PENANG, 28 Dec 2008: Penang Gerakan today urged both the state and the federal governments to set aside political differences to work together to attract more foreign investors to the state.
Penang Gerakan liaison committee chairperson Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan said during the current global financial meltdown, both the federal and state governments must take all necessary measures to ensure that existing investors continue to reinvest in the state rather than relocate elsewhere.
“Both governments must work together to coordinate efforts to create a more conducive environment which is business friendly to encourage existing investors to stay on,” he said in a statement.
He also said the state government should prepare a detailed and comprehensive working paper which encompasses the aspect of retrenchment as the last resort, retrenchment benefits, job placements, re-training and technological transformation.
“The state government should then work closely with the federal government during these difficult times to ensure the success of all the programmes contained in the working paper,” he said.
Teng said the economic downturn could result in a rise in unemployment and it was inevitable that there would also be a rise in crime.
“Hence, the state government and the local authorities should work hand-in-hand with the police to tackle crime and to make sure that the crime rate stays at its lowest,” he said. — Bernama
