The Thunderbird School of Global Management and Arizona State University Alumni Association
Speech by Chief Minister of Penang
With The Thunderbird School of Global Management and Arizona State University Alumni Association
4th October 2018 @ Khoo Kongsi
Her Excellency Dato’ Seri Maimunah, Executive Director
Mr. Doug Deardorf, Chairman, TIAA
Mr. Merle Hinrich, Founding Member, TIAA
Mr. Harry Cockrell, Founding Member, TIAA
Dr. Rick Shangraw, Executive Director
Dr. Sanjeev Khagram
Prof. Amirul, Dean, School of Biological Sciences, USM
Prof. Siti, Honorary Professor, USM
TIAA Board Members:-
Mr. Knut Erikson.
Mr. Nimrod Kovacs.
Mr. William Counts.
Mr Ooi Chok Yan, CEO of Penang Global Tourism
Dr Meg Lowman, Canopy Scientist from California Academy of Science
Pn Bharathi, Deputy General Manager of Chief Ministers Incorporated
Mr Cheok, General Manager of Penang Hill Corporation
Mr Reza Cockrell, Co-Founder and Director of The Habitat Penang Hill
Mr Allen Tan, Managing Director of The Habitat Penang HIll
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies & Gentlemen.
Good evening everyone.
Welcome
It is a great honour to be here this evening to welcome you all to Penang and to Malaysia. I was told that this is the first time that the Thunderbird Independent Alumni Association, Thunderbird School of Global Management and Arizona State University have held a joint alumni event anywhere in the world and we are very happy and honoured that you have chosen to hold it here in Penang.
Penang
Penang is the second smallest state amongst 13 states in Malaysia. However, even though we are one of the smallest states, Penang has always punched above its weight class and is a preferred choice for foreign direct investment and a destination of choice for tourism in Malaysia. The state is also a top choice for Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) visa holders and we are known to be one of the most dynamic, progressive and competitive states in the country.
Penang has grown and benefitted from over 40 years of industrial development with the presence of multinationals companies (MNCs) such as Intel and Dell which have been here since the 1970s and we are known as “The Silicon Valley of the East”. Penang aspires to enhance its international and intelligent city status by leveraging on its highly innovative and sophisticated manufacturing and services sectors and will continue to benchmark against international standards.
Penang has an interesting and rich history which takes us back to 1786 when it was founded by Captain Francis Light of the East India Company. For over 200 years, George Town, the capital of Penang has been a centre for trade and cultural exchange between East and West. The influences of Asia and Europe have endowed George Town with a unique multicultural heritage. There are extensive heritage buildings encompassing places of worship, residential and commercial buildings which represent the British era from the end of 18th and early 19th century. The unique architectural and cultural townscape is unparalleled anywhere in East and Southeast Asia.
In 2008, George Town in Penang was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Penang’s old world charm, drawn from many of its historical buildings and living communities of the Straits Settlements, further enhancing Penang’s appeal as a preferred destination for tourists.
Besides the availability of the Penang International Airport, the Penang Port and the Malaysian Railway Service, Penang’s latest infrastructure to boost connectivity and spur economic growth is the opening of the Penang Second Bridge in March 2014, named after the fourteenth King of Malaysia, Tuanku Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah. This 24km, dual carriageway bridge connecting Batu Maung on the island and Batu Kawan on the mainland will be the key to the development of Penang’s next Growth Centre, the Batu Kawan Township.
I understand the theme for this conference is “Sustainability in Business: The Next Asian Revolution” which is very much in line with my State Government’s plan for Penang known as "Penang2030," which is aimed at turning the state greener, improving infrastructure and modernizing manufacturing industries.
Penang 2030
Penang 2030 is a 12-year action plan themed “A Family-Focused Green and Smart State to Inspire the Nation”.
The policy package is the state’s four-prong vision to increase livability to enhance quality of life, upgrade the economy, empower the people to strengthen civic participation and invest in the built environment for a more sustainable future.
The first is increased liveability, which deals with enhancements to quality of life, including matters such as housing affordability and diversity, improving public safety, cleanliness, welfare and care systems, as well as diversifying recreation, sports, arts and culture facilities.
The second is upgrading the economy, raising household incomes, by preparing local manufacturing industries for the digital age and green economy. It also includes modernising and diversifying sustainable agriculture, creating more quality tourism projects state-wide, and building an ecosystem that nurtures creative industries and niche business services.
The third involves empowering people to strengthen civic participation by uplifting vulnerable communities and reduce inequalities, boosting the participation of youth, women and seniors in community life, creating more platforms for public involvement in social development, and accelerating programme delivery and institutional reform.
The fourth is to invest in a built environment to improve societal resilience, by balancing development through effective spatial planning. Also to strengthen mobility, connectivity and digital infrastructure, and integrate municipal services with smart technologies. The fourth theme also includes implementing climate change adaptation plans.
I wish to thank the organisers of the conference again for the invitation to officiate this event and once again Welcome you all to Penang and wish you a successful conference.
Thank you.