Penang BN has unveiled its policy for the future of the state, in which it proposes a framework to transform Penang out of the middle-income group.
Between 2008 and this year, the state BN policy paper says, the Penang government led by Pakatan Rakyat, has not made any comprehensive plan for the transformation of the state.
The BN continues to pledge free port status for Penang to put it back on the world map of the international business arena.
It said it would raise Penang's global image to be, in the eyes of tourists, at par with other world-class cities such as Hong Kong and Singapore and create a business-friendly environment for investors and companies.
It proposes five areas - dubbed State Key Economic Areas (SKEAs) - to benefit from "the economies of agglomeration in the greater Penang Free Port" as its first pillar of growth.
The five areas are tourism, cultural assets and innovation, international offshore finance, aquaculture and high-value manufacturing.
For Penang-based small- and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) to capture the new opportunities created by the SKEAs, BN introduces the second pillar, which is funding for their growth.
Between 2008 and this year, the state BN policy paper says, the Penang government led by Pakatan Rakyat, has not made any comprehensive plan for the transformation of the state.
The BN continues to pledge free port status for Penang to put it back on the world map of the international business arena.
It said it would raise Penang's global image to be, in the eyes of tourists, at par with other world-class cities such as Hong Kong and Singapore and create a business-friendly environment for investors and companies.
It proposes five areas - dubbed State Key Economic Areas (SKEAs) - to benefit from "the economies of agglomeration in the greater Penang Free Port" as its first pillar of growth.
The five areas are tourism, cultural assets and innovation, international offshore finance, aquaculture and high-value manufacturing.
For Penang-based small- and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) to capture the new opportunities created by the SKEAs, BN introduces the second pillar, which is funding for their growth.
Policy paper based on consultations
"It will become imperative for the state and federal governments to provide new (and accessible) sources and methods to finance the SMEs," the policy paper says.
"Equal importance will be placed on social development via the State Key Result Areas (SKRAs) that will make Penang a liveable city for all, regardless of wealth, status, ethnicity and religion."
The five SKRAs it pledges are a safe and green environment, healthcare, education, public transportation and monorail and affordable housing.
State BN chief Teng Chang Yeow told Malaysiakini that the coalition has started to advertise its election pledges for the state, rather than to wait for the campaign period for the general election, which must be called by June next year, to begin.
"During the election campaign, there will be so much information out there that people will have no time to read. It is better to do it now, so the voters can read and digest it," said Teng, who is Gerakan secretary-general.
Asked whether the BN has received any response to this initiative, Teng said his team has yet to conduct a survey to find out the responses.
"So far, we have only advertised this in the local (mainstream) newspapers. We have yet to advertise in the alternative media.
"The advertisement is being funded by sponsors and we are working on getting it publicised further," added the former state executive councillor.
Teng said the BN policy paper was based on meetings and discussions held with many people, including developers and businessmen.
The coalition will soon distribute the policy paper, in the form of leaflets, house-to-house, he added.
Second transformation of Penang
The policy paper also says that a more proactive stance must be taken to tackle the structural constraints that hinder Penang's future growth.
"Penangites cannot afford to be stagnating. Penang needs another transformation, just like what it had done over 40 years ago," says the paper published on the state BN website, and which has been advertised prominently in the Chinese newspapers.
Asked about the BN campaign, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's political secretary Ng Wei Aik (left) said Pakatan could hardly compete with the BN in terms of money.
"They have a lot (of money)...we won't be able to advertise in the newspapers, in full colour pages liked they did," Ng said.
"We cannot use state money for the party interests but our party sure does not have such resources," added the Komtar assemblyperson.
"Anyway, we will respond according to the issues raised, when necessary," added Ng, who is also state DAP secretary.
A close scrutiny of the policy paper, he added, shows only promises of so-called benefits and advantages that will brought about by the free port.
"What they are promising in the advertisements is not clear," he added.
"Equal importance will be placed on social development via the State Key Result Areas (SKRAs) that will make Penang a liveable city for all, regardless of wealth, status, ethnicity and religion."
The five SKRAs it pledges are a safe and green environment, healthcare, education, public transportation and monorail and affordable housing.State BN chief Teng Chang Yeow told Malaysiakini that the coalition has started to advertise its election pledges for the state, rather than to wait for the campaign period for the general election, which must be called by June next year, to begin.
"During the election campaign, there will be so much information out there that people will have no time to read. It is better to do it now, so the voters can read and digest it," said Teng, who is Gerakan secretary-general.
Asked whether the BN has received any response to this initiative, Teng said his team has yet to conduct a survey to find out the responses.
"So far, we have only advertised this in the local (mainstream) newspapers. We have yet to advertise in the alternative media.
"The advertisement is being funded by sponsors and we are working on getting it publicised further," added the former state executive councillor.
Teng said the BN policy paper was based on meetings and discussions held with many people, including developers and businessmen.
The coalition will soon distribute the policy paper, in the form of leaflets, house-to-house, he added.
Second transformation of Penang
The policy paper also says that a more proactive stance must be taken to tackle the structural constraints that hinder Penang's future growth.
"Penangites cannot afford to be stagnating. Penang needs another transformation, just like what it had done over 40 years ago," says the paper published on the state BN website, and which has been advertised prominently in the Chinese newspapers.
Asked about the BN campaign, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's political secretary Ng Wei Aik (left) said Pakatan could hardly compete with the BN in terms of money."They have a lot (of money)...we won't be able to advertise in the newspapers, in full colour pages liked they did," Ng said.
"We cannot use state money for the party interests but our party sure does not have such resources," added the Komtar assemblyperson.
"Anyway, we will respond according to the issues raised, when necessary," added Ng, who is also state DAP secretary.
A close scrutiny of the policy paper, he added, shows only promises of so-called benefits and advantages that will brought about by the free port.
"What they are promising in the advertisements is not clear," he added.
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