His administration has been rocked by racial and religious conspiracies, one after another, as powerful and wealthy foes do their utmost to topple him. He must surely be facing one of his darkest hours now, because those who are closest and most precious to him have been hurt and scarred for life by the relentless enemy gunfire. Everything that he stands for - from his administration, his party, his politics and personal beliefs - are now at threat. But can these despicable enemies succeed in destroying this man by tarring his teenage son with the false stigma of sexual misconduct. Time will tell and Malaysians will decide.
Lim Guan Eng is one of the finest chief ministers the country has. Lim is the Chief Minister (CM) of Penang who has an earnest desire to see the people of the country progress harmoniously irrespective of one’s creed, race or religion. His approach to politics is based on pragmatism ̶ economic accomplishment for the benefit of the people.
Lim’s political judgement is that in a multi-racial Malaysia one does not need to be Malay to help a Malay, Chinese to help a Chinese, Indian to help an Indian or Indigenous to help an indigenous. An idyllic setting for the country is when the people could help one another to enhance their living standard. This may sound too ideal a statement to his political foes but the Opposition-led Penang State Government is already on the way forward to achieve this noble vision for a better Malaysia.
The Malays can compete and succeed against the best
With the right policies in store, Penang could make Malays and all other Malaysians compete and succeed against the best. There is no doubt that the poor, irrespective of race or religion, deserve to be helped. But the “crutch mentality” long promoted by some politicians ̶ to care for their political power and positions ̶ has for long failed to haul out the latent potentials found in some ethnic groups and this is no more the resolution to a vibrant and competitive economy the country has to face.
It’s only when individuals are given all the opportunities to compete could they be seen capable of doing what others could do. It is by providing equal opportunities to every citizen, the people of all races would learn to be confident and self-reliant. It may take some time to realise this vision, as there are still ethnic groups that are lagging far behind economically. With the gusto of a judicious leader like Lim Guan Eng at the wheel and with the support of the people in Penang it would take less than 22 years to achieve this propitious vision of making the deprived individuals have pride in their talents and capability. Abject poverty in Penang has been eradicated and senior citizens are given aid. Perhaps, others states could take a cue from Penang’s resounding success.
Achievements aplenty
Just in three years at the helm the CM of Penang has been lauded as having a very positive public persona. The people’s support for the government has propelled to greater heights. The CM is optimistic about his team’s effort to turn the state into a high-income economy. In a recent on-line survey of the people of Penang, it was found that the DAP-led government enjoys 85 percent non-Malay support and 65 percent Muslim support. This bodes well for the state government when looking at the unconstructive publicity given by the government-controlled media on the CM’s management of Penang ̶ the spin and onslaught more often than not violating ethical boundaries. Be it as it may, the people cannot be easily duped by all these hypocritical media tactics.
The success of Penang today is due to the faith the public has for the state government. When the people have trust in their government the latter would naturally reciprocate by having faith in the wisdom of the people. Seemingly, the people of Penang are willing to subscribe to the motto: “Achievements could be ours through harmony, diligence and intelligence”.
Penang has been under four Chief Ministers since August 31, 1957 – the day the country achieved Independence. The Alliance (MCA) posed Wong Pow Nee as Chief Minister from 1957 to 1969. After the 1969 General Election, Barisan Nasional (Gerakan) Penang posited Lim Chong Eu as Chief Minister from 1969 to 1990 and Koh Tsu Koon from 1990 to 2008. Gerakan and MCA – the two Chinese-based political parties ̶ were shredded and routed by the people of Penang in the 2008 General Election. Pakatan Rakyat (DAP) now controls Penang under the charismatic leadership of Lim Guan Eng ̶ the present chief minister.
The state government under the present leadership has attained unprecedented international benchmarks for its progress – a noteworthy feat within a short period of time. The CM has proven to be an efficient and farsighted leader who has contributed to the many achievements of this state. He is today considered as among the best Opposition leaders managing a multi-racial state in the country. He has brought back the economic shine and glow to Penang after a long period of stagnancy, cronyism and nepotism, endemic crime and corruption, and financial deficits in managing the state. As they now say to the CM: Shines the moon among the lesser stars. The CM has been visibly acknowledged by friends and foes as one of the best chief ministers Penang has ever had since Independence.
