Speech By Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng During The Penang Soroptimists Ladies Annual Dinner For Charity In The E&O Hotel In Penang on 5.11.2011.
I am pleased to be at the "Soroptimist" Penang Dinner for Charity. Soroptimist are `ladies at their best, doing their best.' In Penang we are unique. Not only do we have many capable ladies at their best and doing their best, we are different in that our ladies' achievements are appreciated by the men in Penang.
Because men appreciate our women, that is the reason why there are so many women holding top state government positions. Both the President of both the Penang Island Municipal Council and the Seberang Perai Municipal Council are women, creating history as the first women local government presidents in Peninsular Malaysia.
However we need the men to also come in if we want to ensure individual progress and a successful transformation of Penang as an international and intelligent city. I just want to share four points of fellowship.
One, there is no substitute for excellence and human talent. This is especially true in Penang which has no natural resources. We need to train, retrain, retain and attract human talent. Only when we choose the best, then only can we on top of the best. We must not only choose the right person but also choose them for the right job.
Two, we must stay connected with each other as Malaysians and internationally with other global citizens. It does not matter what is the colour of your skin, but the content of your character and competency that counts. You are who you are because of what you do. Only when we connect with each other as human beings and Malaysians then can we confront the challenges of the future together.
Three, we must establish integrity in leadership, corporate and non-corporate governance as well as society. Honesty as the best policy must be taught in schools and practiced by grown-ups in society. Who says that honesty does not pay?
When we took over power in Penang on 8 March 2008, we set out to prove that a clean government can out-perform a corrupt and dirty government. We have recorded a budget surplus every year for our 4 years in power, which allows us to carry out social programs and give cash aid to Penangites for the first time in history. Equally important, we have reduced our debt from RM630 million on 8 March 2008 to RM30 million at end September 2011. This RM600 million debt reduction of 95% is the largest amongst all states in Malaysian history.
Fourth, we must all stay a little foolish and idealistic. Only the idealistic and the little foolish allows society to progress because they refuse to accept the status quo but simply want to be better. Because those who are a little foolish dare to dream dreams that never were, we have seen tremendous advances in technology and social media. I admit to being little foolish, until I was imprisoned because I refused to accept the status quo of racism, injustice and endemic corruption.
The future does not belong to the faint-hearted but to those with courage and a little foolishness in pursuing their dreams. Penang offers itself as a platform that gives equal opportunity for everyone to make your dreams come true.
——- Mandarin Translation—-
槟州首席部长林冠英于2011年11月5日在国际兰馨交流协会槟城分会年度晚会上发表演讲，重点如下：
确保个人进步及槟州成功转型成为国际及智能都市的四个要点
在槟城我们是独特的，这不只因为我们有许多学有所长、并发挥所长的女性，而我们的男性也珍惜这些女性的成就。
因为男性珍惜我们的女性，因此，我们有那么多女性掌管州政府高职。槟岛市政局和威省市政局的主席都是女性，也是马来西亚历史上清一色女性任主席职的市政府。
然而，如果我们要确保个人进步，让槟州成功转型成为国际及智能都由，我们也需要男性。让我分享四个要点：
其一、卓越与人才没有替代品。尤其是像槟城这样没有天然资源的地方。我们必须培训、再培训、重才、惜才。唯有我们选择人才，我们才可以达到颠峰。我们不只要选对的人，也要把他们放在正确的岗位上。
其二、我们必须与全国各地及世界各地的人们保持交流联系。你的肤色并不重要，最重要的是你的品格及能力。你因自己的成就而脱颖而出。唯有当我们每个人视本身为人、一个马来西来人，我们才能够共同面对未来的挑战。
其三、我们必须建立领袖、企业及非企业管理、社会各阶层的廉正风气。学校里必须教导正直诚实，大人们也必须在社会上付诸于行。谁说正直诚实没有好处？
当我们在2008年3月8日执政时，我们立志证明一个廉洁的政府可以比贪污的政府做得更好。我们连续四年在财政上取得盈余，让我们得以进行各种社会计划，第一次派发补助金给槟城人。同时，我们也把我们的债务，从2008年的6亿3000万令吉，减少到2011年9月的3000万令吉。我们的债务减少了6亿令吉或95%，这样的减幅可说是全马各州最高的。
其四、我们必须是大智若愚的理想主义者。唯有这样，我们的社会才会不满足于现状，才会时时刻刻求进步。那些大智若愚者才会敢于梦想别人所不敢想的，正如我们在科技工艺及社会媒体上所取得的进步。我承认自己有点理想主义者的傻劲，直到我被监禁，因为我不愿意接受种族主义、不公义及贪污腐败的现实。
未来不属于胆怯的人，而是属于那些有勇气、有一股傻劲去追求理想的人。槟城就是这样一个地方，我们提供公平机会，让每个人实现梦想。
林冠英
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