The Penang state government should be supported in its bid to acquire Penang Port, currently under the Finance Minister, after news emerged of plans to privatise Penang Port Sdn Bhd.
The state government has written to the PM to express interest in entering discussions to buy the port.
theSun reported the Penang Chief Minister as saying:
“If the Penang state is successful in purchasing Penang Port, we will bring in both local and foreign technology partners including local Penang Malays, to operate the port and its facilities to world-class standard,” he said today.
If required, the state government would offer equity to the foreign technology partner at market prices, he said.
He added that the ownership of equity creates an alignment of interest among all parties so that the port can be managed in a world-class manner.
Only thing is, there is no reason to offer equity to foreign partners just to secure technology. For instance, government-owned PSA International Pte Ltd, formerly Port of Singapore Authority, successfully operates the world’s second largest port.
If people with the right expertise and technology are needed, they can always be hired.
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Yes, start a campaign the Penang Port be returned to the Penang people, the Malays, the Chinese and the Indians, etc !!!
Our self-declared rezeki seeking clown, Gerakan K, is obviously shivering in his boots at the prospects of the state government buying over the port and putting paid to his earlier declared intentions of mining the port goodies.
Gerakan K is very welcomed to work in Penang Port as wharf coolie. Penang Gomen should consider a special barter trade zone as in the old days where wharf coolies carried on their backs heavy rice sacks and spices to and from large barges in the hot sun. After the next GE, these gravy train leeches can be consigned to the Penang Port Barter Trade Zone for hard work of coolies to pay back to the Penangites. By then, maybe we can also barter or auction these coolie leeches to foreigners on the spot for a good price! I will… Read more »
The political control of the port should be returned to the state. But the management and the operation of the port must not be the state govt. If this happens, then the Penang Port will be back to square one. A half baked operation.
Let us get real. Politics and politicians have no place in the port business, not matter how good are the intentions. This business must be run by people with interest in the industry and are committed to make it successful.
Dear Anil, The core of the issue is – who should control Penang Port ? In line with the concept of “decentralisation of power”, the Port should be returned to the State of Penang. I do NOT agree with a bid. The Penang State Govt should stand on the position that the Port should be returned to the State of Penang based on a fair and reasonable price negotiated between the State and the Fed Govt, perhaps arbitrated by a neutral 3rd party (if there’s one). There should be no other party involved. In Sgor, we are doing this with… Read more »
Yes, agreed. Penang Port should be returned to the people/government of Penang.
Yes return to people/government of Penang. This means Gerakan K and Ah Soon Khor has a SHARE and a say in it. What say Gerakan K and Ah Soon Khor?
Whether it is with foreign partners or not, the state govt made the right move bid for the Penang port. This must have caught the Fed govt by surprise. They must be thinking hard how to reject
Penang people, you all better (do your best) to protect your Penang Port.
Penang Port belongs to the Penang Rakyat – Malay, Chinese, Indian, etc all alike.
Shall we start a protest campaign against LGE because he has the intention to sell our port to foreigners ???
You can guess what the federal government’s response to this offer will be.
There is a need for foreign partners though, should a miracle happen. We cannot compare with PSA because Singapore does not suffer from a brain drain. If you have a degree from a prestigious university, you can actually make it into the cabinet, for instance.
Pretty soon, if it isn’t happening already, we might have ex Malaysians as our foreign partners.
Our cabinet ministers also got degrees lah.
From where? Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard?
Here’s another Singapore acquisition for you: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/10/19/nation/7253957&sec=nation
Those degrees only for rich people.
Like you?
Not all rich people have degrees, not all degree holders are rich people.
But there flourishes a (animal) species of rich people in BolehLand who lust after and profited from a self-enrichment scheme or kang tau called The Gravy Train.
Gerakan K,
So what with degrees but corruptible and without any dignity at all
I understand that all members of the Singapore cabinet have degrees from one prestigious university or another, e.g. Oxford, Cambridge, MIT, Harvard, though I wait in anticipation for someone to correct me.
Surrounding oneself with peers who are well educated shows a leader who is confident about his own position, but humble enough to accept that others have brilliant ideas too.
And when it’s time to go, you can be sure it’s not court jesters taking over.
