When Ho Chin Soon, a friend of mine and the author of this book, commented on one of my Facebook postings in August 2010 and suggested that we meet up in his KL office, I didn’t know what to expect. After I came back from my overseas trip, we did meet up the following week. He explained his book-writing agenda with a ton of passion to me and asked if I would become one of his contributors for his third book on Penang, Putrajaya and Cyberjaya. Having read his first book and inspired by what he was sharing with me, I immediately agreed.
Penang is set to become the choice destination for investors, employers and inhabitants. To become an international city, we need to adopt international practices. Our government is a people-centric government that acts as a platform to enable skills, knowledge and expertise to be developed. State administration also embraces strategies that will help to enrich and empower its people. Freedom of expression is also being promoted.
The CM emphasized that Penang’s key asset is human capital, to which I cannot agree more. Penang has a critical brain drain issue that has to be addressed with the amount of attention it deserves. Moving forward it should not only be good for expats, but has to also offer an ideal living environment for the younger generation to pursue excellence and have a relaxing lifestyle. I will discuss separately Penang’s brain drain issue later.
In our pursuit to attain the “International City” status, we should not compare ourselves to Singapore or Hong Kong. Penang has a plethora of unique selling points that if taken together, are not easy for others to beat. Penang’s diversity of offerings – beach, food, heritage and hospitality are all excellent value propositions that once appreciated as a whole, will distinctively differentiate it from other cities. The fact that Penang has been voted as the 8th most livable city in Asia (on par with Kuala Lumpur) recently can testify to this. In addition, the World Heritage City award Penang received in July 2008 sent a message to the world that Penang truly is a heritage jewel waiting to be explored. According to Dr Ng Yen Yen, our Minister of Tourism, a 40% hike in international tourist arrival was observed in the beginning of the year as a result of the heritage award.
The CM cited that the 21st century is going to be a century of cities. He linked his observation to United Nations’ projection that by year 2050, 70% of world population will be residing in cities. That’s 7 billion people living in cities! Penang will need to become an “intelligent city” that excel across five major categories as defined by the CM. These are human, collective, digital, integrity and institutional intelligence. For instance, the brain drain problem Penang has is largely caused by flawed institutional intelligence. If you’re a big fish, you need to go to a bigger pond. On digital intelligence, the state is in the midst of implementing Free WiFi in Penang and is also working to prepare for 4G implementation in the near future.
In order for Penang to continue to excel and tackle the issues of sustainability, we must achieve a number of pre-requisites first: (i) Adequate infrastructure (ii) Security and (iii) Cleanliness. On security, the CM said that being a safe city is not good enough, but to have its inhabitants feel safe living in the city should be our target. The state administration also adopts good practices to advocate equal opportunity, democracy fairness, security and peace.
On the green front, Penang has positioned itself as the first green state in Malaysia. Green initiatives carried out in the last twelve months include the successful plastic bag ban campaign and giving incentives to developers who undertake projects that comply with the Green Building Index (GBI), which was launched last year. In its effort to promote sustainability and the green agenda for the next generation, the CM also commented that regulation and policy framework play an important role. For example, harnessing solar energy is presently not an affordable program to the masses. There has to be more incentives to ensure mass adoption. Defining the right feed-in tariff and justification that cost of energy is high enough are among the important considerations here.
A Glance at Global Green Cities
Recently I made a trip to Brisbane, and it was very invigorating to see the Queensland government promoting the state as the first solar state in Australia. The campaign is dubbed “Do the bright thing” and thus far has received AU$151 million (approximately RM450 million) in budget allocation. The objective is to build Australia’s solar industry and double its use of solar energy from 2011-2015. This makes it the largest solar project in the southern hemisphere.
Before I discuss further on Penang, I would like to share a number of green cities mentioned in the list “15 Green Cities” published by a US magazine “Grist” in 2007. These role-models serve not just as great inspirations, but also as practical case studies for ambitious mayors around the world in our global pursuit for sustainable development.
