How would you rate the performance of the Penang state government so far?
Good? Too early to tell? Could be better? Disappointing?
Here’s one assessment by Khoo Kay Peng.
Do you agree with his analysis?
What do you think of its approach to the economy? the environment – built and natural? accountability? the lower income group including urban pioneers and workers?
Blog reader Mag M says:
It is still too early to tell. They lack experience but they are trying. Give them more time. However, I hope they will look into the flood problems in Penang urgently. I also want to see them come up with programmes to teach the poor people, especially the Malays and Indians on how to earn a decent living like free classes in hair dressing, sewing, crafts, cooking, fish rearing, etc. We cannot be just giving out money to the poor. Teach them how to fish. Show the other states that DAP or PKR led states do not marginalise any community especially the Malays and Indians.
Malaysian Niah says Khoo is a “nice person”. I don’t care whether he is nice or not. I agree that it is up to the individual whether a person response favourably to a particular article or not. What should be made clear is that he was a former member of a Gerakan think tank and he should declare it as. In fact he has authored a book on Gerakan.
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give them time…still got long way to go…i can see them as being sincere…a bit ups and downs but i believe they’ll perform well and will make penang better than other states….
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Koh, noted with thanks but please remember … he is a FORMER and perhaps you might want to ask him why he no longer IS a member.
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So far as I’m concerned, they are doing just fine (I do not see a notable difference in my daily life).
I only would like to remind the state government not to be so unduly worried about time to rule. They do not have to resort to populist moves nor bashing of the past administration to garner support from ordinary Penangites. IMHO they will have at least 10 years to prove their mettle in so far as Penang is concerned.
If only they could move away from partisan politics and concentrate on delivering what the silent majority wants. No need to be hero or champion any points just to make a statement.
Just do the work silently and show that you can function without the boring partisan politics and the DAP government will be here for at least 2 terms.
Malaysian nation-building needs less politics and DAP, less politics is good politics. Do not make the same mistakes your predecessor made.
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1. Give time for PR government to perform & show result, please!
2. PR should also refrain from wasting time on small ROI issues like changing road names.
3. Rakyat in PR-states may want to help value add to society on giving free classes like Cumputer-literacy, Cooking, Conversational Bahasa Malaysia-English, etc. PR Govt can tap on this and facilitate on these kind of resources.
4. Each DUN can actually call the DUN area-meeting to get input/ideas from the residents, prioritize DUNS’ inputs and work towards state-excellence.
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The general elections held on March 8 2008 brought about the ouster of Barisan state government in Penang. The Barisan Nasional fell into the perennial trap of becoming too lofty after a long stint in power. The sounding defeat of Barisan open the way for Lim Guan Eng to take over but Guan Eng was clearly unprepared to govern. Still Penangites have very high expectations that Lim Guan Eng will preside over a government that will be more people centric.
Soon after swearing in as the Chief Minister of Penang, Lim Guan Eng penchants for public relations blitz and cheap publicity become so obvious. He tirelessly attended one function after another. In almost any event, you will found the shadow of the Chief Minister. One would wonder when he would sit down to strategize, plan, and manage all activities of running a state government. Is his tireless effort of meeting the people is to shore up his image by securing cheap publicity or is it a genuine effort to understand the need of the people?
Soon before long, one problem after another surfaced. The ASEAN Culture and Food Center fiasco, the Big Bang flop, the no show of 2008 International Wedding & Beauty Expo, the conversion of Queensbay land from leasehold to freehold status which contravened the National Land Code, the approval of high rise hotel buildings within Penang heritage zone that violate the guidelines of World Heritage Committee (WHC), are among the issues that start to haunt the state-government. On the issue of violating WHC guidelines, Guan Eng claimed that the guidelines were not made widely known when they were first put in place. Only when George Town’s Unesco status was approved did the state-government realize about the guidelines. How can Guan Eng know anything when he busy attending dinners, functions and events like his predecessor Koh Tsu Koon? Can someone plead not guilty by claiming ignorance? Yes! Guan Eng’s good friend; the former Selangor Menteri Besar!
Guan Eng not only likes cheap publicity, he also likes Mega projects! Penang Second Link, Penang Outer Ring Road, Penang Hill Cable Car, Hyper Mall, his sure bet Penang Flood Mitigation Projects, may be even the PGCC as can be seem from his reluctant in making decision about the land status of PGCC. Lim Guan Eng likes to project a pro-investor, business friendly image. His reluctant to offend investors can be seem from his handling of PGCC issue, the Qeensbay land conversion issue and the approval of high rise buildings within Penang heritage zone. Is he really a people centric leader or just another bad politician with pro-businesses agenda without caring for the need of the people?
Lim Guan Eng also likes anything with a FREE tag; a free Wireless@Penang project, Free Trade Zone, a free Airbus project, free Golf course from Korean and poverty free.
