A massive task is in store for the new Penang government. I could imagine the difficulties that YAB Lim Guan Eng is shouldering. As he might not even be familiar walking to his Komtar office, blazing sirens of his outriders when travelling, names of his staff or even his official residence or Rumah Tetamu, not mentioning the expectations of the citizens of Penang for a quick change for better quality of life, one could only imagine how he is going to do it. As we have seen and heard, DAP members admitted themselves it is just as shock to the BN as to them when the election results was announced. Some even swallowed saliva in disbelief.
From my personal point of view, this means the DAP is not really well-prepared mentally and constructively to rule Penang. They have high confidence I'm sure, but maybe a teeny-weeny of shakiness deep down the heart. It's normal, we're all human. Being the opposition for almost their entire lives, looking into the faults and mischiefs of the BN all these years and today being policy -makers themselves, again, one could only imagine the 360 degree turn. It will be definite that all eyes of local citizens, opposition (now it's BN, of course) and even international critics would zoom in and criticise them for any kind of 'raw' mistakes and faults.
Everyone knows DAP will work hard to serve the people. If DAP could change, macro or micro, lifting the economy, creating jobs, fulfilling a higher quality of life and standards of living in Penang from now until the next five years, it could propel DAP solidly as a ruling party even for the next 50 years. That is what the entire Penang is praying for. Leaders like Lim Chong Eu made a huge economical impact on Penang’s history. His focus and the clarity of vision was great. He considered Penang as a country by itself. No one could help but they themselves. He took strides to convince the multinational companies to invest in the state. It took him years and he finally made it. This elder statesman is always respected until today.
Now it is the time for Guan Eng to prove his mettle. Everyone in Penang wants a tale to tell their grandchildren in that Guan Eng was the person who lifted up Penang when it was down. But today its more complex compared the simpler yesteryears. It’s a challenge for him and the entire party itself. I think Guan Eng should be humble and consult 'race-related' case studies from the ruling PAS government when they first took Kelantan. What are the merits and flaws the policymakers encountered? Anwar Ibrahim is another top consultant. Being an orang lama, I'm sure he has encountered dozens of threats and groups that he had to fend off when holding one of the top post in the government. Don’t be surprised but Koh Tsu Koon too, is and expert and should have available some degree of guidance to help. I'm sure he has got many ideas to mould a better Penang. After all he is also a Penangite.
Singapore should be another example. If we are able to ask some policymakers there to help us with one or two finer points, then we are better prepared to firming back the economy .We can always take them as an ‘older brother’ from their experience. I think we are not putting ourselves too low here as we are still learning and we could provide good governance and set a good example for other states to follow. We could even better our ties with Singapore as an independent state. How all of us wish that our economy was still firm, salaries still increasing steadily, petrol price was as before, sundry goods was still cheap and toll prices aren’t a burden to daily commuters .But in reality all those are already history. Inflation is just a shadow too near. ‘Hope’ and ‘Chane’ are the words, strong words used by Barack Obama (currently running for the presidency in the US). The ‘hope’ has already been achieved in Penang when the election results were announced.. Now is the ‘change’, the change for the better.
We hope the transparency of the Penang government will be realised soon. How about 'live' telecasts of the state assembly sittings, or even better, we could have our private Penang TV station. From there, the CM can get feedback and comments from the rakyat and with regular press conferences, the 'rights' and 'wrongs' could easily be solved. No more one thousand and one red tape to go through. The closer the CM is to the rakyat and when voices are heard first hand, it will be better for the CM. When and if Penang could have its own independent newspaper, it will definitely be a plus. No biased or prejudiced news, but the truth and sincere reporting. Not as a propaganda tool for DAP but for press freedom which has been long overdue. That can be a revenue too for the state government. Malaysiakini could help as its already got the human resource to kick start it. If no biased reporting or lies are published, who can ban it?
It could be very profitable to Penang when its distribution is nationwide. When certain profits are channelled to the poor and old folks in Penang, it would see a happy tear in my eye. To see their faces brighten up with a smile knowing that they can have a better and more hopeful future. I think we all want that.
On internal DAP matters, what about the black sheep if there are any? The CM should always be aware if they are. At any point of time when it goes haywire, the chances of him being CM will be reduced to just one term. This is not a threat but a reality. Ordinary citizens can’t afford to get any poorer than now. If mega projects like the PGCC are being reconsidered by the state or if scrapped, the whole chunk of the RM25 billion should divided into small realistic projects to uplift up the economy and to benefit the Penang people. We may lose 5,000 construction jobs but the again, what’s the point if they are for foreign labour.
To close my views, I really hope that CM will act wisely like a wise man.
