Go, Penang, Go!

Recent budget news from Penang's state assembly announced significant improvements in the state and new promising developments that looks to set it on the right path to being better, rather than just a "Darul Sampah" side joke some years ago.

Star Online reported that:

1. Development budget of RM379.77mil allocated by the state for this year was a 104.13% increase compared to 2009.

2. The state’s economy this year (2010) was projected to increase by 4.7% compared to last year’s -3.2%.

3. Signs of recovery can be seen in the reduction of retrenchments from 5,776 in 2008 to 3,565 last year.

4. 2,319 vacancies were reported in the agriculture, hotel services, quarry, manufacturing, transport and social services industries in 2009.

5. Approximately 20,000 vacancies were reported so far this year in the private sector.

6. Penang state government was in the process of appointing a traffic consultant to prepare the state Transportation Masterplan. 

7. RM800,000 was allocated for a holistic and consistent development for women. The state has also set up the Good Governance and Gender Equality Society Penang to carry out development programmes for women.

They may have nothing much to say during the opening of the state assembly on May 4, 2010, coz the development statistics proves it as much already.

Good for you, Penang. 加油 and make us proud!