Penang ranked top in FDI
During his tenure as CM, the first time since Independence Penang had peaked the economic charts on top of the other states of Malaysia by bringing in RM12.24billion in 2010. This is 26 percent of Malaysia's total investment that year. The year 2010 saw huge capital investments of RM12.2billion flowing into the state and this was the highest in Penang’s 30 years’ record. This amounted to 26 percent of total investments into Malaysia for that year (MIDA, 2010). The first 6 months of 2011 saw Penang ranked top in FDI with RM3.6billion and this is 24 percent of the country’s FDI for that duration.
The government under the CM’s thoughtful stewardship has been praised for their resourceful means in financial management in 2008, 2009 and 2011. It is the fitness in governance that has led to all the state’s achievements in developing the economy, boosting tourism, preserving cultural heritage, increasing living standards and fighting crime. Crime rates in Penang were reduced by an unprecedented 27 percent within a period of three years. This is an attainment many states would envy. Besides luring investors into the state, tourists who recoil from visiting some other states that are noted for their high crime rates are flocking to Penang in droves. The year 2010 saw more than 6 million tourist arrivals in Penang. On February 2011 Yahoo! Travel rated Penang as one of the eight islands in the world to see. ECA International 2010 voted Penang as among the most liveable cities in Asia.
Prudent management of public funds
Penang has earned the respect of national and international business conglomerates when the CAT Governance of Penang was praised for her anti-corruption efforts by Transparency International 2010. When abuse, wastage and corruption have blemished the image of some other states, the Auditor-General’s Report of 2009 described Penang as the best financially managed state in the country. The Penang chief minister should be given his due for the state’s prudent management of public funds. The CM has shown what the state would benefit by eliminating waste and implementing open tenders. He has shown what could be done if the government eliminates waste and if there is open tender. To the CM, government spending should be far-sighted and sensible so as not to cause any budget deficit to the state’s expenses.
Penang is proud to be the first state to hold public open tenders of government projects and procurement contracts and also by conducting it through the Internet (e-tender). By sticking to CAT principles, Penang is the first state in Malaysia to gain praise from Transparency International. Many local and foreign economists have praised the CM’s open tender policies and credited the administration with helping Penang regain its patina as a global city by winching up the state’s economy to beyond that of a sweat shop industry. Critics have dubbed Penang as “the first custom-made city of globalisation” and credited the CM for boosting the port city’s revival by a subtle cleaving a racial special treatment economic policy in the state to create a more level-playing field that appeals to the local and foreign investors. This economic spine, however, has not neglected any ethnic group to take part in the state’s economic opportunities. They are supported by the state government to compete with other established entrepreneurs.
The ethnic lines are getting blurred
What is more astounding is the outcome of the open tender system when opened to all races. The entrenched perception that Malays could not compete and that the non-Malay contractors would win all open tender contracts – as perceived by many critics ̶ was actually proven otherwise. Since the new government took over in 2008, Penang Development Corporation (PDC) had issued 23 tender awards, of which 7 (30 percent) were won by non-Malay contractors and 16 (70 percent) won by Malay contractors. Perbadanan Bekalan Air Pulau Pinang (PBAPP) had issued 66 tender awards of which 22 (33 percent) were won by non-Malay contractors as compared to 44 (67 percent) by Malay contractors.
The performance by Malay contractors in an open tender system with non-Malays proves that Malay contractors could compete with others and win tender awards on their own merit. The ethnic Malays could do it if given the dutiful path to compete in all sectors. Apparently it is not the race that is an issue here but the failed policies of BN government that perpetuate this dependency scheme to help BN maintain the status quo and its clutch on power. The BN government has underrated the ability of genuine ethnic Malay contractors, as in many cases in the past contracts procured by dubious contractors or companies were passed on to others for a quick profit. This deceitful practice of passing on the whole contract package to others for instant wealth is no more seen in Penang. Another fine thing about the open tender system is that the ethnic lines are getting blurred with the fair participation of all races in the economic route.
