Permatang Pauh 'Yes' to PR

THUMBS-UP pg FOR HILL 1 CABLE CAR pg 2 槟去年制造业投资额创82亿令吉记录 FREE buletin Competency Accountability Transparency http:www.facebook.com/buletinmutiara May 1 - 15, 2015 http:www.facebook.com/cmlimguaneng Permatang Pauh ‘yes’ to PR Story by Mark James Pix by Shum Jian-Wei IT was not unexpected but when Datuk Seri Dr. Wan Azizah Wan Ismail was declared winner of the Perma- tang Pauh by-election on May 7, cheers of joy rang out from leaders and supporters alike. Speaking at a press conference on May 8, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said that the Permatang Pauh voters preferred the united and people-centric policies of the PR Penang state government. “Despite claims of no development in Permatang Pauh, the Penang state government has poured more than RM70 million in direct cash aid and development funds since 2008, or an average of RM10 million an- nually,” he said. “Not only did the rakyat receive money for the first time, Permatang Pauh voters saw the best community hall built by the state government in Seberang Jaya, repainted mosques and new roads all completed before the by-election. The state government will continue this Wan Azizah celebrates her victory with (from left) PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu, Lim and Selangor commitment of serving the rakyat at all times and not Mentri Besar Azmin Ali who is PKR deputy president. only five years once during elections,” he added. In terms of financial standing and development, Lim Azman Shah and Salleh lost their deposits. vote here too! I tried to get a photo with her but there said that the state awarded a total of RM7.8 billion out This by-election marked Wan Azizah’s fourth term were just too many supporters crowding around her,” of RM8.3 billion or 94% of contracts to bumiputera as Permatang Pauh MP after her husband Datuk Seri said an ecstatic 24-year-old who only wished to be contractors under open competitive tenders, thus silenc- Anwar Ibrahim was jailed in February. identified as Hafiz. ing political critics who claimed Bumiputera contractors “Today’s victory is proof that the people, especially “I do hope that our votes here today will help to bring in Penang were being sidelined. those in Permatang Pauh are against the detention of a better tomorrow for my family and for my country. “On Islam, we showed proof that allocations given Anwar, the burdensome GST (Goods and Services Tax), There are a lot of things that need fixing; in with the by the PR state government more than doubled com- corruption and abuse of power,” she said after her vic- good out with the bad, like they say,” said 44-year-old pared to what was approved by the previous BN state tory. mechanic Tan Heng Kee. government, from RM25.5 million by BN in 2008 to “This by-election will also be the spark and the Critics and analysts were largely divided in opinion RM52.2 million by PR in 2014,” he said, further quell- driver for the people’s movement to bring total change as to how the by-election would play out but after the ing allegations of neglect of Islam in Penang. and bring back the nation to the right track,” Wan Azi- May 7 results, it leaves little room for doubt that the Wan Azizah, fondly known as Kak Wan, is president zah said. Pakatan Rakyat coalition is not in jeapordy. of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and stood under the During the election period at the poling stations, “Despite a drop of at least 20% in turnout rate, PKR ticket. supporters of both BN and PKR were largely peaceful mostly of the younger generation voters who may not She received 30,361 votes, winning by a healthy although some hiccups were reported and anomalies have been able to return to vote as it is a working day, majority of 8,841 over Barisan Nasional’s (BN) Su- raised. we were still able to maintain a high performance of haimi Sabudin who garnered 21,475 votes, Parti “I cast my vote early in the morning at Sekolah Ke- above 80% comparable to 2013 and it is already a suc- Rakyat Malaysia’s Azman Shah with 101 votes and bangsaan Seri Penanti to avoid the traffic jam and what cess,“ said Bukit Mertajam MP and DAP election direc- independent candidate Salleh Isahak with 367 votes. a pleasant surprise to have met Wan Azizah casting her tor, Steven Sim. 2 May 1 - 15, 2015 Income inequality gap Support for Penang reduced in three years IN conjunction with Labour Day on May 1, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng reminded the people that on Hill cable car project top of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) implemen- tation, income values have eroded and diminished due MISTY morning followed by a slight drizzle greeted the to the stock