In rebutting critics on the claim of potential health risks of the free Wireless@Penang project, Guan Eng likes to cite IEEE as the authoritative body as reference to his decision making. I would not join the chorus of opposing wireless transmissions as critics only focus on WIFI, WIMAX but ignore about 3G and other cellular technologies. Since Malaysia is the signatory nation to IEEE regulations and guidelines regarding the installation of transmission tower and other telecommunication issues, I would like the Penang state government to adhere to the rules and guidelines in reviewing whether existing towers did contravene IEEE guidelines. If the towers contravened the IEEE guidelines, please do Penangites a favor to dismantle all the towers whether they are legally or illegally installed. From past experience I can bet with you this pro-investor, business friendly state-government will tell you this; we could be sued for hundreds of millions!
When pressed on the PGCC and Queensbay land conversion issue , the issue of approval of high rise building within heritage zones and the dismantle of transmission towers, this is the state government’s typical response; we could be sued for hundreds of millions!
Guan Eng likes to boast about the foreign investment in the Free Trade Zones under his reign. By ignoring the carrying capacity of the Free Trade Zones, the state government goes in full swing to attract foreign investors, disregard whether it will have any impact on traffic, environment, land use, and job opportunities divide. Guan Eng boasted about eradicating hardcore poverty but by concentrating industries in specific zones or areas, other towns or rural areas will be deprived of job opportunities, thus created a job opportunities divide. Since Guan Eng love public relation blitz so much, he should utilize this skill to convince factories to set quota for absorbing hardcore poor into their workforce instead of just rely on foreign labors.
When pressed on Penang public transport strategy, the state government has no clue, but come up with piecemeal solution like free Airbus for the fun of talking nonsense. The much opposed PORR is still on if he has a way to get funding from the federal government.
On environmental issues, state executive member Chow Kon Yeow has openly stated that landfill is not the option of the state government in solving solid waste problem. The very next day, after return from China study tour, Guan Eng’s chief of Staff, Jeff Ooi told the press that compost facilities are too stink for Penang, and the state government is looking for alternative landfill site. Knowing that landfill creating problem to the environment, yet the state government makes a policy U turn to adopt another landfill. Jeff Ooi is virtually talking rubbish in his own constituency! The Jelutong landfill is still operating after it was suppose to be closed. Is this what prompt Jeff Ooi to look for another landfill? When Koh Tsu Koon and gang decided to open the Pulau Burung landfill it is because it is too far to be seen, so that will not pose a problem to Penangites. But the operators soon see red in their book when the hauling cost skyrocketed. Jeff Ooi should stick to the decision of using the Pulau Burung landfill instead of allowing illegal dumping at Jelutong landfill or looking for alternative landfill site. This demonstrates the total lack of plan and strategy by the state government. The issue will be a time bomb for Guan Eng if he is too slow to react.
Blaming others is the best what Guan Eng and his team can do. He surely will blame everything and anything on Ting Hock Nam, Koh Tsu Koon and Badawi. As he inherits the problems from Ting Hock Nam and Koh Tsu Koon, he also inherits their policies and plans, but he chose to blame Ting Hock Nam and Koh Tsu Koon for the problems, and quietly accept all their stupid policies and plans. Is this what Penangites expected from him?
When Penang encountered flash floods in the past few months, he simply jumps on the Penang Flood Mitigation Projects of Koh Tsu Koon, and behaved like it is his brain child. Simply talk nonsense without realize the solution was designed for Barisan cronies without solving the flooding problem for long term. The whole problem of the RM970 million solution is it ignore the management of storm water runoff and too costly to implement. I can implement a complete flood mitigation solution for the whole of Penang with just RM100 million and make a huge profit out of it. Chong Eng threw the challenge to Barisan in recent Parliament session. She and Guan Eng should throw the challenge to me if they have brain and guts.
Lim Guan Eng has another real bad habit of talking in the tune of billions of ringgit. He likes to ask for fund allocations in the tune of billions, without undertakes any study how the amounts come about. He talks like he is spending Kit Siang’s monies!
Do you know what Guan Eng doesn’t like? He doesn’t like to be seemed as anti development. So he embraces PORR, Penang Second Link, Penang Hill Cable Car, Wireless@Penang, new hotels in Georgetown’s heritage enclave, Airbus, free Golf Course and anything in the tune of hundred of millions or billions.
Why so much issues have been pop up recently? It is all because of Guan Eng’s refusal or reluctant to put a proper public consultation mechanism in place. Without public participation, and consultation, he makes his own decision in allowing the conversion of Queensbay land status from leasehold to freehold and blame Koh Tsu Koon for it. Without public participation, and consultation, he makes his own decision in approving the building of high rise hotels in Georgetown heritage enclaves and blame Koh Tsu Koon and Ting Hock Nam for it.
Public participation and consultation enables the state-government to ensure that the public in general, and the stakeholders in particular, are involved in its decision making process.
Currently, there is no procedural mechanism exist in Penang that would allow the public to guide the decision making body to evaluate input, information and feedback from the public. The nature of consultation is vague. Public involvement and consultation in decision making process should not be a hollow promise. Guan Eng should not pay lip service to public participation and consultation by organizing a few no follow up meet the people or NGOs session.
