Congratulations to all the People of Penang, and the Penang state government
This is an e-mail sent by my friend from Ipoh, Perak:
" Penang is praised by Global Anti-Corruption watchdog Transparency International for its anti corruptions efforts.
What makes Malaysia all of a sudden to be ranked on 47 out 180 countries ? The awnser : The Malaysian People made the right choice by denying 2/3 majority enjoyed by Barisan Nasional all this years. Its a well check and balance by Pakatan on Barisan that led to this 47th position. Pakatan Led by DAP in Penang. In just 18 months CM Lim turned around Penang into corrupt free State.
Shame on BN & ex-CM Dr Koh of Gerakan. As ex-Gerakan President Lim KY said, BN/Gerakan has lost Penang forever.
“RM 10 billion in losses from corruption per year is a huge sum and there must be greater commitment from the Federal government towards fighting corruption to ensure that 27 million Malaysians can benefit from this RM 10 billion dividend from successfully combating corruption.”
Global anti-corruption watchdog ranks Malaysia 47th least corrupt, praises Penang
GEORGE TOWN, Sept 24 – Global corruption watchdog, Transparency International (TI), has ranked Malaysia as the 47th least corrupt nation in the world and commended the island state of Penang for its anti-corruption efforts.
Denmark, New Zealand and Sweden was listed by TI as the top three least corrupt countries as measured by the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), which ranks countries in terms of the degree to which businessmen and country analysts perceive corruption to exist among public officials and politicians.
Singapore, Finland, Switzerland, Iceland, Netherlands, Australia and Canada rounded off the top least corrupt countries.
Malaysia came in 47th out of 180 countries in the index, tied with Hungary and Jordan.
The CPI is part of TI’s Global Corruption Report (GCR) 2009 released yesterday.
In its report on Malaysia, TI highlighted the Malaysian practice of the “revolving door” whereby individuals move from government to business, or business to politics, and back again, and estimated that corruption could cost Malaysia as much as RM10 billion a year.
“Significant government participation in the private sector and considerable business participation in politics means that the movement of gatekeepers to players and players to gatekeepers has a negative influence on the concept of checks and balances,” said TI.
“The complexity of the relationships between politics and the public and private sectors means that corruption may take place with impunity. Until drastic action is taken to separate the cosy relationship between government, business and politics, the anti-corruption effort will remain no more than a token gesture,” said TI.
Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng says he is “humbled” by the recognition by TI and added that he was concerned over the fact that that corruption could cost Malaysia as much as RM10 billion a year – an amount equivalent to 1 or 2 per cent of GDP as pointed out by the GCR when it cited the findings of the special government business facilitation task force Pemudah and the World Bank.
Additional report contents that were of concern to Lim was Malaysia’s per capita spending of only RM5 on anti-corruption efforts and the fact that only about 10 per cent, or just 7,223 potential corruption cases, of the total 71,558 reported between 2000 and 2006 were investigated by the Anti Corruption Agency, the precursor of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, with a conviction rate of less than one percent.
“The GCR 2009 concluded that this illustration of the Malaysian government’s inaction in the light of the serious corruption allegations, along with its seeming inability to catch the big fish instead focusing on the ‘small fry’, suggests that what anti-corruption efforts exist are mere tokens,” said Lim.
“RM 10 billion in losses from corruption per year is a huge sum and there must be greater commitment from the Federal government towards fighting corruption to ensure that 27 million Malaysians can benefit from this RM 10 billion dividend from successfully combating corruption.”
Lim also today announced that the state has managed to cut about RM36 million or 12 per cent of in operating expenditure this year due to its efforts to curb corruption.
“Transparency International’s recognition of anti-corruption efforts by the Penang state government through CAT (Competency Accountability And Transparency) governance is backed up by savings of nearly 12 per cent of the 2008 Penang state budget of RM 36 million from operating expenditure. This RM 36 million savings has allowed the state government to carry out social programs and implement its people-oriented government,” said Lim.
TI said that the Penang state is the first Malaysian state government to implement the open tender system for government procurement and contracts.
It also recognised the state government’s directive barring administrators and state executive councillors from making any new land applications and efforts to attract professionals to serve on various boards, such as the Penang State Appeals Board.
“On behalf of the Penang state government, we feel humbled by the recognition given by a world renowned body such as Transparency International and would redouble efforts to ensure the anti-corruption reforms are institutionalized and ensure more professionals are appointed to key bodies. Fighting corruption generates savings for the people,” said Lim.
He added that the two local authorities in Penang are expected to save another RM34 million over three years from a “transparent” negotiation over the price of solid waste disposal that reduced the rates agreed to by the previous Barisan Nasional administration by a further 42.4 per cent.
Lim said that the savings would go towards the state government’s “3E” programme to “enable” the people with skills and knowledge so that they have an equal opportunity to create wealth, “empower” them with fundamental rights and basic freedoms, and “enrich” the people by sharing wealth and economic benefits.
Now it is Penang Boleh - Vote wisely for a better Malaysia. ".
That is the opinion of the writer of the said e-mail, I published it in my blog as that is the truth, despite the deficit or technical bankruptcy reported of the two local town council in Penang when the DAP took over after 308; today they reported surplus.
Due credit must be given to the state government and DAP.
Note:
I am not politician but an ordinary Penang citizen. What the previous state government had not done, despite having support of federal government, the current state government have done it without the federal government support. Comparing the duration the state was ruled by BN and the short period the state ruled by DAP and Pakatan, the truth speak for itself. The wise Mr Lee Kuan Yew's comment on Penang is true, Penang have going backward and stop its development pace when other places and countries are moving forward. I was amazed at how Vietnam moving ahead, much better than Penang, especially when tourism is concerned. What Mr Lee commented is absolutely correct. Penang have left behind...
We need to ask ourselves, the Penang lang; did Penang obtain fair treatment under Dr Koh's time? When Tun Abdullah was the Prime Minister, did he use his influence and power to obtain more development fund to the state, as compared Dr M to Kedah?
Any person who have visited Thailand, Vietnam, and even Indonesia; will able to notice the differences and changes taken places there; but Penang remained as in the 80s, the heritage of Tun Dr Lim......you do not see any creditable changes in Penang. We need to ask the questions to the previous state government and the current opposition, WHY?.....
The question, where did all the monies go?.....did the government expenditure benefit the state and people?....
We Penang lang really have to open our eyes wide; when a nation not able to evade corruption, but a small state can do it. The answer is in the political will, if you want, you can do it. But why the nation cannot do it? a big answer anticipated by all tax paying citizen....
Yes, the Penang state government have tell not only Penang people, but all Malaysian that we can do better; if we look for the future, the change of our future, no point living on history where we cannot move forward by looking backward; no point looking at the current state, as it soon will be over; we need to look at future, changing from the current state to future, forgetting about the past. The political will of the people will provide us the future, not the current politician who provide empty promises, or the politician who always look back, forgetting they are living in a different era.
We cannot effort to stand still, people will not wait for us....we anticipate better future for Penang...that is our HOPE, and people wishes.....
Look for future, Penang lang; go for change; we need to stand tall again like a true Penang lang.....
The time is always right to do the right thing. - Martin Luther King, Jr.
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