Shadow Policy Committee

Penang has proposed that the federal government provide a retrenchment scheme of RM800 monthly for each of the 100,000 workers who will lose their job in April. Chief Minister and DAP Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng said the retrenched workers should be given the aid until the economy recovers and when they gain employment. "This is necessary as the workers are retrenched not because of indiscipline but due to the economic downturn. The government must use a global approach to address this problem," he told a press conference at his office today. Lim who is also Bagan MP was commenting a Manpower Department statement that some 100,000 workers are expected to be retrenched by April due to the global economic downturn. If implemented, the proposal would only cost the government RM488 million for six months or RM960 million for one year. He also proposed that the government provide a RM12 billion economic stimulus package as the RM7 billion under the first package was inadequate ...

Chief Minister and DAP Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng says the economic stimulus package should be at least RM50 billion in tandem with similar packages by other nations in the region. "The package must be a minimum US$14 billion (RM50 billion) to allow the people to benefit from the money directly," he said today. Lim said the current stimulus package worth RM7 billion was paltry compared to what other nations were preparing to spend. He noted that Indonesia was preparing a stimulus package worth RM228 billion, Singapore RM27 billion and Vietnam RM22 billion, while the US had announced a package of RM5.6 trillion. "We hope the government can also implement infrastructure projects during this period," he told a press conference in his office here. Lim called on the federal government to prepare a substantial allocation for retrenched workers to receive unemployment benefits. He noted that the Manpower Department had reportedly said that some 100,000 people are expec...

Penang Chief Minister and DAP Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng has urged the Penang Chinese Town Hall (PCTH) not to harp on the state government’s priority in fund allocation. He said the funds were limited and could only be used for social activities which benefitted the state government. Speaking to reporters after putting up Chinese New Year cultural and heritage celebration banners in the city today, Lim reiterated that the PCTH celebration is a private function, not a state initiative. It was reported last week that the state government did not give the allocation of RM15,000 to PCTH due to the economic crisis. "The issue should be put to rest, as PCTH received the allocation from the federal government through the Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Ministry recently," Lim added. He said the state government will hold its Chinese New Year celebrations at Campbell Street from 6.30pm to 10.30pm on Jan 29. The Chinese New Year cultural and heritage celebrations will be held in...