Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng today said that the state is proud for not having implemented any price hikes on local services at a time when the BN-led federal government is overseeing a host of price hikes that is shooting up the cost of living.

“In contrast to the federal government’s repeated price hikes of petrol, sugar, power tariffs, highway tolls and assessment rates, the Penang state government has not increased quit rent, water tariffs, assessment nor business licence rates for this year and next year,” Lim said in his New Year statement today.

“The only increase is on penalties for those consumers who waste water, an environmental protection programme to conserve water, because Penang records the country’s highest water consumption rate,” he noted.

Lim also said that 2014 will be a pivotal year that would serve as a ‘make or break’ year for Penang to achieve its promise of being a destination for tourists, being termed as a liveable city, and also as a manufacturing hub.

“The state government will rely on our faith in the energy, expertise and entrepreneurship of our human talent to realise our vision of making Penang an international and intelligent city,” he said.

Lim said that the opening of the Second Penang Bridge on Chinese New Year could well be the catalyst for economic growth in Seberang Perai and subsequently move Penang out of the middle income trap.