Story by Danny Ooi
Pix by Mohd Adil Ahmad
PENANG is an industrial city, with more than 95% of its gross domestic product (GDP) from services and manufacturing.
Even though Penang is the second smallest state in the country with its population making up just 5.5% of the national population and 0.5%
of land coverage, the state contributed 7.4% to the country’s GDP in 2014 and 12.4% from tourist arrivals.
“The World Economic Forum report classified a high income country as having GDP per capita of US$12,467.00 or RM40, 841.00. Resulting from the drop of the ringgit, this benchmark has been raised to RM50,000.
“However, the state government is positive of achieving the high income status by 2020,”
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said when officiating the gathering of Penang civil servants in Komtar on June 24.
Also present were State Secretary Datuk Seri Farizan Darus, State Financial Officer Datuk Mokhtar Mohd Jait, State Legal Adviser Datuk Aliza
Sulaiman and Deputy Chief Minister 1 Datuk Mohd Rashid Hasnon.
He added that the state government is actively pursuing the management process which enables each civil servant to carry out their duties without supervision from the superior.
Lim commented the special monetary assistance and Raya bonus would benefit 4,178 civil servants this year.
“The payout amounted to RM7.95 million compared with last year’s payout of RM5.22 million. We hope it will encourage them to strive
for excellence in their work,” he said.
Meanwhile, out of 21 civil servants facing disciplinary actions, 12 have been dismissed.
He said their services with the state government or local councils were terminated for misconduct such as misuse of power, delay in enforcement
or arriving late for work.
“The rest were either issued with warnings or demotion, or had their pay cut.
“As a civil servant, their work is to serve the public.
“Despite correctives measures, some were repeated offenders, ” he added.