THE last Penang legislative sitting for the year will be held from tomorrow until next week, with tabling of the State Budget 2027 expected to headline the almost seven-day sitting.
It may also be the last Budget to be tabled by Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who is the first top executive to serve a term limit in Penang.
Chow has entered the last phase of his two-term service, where although the term only ends in 2028, speculations are rife that the next general election may be held by the end of next year.
The recent landslides and flash floods are also expected to be debated, especially over why it is a recurring issue here.
The Opposition, led by Muhammad Fauzi Yusoff (PN-Sungai Dua), is expected to raise issues about environmental protection and affordable housing after it emerged that the state was forced to evict some tenants from the transit home project in Taman Manggis.
The worsening traffic congestion is also expected to be raised.
Chow's administration has to weather the issues of over-development, as the state for the first time, is witnessing major infrastructure projects taking all over the state.
The Mutiara Light Rail Transit (LRT) project is taking root in both the northeast and southwest districts, while off Batu Maung are the reclamation of the Silicon Island and the upgrading of the international airport in Bayan Lepas.
In Prai, there is the move to upgrade the North-South Expressway stretch from Juru to Sungai Dua - an elevated highway would be constructed to cope with the heaviest traffic volume here.
On top of it, Penang is poised to unveil plans to build another elevated highway bypass - linking Gurney Drive to the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway and another road from Tanjung Bungah to Teluk Bahang.
Chow would also disclose that the first bypass highway from Air Itam to the expressway is scheduled to be ready by the second quarter of next year - it cuts travelling from Air Itam to the expressway from the present 30 minutes to less than 10 minutes.
Backbenchers are also expected to focus on the living costs and the securing of good jobs while the state government would disclose the level of foreign direct investment (FDI) it has achieved.
Penang has consolidated its hold as a major part of the global supply chain for semiconductors worldwide. - October 29, 2026.
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