Curitiba, Brazil
This is one of the most revered urban designs globally. Having more than 75% of its population using its public transportation system and using a flock of sheep to trim its lawns, this 3.2-million-population city has become a model for other metropolises. Curitiba is also very green – allocating a whopping 580 sf of green lung space in the city per inhabitant.
Vancouver, Canada
As one of the greenest and most livable cities in the world, Vancouver’s green accomplishments are nothing to scoff at. The city draws 90% of its power from hydroelectric sources and is now charting a course to use wind, solar, wave and tidal energy to significantly reduce its fossil fuel use. Vancouver also boasts 200 parks in the metro area, on top of over 18 miles of waterfront. To top it off, the city has developed a 100-year plan as its sustainability blueprint. Talk about forward thinking.
London, United Kingdom
Mayor Ken Livingston announced a “Climate Change Action Plan” in 2007 to cut 60% of carbon emissions within 18 years and reward residents who make their homes more energy efficient. The city has also set stiff taxes on private fossil-fuel vehicles to reduce congestion in central areas, while letting electric vehicles and hybrids off scot-free.
San Francisco, United States
This is a city that leads in the pursuit of green buildings, with 70% of its projects meeting the US Green Building Council’s LEED certification criteria. The city planning has also included over 17% of space as parks and green space. Every day, more than 50% of its residents take the public transport, resulting in a much cleaner air quality in the city. Also, the city’s voters approved a US$100 million bond initiative to finance solar panels, energy efficiency and wind turbines for public facilities. Can they be any more serious about going green?
Barcelona, Spain
Being one of the most pedestrian-friendly cities in the world (37% of all trips are taken on foot), Barcelona also heavily promotes the use of solar power, district heating and green buildings. Its “Urban Regeneration Plan” has dramatically reduced the gap between the rich and the poor and executed innovative communications program to bring its burgeoning migrant community into the mainstream, demonstrating a holistic view of sustainability.
Bangkok, Thailand
In the past, the capital city of Thailand is perhaps one of the most unlikeliest cities to be associated with the green agenda. No more. Mayor Apirak Kosayodhin announced in 2007 to cut 15% of total carbon emissions from 2008 to 2012. He released a draft action plan containing both soft and harsh measures such as planting trees, retro-fitting buildings with more energy efficient lighting and cooling systems, promoting carpools, renewable energy and mass transit systems and preventing vehicles without passengers to enter traffic congestion areas.
Give Batu Kawan a Chance to Shine
Back at home, we have a piece of greenfield measuring over 6,000 acres in Batu Kawan. This is the place where our RM3 billion bridge will link to, from Batu Maung on the island in year 2013. This is one flat, white canvas where the state has the freedom to craft a masterplan and bring in business partners both local and abroad. Unfortunately, no one from either the previous or the current administration has taken the task seriously and communicated a clear vision for Batu Kawan to Penangites. The name ‘Batu Kawan’ only surfaces if you search Google for information on Penang Turf Club relocation or the second bridge. Information on what the state intends to do with Batu Kawan before the construction of the second bridge is completed, is totally lacking. I can only imagine without a clear vision in place, it will add to the difficulty of securing investors to bring in the much-needed funds. If you drive over now and exit at the Bukit Tambun toll, you will immediately see a run-down stadium (that’s the Penang state stadium by the way) and some projects which seem to have been carried out without having taken a long-term view of integrated planning. How Batu Kawan will evolve in the next five to ten years, remains a mystery for now.
This is Penang’s moment to build a name and perhaps add itself to the list above. Batu Kawan is a gem waiting to be polished. Heritage preservation can go hand-in-hand with sustainable development. With excellent connectivity to the burgeoning Butterworth and Bukit Mertajam townships and a 20-minute direct link to the island, it certainly has a geographical advantage to build a greater Penang. Having a large tract of flat greenfield, the area yearns for its character to be defined from scratch – something Penang island cannot fully provide due to various legacy issues. Planned green-rated development utilizing solar energy, a special municipality setting examples in modern governance, pedestrian-friendly sidewalks with jogging tracks and cycling lanes are just a start. Designing ample parks and green lungs that make every inhabitant proud. Contemporary city-living that blends into an integrated bustling commercial hub complete with state-of-the-art MICE facilities, surrounded by internationally renowned hotels and shopping malls. Well designated commercial and industrial districts that house tenants with higher income white-collars and executives. People living in harmony enjoying better lifestyles in a clean city with a low crime rate.