To achieve transparency, it is important that the public and stakeholders can make their views known, that they are confident that their views have been considered, and that everyone have access to all submissions. This will assist parties in knowing the views considered by the state-government and raise confident in the state-government and its decisions.
Lim Guan Eng stressed that the new state administration of Penang is a CAT government, Competency, Accountability and Transparency and Penang will lead to be the first state government that adopts the CAT governing philosophy. Another Penang lead example! Sound familiar?
Did Guan Eng practice what he preaches?
You can safely conclude that Guan Eng’s administration lack of competency, accountability and transparency. I would wish to give Guan Eng a performance appraisal after 1 year probation period, unfortunately with so many issues emerged it is time to teach him a lesson.
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Khoo Kay Peng is the director of SEDAR, the Gerakan state government think tank, which unfortunately is always TIDUR. He missed all the opportunities to make Penang a better place.
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I dare to challenge all of you that LGE never listen or chose to listen only when he likes. Why until now no proper public consultation mechanism is in place? What make LGE think that major decision affecting the people did not warrant public participation? You guy live in this Bolehland, and give up your rights long ago. That is why you can’t see any thing wrong with the state government or LGE. The very first thing if LGE is sincere, he should put proper public consultation mechanism in place. If this request he can’t fulfil you sincerely believe he is OK? I think you probably need to see a doctor to scan your brain for damage.
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I think what the approach they are adopting is not very strategic and structured.
They should first set PRIORITIES and then FOCUS on implementation. 1) Identify areas of concern.
2) Set-up committees and taskforces to cover all areas of concerns. 3) Set target and plans to achieve target
4) Do periodic evaluation and review on on-going implementaion
5) Make all these known to the people and make all involved accountable by :
i) getting a independent body to audit all projects and plans
ii) setting up an interactive website where the people can forward feedbacks and inputs as well as get first hand info on the on-going projects/efforts by the various committees.
Right now, it gives the impression of going all over the place with little work done and not much results, wasting a lot of time, energy and resources.
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For the simpleton that think Penang flash floods need a century or half to resolve please keep your ideas to yourself at least I won’t know you are equally stupid.
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Come on, from what I read, we should be able to accept criticism if you want to stay in politics or else, better stay at home (tanam jagung), we should thank those who critic us for the sake or improvement (be it with other reason) as we should not be little even our enemy.
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Probably Mr/Ms Ong Eu Soon should stand in the coming 13th GE.
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Has Mr. Ong Eu Soon submitted any concrete plans for floods mitigation or is he simply talking “in the air”? If he has, indeed, submitted a provisional plan, at least, we would like to hear from LGE’s government’s response to it ………. in a public forum.
All the rest of his expansive writings are simply critisisms without any real solutions.
How for instance, should the public consultations be structured? Are anybody allowed to speak? How often should they be held and where is a good venue for it. How long should each session last? If Mr. Ong Eu Soon is so passionate about it, submit a proposal for LGE to consider.
No point blowing your top with no concrete solutions and accusations of them not listening. With too many voices shouting at the same time, it is certainly difficult to listen properly.
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Mr Ong Eu Soon sure sounds like a sore loser who is finding illogical faults with LGE & his administration as he still cannot come to terms with reality. LGE & team has done exceedingly well inspite of being new on the job. Am very sure most Penangites are satisfied with their performance & sincerity. As Johoreans, we are envious of the changes taking place in Pakatan states like Penang, Selangor & Perak.
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I rate the new state govt. better than BN.
To the current opposition, shut-up and learn from your arrogant mistakes. Make sure brain is engaged before opening your mouth. (If there are any more brains left)
I fully support LGE. Mistakes are inevitable but improve from there.
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I have sent in proposal to Pakatan Rakyat state governments, the best they can do is to sit on it. If LGE is sincere the most simple way to put a public consultation mechanism is to use web blog. All LGE need to do is appoint a moderator for the blog and form an advisory panel to evaluate and deliberate on all submission whether they are in the form of comments or proposals. Why should I send in new proposal when there is no gaurantee that nobody from his administration will steal my proposal? If they are not stealing why sit on it? You stupid a.. only know how to support blindly without any clue how to solve problem. Read my articles on MalaysiaKini regarding preventing flooding in Penang. Shame on you guys! KM, Remie and Dappy.
It is the fool who refuse to listen! My solution can make LGE a real hero. I am not asking for a cent . I only asking for a lifetime opportunity to make a different. You have no guts to be different! Stupid! Only know how to surrender your rights to politicians who pay lip service to promises of change and reform.
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pasalnya, lepas diajar macamana memancing, janganlah kacang lupa kulit! Jangan di sebut sebut lagi “pendatang”!
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Don’t take this guy too serious, he is just a self proclaim analyst and former Gerakan member, do expect more criticism and nip-picking from him in the future, after all, his party lose BIG in Penang, what you expect him to say about DAP lead state government?
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