lepas Light Rail Transit (LRT) project, the Pan Island Link 1 (PIL 1) highway project and the Penang South Reclamation (PSR) project. Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said 965 sessions which involved government agencies, elected repre- we did for six weeks from Jan 16 last Sri Pinang,” he said. sentatives, professional and business year to Feb 17 last year and subse- Chow said the Department of groups, associations, non-govern- quently extending the period to Feb Environment (DoE) had directed the mental organisations, media, fisher- 28 last year following public requests. state to hold a public town hall session men, residents, beach users, focus “The submission documents of on the PIL 1. groups and the public had been the bidders were displayed for all to Chow also reminded the public to conducted. inspect. It has never been done before give their feedback on the PIL 1 since “We are reaching 1,000 engage- but we did it. the public feedback period has been ment sessions soon. “We cannot be doing it every day. extended to Sept 24. “Whenever we receive the letter We have done it. “We will be holding a town hall of concern from the community, we “Maybe those who claimed that session on the PIL 1 as soon as we will try to send our team to engage we are not transparent have missed receive the notification from the them so that they can get a better the opportunity at that time,” he said. DoE,” he said. picture of the situation and we can Chow said that Penang Forum, Chow said the state was still wait- listen to their concerns directly. being the key advocate, attended the ing for the Environmental Impact “Some of the forthcoming en- PTMP engagement session. Assessment (EIA) and Heritage he said. to the PTMP. gagements include the schools and “Subsequent to that, we had a Impact Assessment (HIA) approvals On the PSR, Chow said the Hy- “The PTMP is crucial to address the Than Hsiang Temple in Bayan workshop to discuss their concerns,” for the Bayan Lepas LRT railway draulic and Marine Traffic Risk As- the key threats to the state’s sustain- Lepas,” Chow told a press conference he said. scheme. sessment had been approved. able growth. at his office in Komtar on Aug 23. Chow said the state will continue “We have got the reply from the “We still have to work on the “We are facing an increase in traf- Chow said some parties have had to engage the public. National Heritage Department Fishery Impact Assessment (FIA), fic congestion, resulting in the reduc - concerns about the PTMP recently. “We have announced the ‘Say- (NHD) on the HIA report submitted the Social Impact Assessment (SIA) tion in productivity and the eroding “They claimed that the state is not angi Penangku Hunt’ (to be held on for the Sia Boey (old Prangin Market) and the Traffic Impact Assessment quality of life in Penang. transparent regarding the PTMP. Sept 1) event. It is to allow the public area since we are going build the LRT (TIA). “There is also the shortage of de- “We would like to draw your at- to understand the LRT alignment. station there. “All these have to be ready before velopable land, especially for afford- tention to our effort. “There will be a public forum ti- “What is required is the Visual the EIA can be approved. able housing in Penang. “Although it is not required by any tled ‘Public Forum: PTMP for Pen- Impact Assessment. Generally, I “The EIA is crucial for the recla- “There is a need to facilitate sus- law, we agreed to the suggestion to angites’ which will be held from think the NHD has no issue with re- mation (of the three proposed man- tainable growth of Penang’s eco- open up the RFP documents; which 2.30pm to 5pm on Sept 2 at Dewan gard to siting the station in Sia Boey,” made islands) project to be approved. nomic engines such as electrical and “There will be another public electronics (E&E) sector, tourism town hall session on the PSR. We are sector, services sector and others. still waiting for the official notifica - “Penang also needs a reliable tion from DoE,” Chow said. public transport infrastructure with a He reiterated that the state would long-term vision to achieve her pub- abide by the conditions set by fed- lic transport mode share target of eral government agencies with regard 40%,” Chow added. ‘10 promises in 100 days’ is federal manifesto, says CM THE Penang government will not Chow said the state is taking its be making any announcement on 68 pledges seriously. the “100 days manifesto pledges”. “We are monitoring the pro- Chief Minister Chow Kon gress of the pledges according to Yeow said the “10 promises in 100 the portfolios of the state executive days” is the federal government’s council (exco) members. manifesto and not the state’s. “I have instructed the exco “We have never said that we members to look into the pledges will fulfil the 68 promises listed in which come under their respective the state’s manifesto within 100 portfolios. days,” Chow replied a journalist “However, this is not for the By Me during the press conference at his ‘100 days manifesto pledges’ an- office in Komtar on Aug 23. nouncement,” he added. SEPTEMBER 1 – 15, 2018 3 Parking SST - taxation made goes ‘smart’ simpler but better AT a press conference on Aug 15, exco member for Story by Victor Seow would be implemented on Sept 1.