Penang will continue to revive abandoned projects, particularly in the tourism sector, in 2017, said Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

In his New Year's statement today, Lim said the focus on tourism was necessary because it was identified as the main economic driver for this year.

“The singular success of Penang government in reviving the previous government’s failed projects is highlighted by Komtar’s RM200 million facelift,” he said.

He claimed that the previous administration had tried to leave Komtar for dead in order to move to a new new administrative centre in Bayan Mutiara.

“However, the new Penang government in 2008 decided to stay put and fight, to revive Komtar through a unique public private people partnership,” he added.

Lim said only his political opponents refused to see the value and success of turning around their failed projects by bringing dead projects back to life.

“Who are the real frogs who live under the coconut husk (katak di bawah tempurung) by such continuous denial of facts and ignorance of reality?” he asked.

Penang's green field projects

Lim then listed several initiatives which he described as “green field projects” to boost the state’s tourism sector, which includes:

  • both the new RM10 billion township in Batu Kawan with universities, hospitals, premium retail outlets(Penang Design Village) and Ikea super-retail mall;
  • a new convention center in Jelutong(IJM’s Waterfront);
  • new theme parks in Teluk Bahang, Pulau Jerejak and Batu Kawan;
  • a new 5-star hotel and world-class hall in Seberang Jaya;
  • Karpal Singh Drive, the new waterfront in Penang;
  • RM30 million Penang Arts District near the UNESCO World Heritage site of George Town; and
  • The Gurney Wharf project.

He also noted that Penang has embarked on the revival of abandoned and failed projects by the previous BN government, which he described as "brown fields" such as:

  • Penang Hill funicular train which had 1.6 million passengers this year, up from about 200,000 annually before 2008;
  • Komtar’s RM200 million revival which includes an indoor theme park and an observation deck;
  • Revival of George Town as a Unesco heritage enclave;
  • Refurbishment and upgrading of the golf course in Bukit Jambul now known as the Penang Golf Club;
  • Entopia the most beautiful butterfly farm in the world; and,
  • Penang’s first exhibition center, the RM 750 million sPICE or sub-terranean Penang International Convention and Exhibition Center replacing the failed PISA in Bayan Baru.

Boosting medical tourism

Lim said the state government will also explore new initiatives to expand medical tourism in 2017.

This is to establish Penang as a medical city and reinforce the state’s position in commanding more than 50 percent of Malaysia’s medical tourism receipts, he added.

“In pursuing these objectives in line with Penang as an entrepreneurial state, the state government will also work in parallel towards Malaysia’s first welfare state that is clean, green, safe and healthy,” he said.

“Only then can we wish a Happy New Year 2017 to all 1.6 million Penangites."