market and our ringgit being the worst entourage of Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri performer in Asia in 2014. Mohamed Nazri Aziz and Penang Chief Minister Lim “But as a result of its people-centric policies, Pen- Guan Eng up on Penang Hill. ang has succeeded best in Malaysia in bridging income It was a lovely sight indeed when the city of Penang inequality, with our Gini Coefficient improving by and the lush greenery seemed mysteriously shrouded in 12% in only three years from 0.42 in 2009 to 0.37 in mist when viewed from the newly opened Viewing Deck. 2012” Lim said. Described as Penang’s earliest engineering masterpiece, The Gini coefficient is a measurement intended to the Penang Hill Railway is not the only attraction now. represent the income distribution of a nation’s resi- After all the upgrading works since 2012, a visit to dents, and is the most commonly used measure of Penang Hill has become a journey of discovery. inequality. Lim and Nazri were at the launch of the Penang Hill “The Penang state government’s decision to estab- Phase Two Project on May 2. Estimated to cost RM9.05 lish a scholarship fund through the Penang Future million, the breath-taking elevated level with three view- Nazri (left) and Lim enjoying the scenic view from Foundation (PFF) will help workers who are affected ing decks at varying heights provides visitors a pano- the hilltop. by rising prices, rising debt and stagnant wages. ramic view. “Malaysians already suffer from the highest per- The Skyway mesmerises visitors with a 360-degree “The cable car is not only a form of tourist attraction sonal household debt in Asia at GDP ratio of 87.9%, view. but also an alternate transportation mode. People may or RM940.4 billion as at end-2014. “The Penang state government is always working want to go to Teluk Bahang without the hassle of traffic “Scholarships with a maximum of RM100,000 for closely with the Tourism Ministry, especially Datuk Seri on the road.” the entire course through the PFF, provided to all Nazri, to develop the economy and improve the tourism The number of visitors to Penang Hill has shown a Malaysians with emphasis on Penangites, for studies sector,” Lim said in his speech. tremendous leap over the years. In 2007, there were at local universities will help bright children of ordi- “To meet the demands of the people visiting Penang 461,237 visitors to the hill. nary workers,” he added. Hill, the state government has requested for allocations This figure increased gradually every year and last year Financial assistance from the Federal government under the 11th Malaysia Plan to build a cable car from there were 1.36 million visitors to the hill – representing has been lacking due to wastage, inefficiency and Teluk Bahang to Penang Hill which will cost between a more than three-fold increase in seven years! malpractices. RM200 million to RM250 million,” Lim added. The present capacity of the furnicular train is 100 pas- The RM42 billion ringgit 1MDB scandal and the The request was supported by Nazri who stated so in sengers per trip and at peak hours, the capacity is 1,000 imposition of the 6% GST has only imposed heavier his speech. per hour. burdens and hardship on the rakyat in the form de- pressed stock market values, depreciation of the ringgit and rising prices of goods and services, Lim said. “Our ringgit has now plunged to its lowest levels in history. All this can be traced to the 1MDB scandal, Freedom of religion assured in Penang which has raised serious questions about our credit CHINESE opera troupe, stalls selling see-koh th’ng, rating, ability to pay, current account deficit and com- lorbak, koay teow th’ng and other traditional foods mitment to plug leakages such as corruption. Under may become a thing of the past if we do not continue the prevailing harsh economic climate, it is workers the tradition of the Chinese opera show that is so com- who suffer more and big companies that benefit,” he mon in Penang. added. The Hean Boo Keong Temple in Sungai Ara per- For instance, Tenaga Nasional Bhd’s (TNB) net formed the ground-breaking ceremony on April 21 to profit for the second quarter ended February 2015 rose build a bigger temple and a Chinese opera stage. 24% to RM2.16 billion from RM1.73 billion a year The new temple and stage costing RM2.3 million earlier. This was attributed to higher electricity sales, will be ready in three years. lower generation cost due to lower coal price and Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng was invited to the lower usage of the more expensive liquefied natural ceremony and he spoke about the Penang Dream where gas (LNG) fuel.

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