THE call to discuss and develop leadership is more crucial than ever in the country, given the evolution of various sectors that contribute to the nation’s economy.
Today, Penang Institute, a state-owned entity that is responsible for undertaking and overseeing vital policies that drive the state’s growth, introduced a new project, called the Forum for Leadership and Governance (FLAG).
Situated within the South Wing building of the institute, the initiative officially starts today and serves as a major platform for hosting leadership roundtables, seminars and courses.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who was present to officiate the project here at Brown Road earlier, commended the FLAG project and said the initiative will serve beyond just being a ground for state executive councillors and their staff to participate in roundtable discussions with experts and think tankers.
“This will be an avenue for collaborations between government-linked companies (GLCs), which can help generate synergy for more effective and practical policy suggestions.
“Over time, the Penang public policy ecosystem will consist of a strong network of brain trusts and passionate individuals working together for change from below, and from above at the same time.
“Penang has many institutions populated by very capable people.
“Getting our talents to come together, to discuss issues, and to have everyone’s ideas captured and formulated as collectively agreed suggestions for the state government to consider is a commendable approach.
“Penang Institute is taking upon itself, through what it calls the Policy Development Forum (PDF) and the Dynamic Action Plans.
“The content will constantly be made available online through Google Share, which is at the same time both discussions in progress and suggestions for policy discussions by the excos’.
“This will be a great help to our excos’, both the old ones and new ones,” Chow said during his speech.
It is learnt that the initial purpose of FLAG was only to consolidate the policymaking ecosystem in Penang, and systematise subject-based roundtables involving exco members, GLC representatives, experts from the private sector and invitees from brain trusts in Penang.
In the longer term, this initiative aims to establish Penang as a key location for developing leadership as a science and an art at all levels of society and elevating the value of practicable and progressive ideas.
Apart from roundtables, FLAG will also include masterclasses, providing a platform for experienced leaders in various fields to share their knowledge and skills with talented and ambitious young people eager to learn from them.
Penang Institute will also introduce a new and separate flagship publication for the FLAG initiative, which will be called the South Wing Papers.
This is a by-invitation-only platform for 1,500-word articles on various topics related to leadership and governance.
Chow once again applauded Penang Institute for the new publication, an initiative expressive of the high ambition that the institute has.
Separately, Chow also said it was important for any state to have leaders with vision, which plays a vital role in transforming ideas into actions.
“Leaders who have a vision, can surely chart out a new future for Penang, and I want to thank Penang Institute for helping the government to ‘think’ for the past 15 years,” Chow added.
He also thanked the consultants, architects and contractors involved in materialising today’s momentous occasion.
During the event, a splendid artwork by Penang-born artist Azmi Hussin, a caricature of Chow and the attendees during the ceremony, was unveiled.
It took him about an hour to complete the artwork, which caught the attention of many at the end of Chow’s speech.
Also present during the event were state Infrastructure, Transport and Digital Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari, state Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai, state Social Development, Welfare and Non-Islamic Religious Affairs Committee chairman Lim Siew Khim, state Local Government, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman Jason H’ng Mooi Lye, state Youth, Sports and Health Committee chairman Gooi Zi Sen, state Agrotechnology, Food Security and Cooperative Development Committee chairman Fahmi Zainol and Penang Institute executive director Dr Ooi Kee Beng.
Story by Kevin Vimal
Pix by Ahmad Adil Muhammad
Video by Noor Siti Nabilah Noorazis