Contract values are not calculatingly bloated
The CM puts integrity and honesty – against parochial politics ̶ as prime concerns in managing the state government. The success of the state government is also attributed to the excellent financial administration where claptrap politics could not mess up with the delivery system. The CM’s trademark of administration is based on uprightness and CAT (Competence, Accountability and Transparency) governance. The CM practises what he preaches and this has become the envy of BN-controlled states. The government does not institute damp squib policies that could stifle inventiveness, enterprise, initiative, creativity, diligence and productivity. Political officiousness to help cronies and gain superfluous sympathy from voters does not exist at all in the present state government.
Policies and economic measures implemented by the state government are sanguine, feasible and competitive. All payments are paid directly to recipients of business doers without going through politically-connected middlemen. Contract values are not calculatingly bloated for the purpose of kickbacks or for donations to political funds. Contractors do not have to pay a 10 or more percent balm-fee to politicians and neither could politicians get any sort of monetary favour from contractors. Contractors are not chosen based on political or family cronies to purposefully enrich them. Priority is given to Penang contractors and it’s no more to those politically well-connected contractors from outside the state. Application is done through e-tender via the Internet and a two-week objection period is given to ensure that successful contractors no longer need political cables to win contracts.
Resolute state government
Competitive open tenders have saved costs and improved the quality of work. Issues like stadiums and bus stations collapsing, computer labs in schools caving in, the construction of schools, hospitals and buildings left idle after money is being paid out are not heard of in Penang. Contracts are given to genuine contractors who are not allowed to sub or “Ali Baba” them. Transparency is the economic order and thus mediocre or incapable players who are usually politically connected or “untouchable” in society have no place in the present state government of Penang. This has saved taxpayers’ money.
Many contractors have been enlightened with the implementation of open tenders at all levels. For Class F contractors, which is only open to Bumiputera, open tender system has allowed non-UMNO linked contractors in Penang to get contracts for the first time. In the past, contracts were usually reserved for UMNO cronies and those outside the state who had political connections. Clearly the competitive open tender system of the state government now is more transparent, accountable and beneficial to the people compared to the negotiated tender system practised by the previous government.
Despite all the trivial and politically-motivated critics from those “sour grapes” from the other side of the political divide the state government is unbendable and resolute. The Penang state government has been able to turn a projected deficit of RM35million in 2008 budget to a record surplus of RM88million. A projected deficit of RM40million in 2009 Budget has been turned around to record a surplus of RM77million (RM92 million). This is a remarkable success that could never be achieved by any of the BN-led state government.
MCA, Gerakan and UMNO appear to be floundering
The Opposition team in Penang led by DAP are increasingly being seen as the coalition of choice for the Malay, Chinese and Indian communities in the state, while the MCA, Gerakan and UMNO appear to be floundering. The general perception of the people in Penang on why they would dump these parties could be appraised from these Facebook comments in the survey:
On the economy: “The ordinary self-employed citizens will have to face another price hike of all goods in the market. As happened in the past, each time a national budget is announced and a slight pay increase is announced the prices of commodities and essentials shoot up in geometrical proportions. This will offset whatever little gain wage earners have made. Unlike some other efficient governments in the world where they find ways to bring down prices of goods, our country has developed no effective mechanism to stop this inflationary effect and this has affected the poor more than the rich. No drastic measures have been taken to alleviate the high cost of living and no effective steps taken to provide more jobs to the people. Instead foreign workers are preferred as they can be paid less.”
On racial politics: “Barisan National (BN) has failed to reinvent itself to secure confidence among voters. If BN keeps singing the same old tune of racial and religious politics to garner support, the coalition will inevitably have to wrap up come the next general election. Malaysians have become smarter these days and many do not mind abandoning racial politics. Furthermore, a big chunk of Malaysians nowadays are educated, have mixed blood in them, have relatives of other races and they will naturally have a soft spot for people of different religions and races.”
On media propaganda: “Voters these days do not any more buy story-telling on TV and other media propaganda that insult their intelligence. Despite the frequent and torrid onslaught by the government controlled media against the Opposition and their leaders the tide is still against BN. It has backfired terribly. The enchantment of the Internet these days has done wonders to relay information to all and sundry and the people have now become more responsive to what is actually happening around them.”