Hi everyone, I am confident the State Govt can administer the PPSB much more efficiently, cutting unnecessary costs through open tender in whatever contracts/deals, etc, to exact better returns/profits for PPSB for the direct/indirect benefits of all Penangites and Malaysians. We should openly declare our support for the State Govt to buy the port! What is there for the Federal Govt to lose if such privatisation to Pg State Govt can bring in more revenue to the Federal and State coffers? Failure to sell it to the State Govt could be that the Federal Govt wants to play politics and,… Read more »
Strange this Talent Corp to attract Talent when all along we do not appreciate and value Talent; where Meritocracy is abjured and the upholding of Ketuanan/Race rather than Talent is the national ethos (in all aspects).
Another one for the cronies of Najib & UMNO if it is privatise. And who will suffer. Its the people of Penang and rates will be up and up. And it will be a Bigger hole in Malaysians’ pockets next year as predicted. Prices of goods and services will rise from 2011 to 2015 as the Najib administration moves to cut subsidies gradually and rein in a deficit budget, according to a report by The Economist. With the introduction GST you will not only start to cry you will bleed as well. The only way to stop that bleeding is… Read more »
Does anyone seriously think Penang gov can get it? At best the Penang govt can be a stumbling block to someone else getting it.
The Penang State govt intention, maybe, sincere and deserves consideration by the Central govt but, there are too may UMNO/BN parasites chained to it for haram earnings! I do not see it possible coming from the UMNO PM, having the political will to oblige the Penang PR govt.
Aiyah, don’t derail the gravy train lah… on board, our infamous SL the nnew Port boss …
Whether offer equity or not, it should be decide by market needs. There is no point to maintain “local own equity” if financing problem emerge. Nevertheless, Penang state government may find way for “creative financing”, e.g selling special stamp,bonds to challenge najib government wills on open market practice.
Gila !!!
Strategic asset like port must be controlled by local.
Don’t be blinded by a short term benefit.
Again, we are stunned by LGE naive statement. What sort of foreign technology needed by us until we are willing to offer equity to them ???
Imagine what will happen if the state admin keep using the lame excuse to “sell” Penang to foreigners.
Penang will be the land of foreigners !!!
Gerakan K, Honestly, do you not realise how utterly asinine you have managed to come across as? You have become a joke on this website, you pathetic excuse of an UMNO stooge. You ramble and rumble, rave and rant like a lunatic, like one of those poor people we sometimes see on the streets, those vagabonds whose senses had taken leave of them. Like those unfortunate folks who seem to have their favoured corners of the streets, haunting the familiar places, you seem to have made Anil’s website your home. And you whine and whimper your brand of lunacy, mumbling… Read more »
Nice assessment.
His political masters say you shouldn’t oppose for the sake of opposing (usually when they can’t respond).
If only K Gerakan can get that past his thick skull and into that tiny brain of his.
What’s your problem ???
Focus on the topic lah. If you got brain working at all, just refute my point with your point.
Get a life, poor people, asinine ???
Wanna compare with my bank balance ???
Go on, show us your bank balance. We’ll all be impressed and bow down to you, oh great one.
God is not impressed with bank accounts. God is only impressed with our PERSONAL ACCOUNT OF OUR BEHAVIOUR AND DEEDS. IF EVER ONE IS TO BELIEVE IN HIS OWN FINANCIAL ACCOUNT AS TESTIMONY OF HIS ‘GLORIFIED’ ACHIEVEMENT ON EARTH, LET HIM PUT AN ACCOUNTABLE REASON WHY IS HIS BANK ACCOUNT ACCOUNTABLE, CLEAN AND FROM PURE HARD WORK AND NOT OTHERWISE TAINTED WITH THE BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS OF OTHERS.
Only foolish men are impressed with bank accounts!
Andrew
Why should we bow down to him (Gerakan K) just because of his balance. After all how loaded can a minimarket operator be or for one who want to be a wannabe and to enjoy the crutches that is entitled to only the B….. How pathetic and despicable he can be without any dignity at all.
Sometimes, we must say what others like to hear. Like when someone insists that the sun rises from the west, you agree because that is what makes him happy.
Sorry, but how else to deal with a mental patient?
I’m still waiting for him to show us his bank statement. I’m sure Anil will be more than happy to publish it.
His words: Point for point.