This is not a far-fetched dream. But we’ve got to start somewhere, and someone has to take the lead.
Penang Leading the Green Agenda
Nevertheless, the state has carried out a number of green initiatives recently. In May 2010, Penang Government announced the “Cleaner Greener Penang” initiative. The year-long initiative seeks to improve the quality of life, create a greener public realm for Penangites and address cleanliness issues which have plagued the state for a long time. The CM described the campaign’s goal as a “battle of mindsets” that could only be won with support from all quarters. That was a breath of fresh air for all of us, really. A bold initiative by the state that has the potential to redefine Penang ten to twenty years from now.
It’s not the first time Penang state government has spoken green. In a bid to become the country’s first green state, Penang banned plastic bags on every Monday starting in July 2009 and the RM0.20 fee imposed was pooled and channeled to the state’s “Partners Against Poverty” fund. According to Lim Guan Eng’s press statement on 27 November 2009, the fund collected over RM21,000 during its first four months. The campaign proved so successful by January 2010 it was extended to three days a week. The statement also mentioned that with the “No Plastic Mondays” campaign, Penangites used one million less plastic bags every four months. With the implementation of the three-day ban, it is estimated that Penang produces nine million less plastic bags every year!
Green, in today’s context, is no longer just about rescuing the world. It has become knitted to our lifestyle and is gradually being embedded into our culture. I hear it from my mom, my friends and corporate leaders. Everyone is talking about it, from both personal and professional sides of our lives. Even the auntie at the nasi lemak stall where I buy my breakfast from every week told me not to use plastic bags (it’s not a healthy eating habit, but I’m a true Malaysian and that’s my personal indulgence).
Going From Good to Great
It’s time for Penang to move up the value chain. Do more of the high-value knowledge industries and less of the labour-intensive mass production lines. No longer can we continue to compete in the name of affordable labour and leave our young professionals seeking better-paying jobs in foreign countries. We need to bring them home to build economic value and reinvesting it to attain a high-income nation status. We need an enabling platform – and that’s where we have previously failed. Innovation is where the value is going to be. If we agree that people are generally willing to pay for quality goods and services, we need to be serious about delivering first-class quality goods and services now.
As manufacturing makes up 40% of Penang’s GDP, its role here is rather pivotal to help increase our average incomes. How can we better market the Bayan Lepas FTZ and Kulim High-tech Park? How should we innovate in terms of an economic package to bring in high-value employers? What project should be given more commitment to address Penang’s long-standing infrastructure inadequacy? Which regulatory framework should we optimize so other than having ambitious ‘hardware’ strategies, we also complement our pursuit for sustainability with matching ‘software’ strategies? The current administration has communicated a great vision and I hope they will execute it well in the years to come.
We have to make tertiary education more accessible and affordable to everybody. Yes, I know education is a federal responsibility, and I hope they are reading this. We must understand that, to achieve RM48,000 income per person and 6% growth of GDP through 2020 – this can only happen if every rakyat is equipped with solid education and language skills. Most information the government disseminated thus far has emphasized only on infrastructure. We have heard almost nothing on incorporating education as one of the drivers for ETP. Someone must start to establish better quality of education system now. Every bit of effort made to improve our education quality will eventually result in multiples of return back to the country. And our grandkids will thank us for it.
Pursuing sustainable growth requires a stubbornness to take a long-term view. Efforts that we put in today may only yield significant positive outcome for our next generation. But they will look back and record in Malaysian history what a bold transformation we have undertaken to achieve sustainable living for the next generations.
Penang has what it takes to make a difference. If there’s a best time to start committing to sustainable development, it is now.