On distasteful statements on other races: “It is the spine of BN, that is UMNO, that has the major task in reinventing itself but it has failed to do so. UMNO, in general, should be responsible for the failure of the other component parties. Some of their leaders should stop making distasteful statements on the other races. Stop those fiery talks that scare the non-Malays from BN, as this is perceived by the non-Malays as a threat to them. Malaysia is the only democratic and secular country in the world where we hear intimidating rhetoric of this nature and witness leaders brandishing weapons during political events.”
On race supremacy: “They have not stopped the haughtiness of highlighting race supremacy just to seize the Malay support as this does not help make the non-Malays and other indigenous ethnic groups favour UMNO. No race in this world would want to be seen as inferior to others – an inherent attribute of all people. After six decades of independence Malaysians should stop harping on petty racial issues perceiving the non-Malays are a threat to the Malays. Some leaders have not stopped using the racial card to stir hatred for other races and they should stop marginalising the other races by calling them pendatang. We were born here and we are all Malaysians. BTN (Biro Tata Negara) has not played a healthier role in shaping the minds of the Malays to think out of the box and accept people of other races as part and parcel of Malaysia.”
On the efficacy of the Police: “They have not restored the efficacy of the police force and make the police fight crime in a more rigorous manner. The crime rate in the country is just atrocious and the rakyat will not favour a government that is ineffective in fighting crime. There are many political rather than criminal cases that are brought to the court these days. There are also too many illegals in the country. Nothing really substantial or concrete has been done to overcome this menace and mere political rhetoric is not adequate to convince the people into thinking that everything in the country is hunky-dory.”
On Special Unit Trusts for the poor among other ethnic groups: “The NEP should be extended to help the other races in the country. Poverty affects people of all ethnic groups. The government should create special unit trusts schemes for the other races, especially the poor. The civil service, GLCs and the universities should reflect the racial composition of the country. We see obvious discrimination here.”
On corruption, wastage and poor delivery system: “Corruption is rife. Many complaints against corruption have been swept under the carpet. Corruption has caused the country to bleed. It helps those with authority, drains the have-nots and creates many social problems like crime. We see too many illegal activities rearing their ugly heads in our society. There is a lot of wastage and abuse when contracts are dished out not through open tenders. The delivery system in all government agencies is just appalling.”
On religious matters: “Matters relating to religion have not been carefully measured so as not to offend people. Politicians are freely using religion to cause racial rifts and remain in power. There are groups that are doing this to cause disharmony in our society. We abhor this practice. It is very obvious that there are certain groups exploiting on religious issues to score some brownie points in politics. No action is taken against these people. ”
On the education system: “The flip-flop policies on education have made us unhappy. Our children are most affected by all these uncertainties. The country does not have a clear vision on education. We have failed as far as the education policy is concerned. The quality of education has dropped because of too much political intervention. The multiple entrance examinations to universities are not fair to the non-Malays. Ignorant politicians who know so little about education are taking charge of education. We are no more internationally competitive. The bright graduates of all ethnic groups are leaving the country to work elsewhere. Mediocre graduates are churned out form universities just to be recruited as civil servants. Education is a prime factor to spur a high-income economy. The basis of knowledge economy is human resource and to achieve this is to change the education policy. We should bring back English medium schools.”
On tainted politicians: “Only in this country can we find tainted politicians who still want to remain in power. In other countries they would have quit politics out of shame. We find it hard to support politicians who are tainted and those who are involved in corruption and all sorts of scandals.”
Futuristic and visionary
The Penang CM’s impeccable credentials in changing the economic landscape of Penang have now endeared him to the people of Penang. For this reason, his role as the CM of Penang would remain intact and become the envy of his political nemeses for many more years to come. The country needs more politicians of the CM’s calibre who is very much a reformist.
The country needs wise leaders of his talent to make what is perceived as impossible to become possible. He shuns political showiness and he leads a simple life. Away from conservatism, he always thinks out of the box to generate the economy of the state. He assures that the delivery system is prompt and efficient. He is not bogged down with personal agendas when performing his duty as CM. To him interests of the people and the state come foremost.
The country needs politicians who are futuristic and visionary when handling a multi-racial and multi-religious society to make the people accept their leadership. These are challenges facing Malaysia where the people should become part of this maturing of democratic politics. The incumbent Penang CM aptly fits into this category of politicians.
Malaysia Chronicle
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