GEORGE TOWN – Penang has no plans to change the November date of the tabling of its state budget for 2023 even though the national budget will now be tabled on October 7 in Parliament, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said today.
“We will maintain the date if the state assembly sitting is not dissolved to pave the way for the state and national elections,” he said after the opening of an e-sports training centre in Komtar here.
He said there is much speculation about an early general election now that Putrajaya has brought forward the tabling of Budget 2023 three weeks earlier than initially scheduled.
Chow added he does not expect Parliament to be able to pass the federal budget in a record time of four weeks.
As such, he said he does not expect the general election to be held before Penang tables its state budget in November.
Nonetheless, he said Penang must be prepared for an election even before the national budget is passed.
“It happened in 1999 and could happen again.
“Perhaps the national budget was brought forward because the federal government wants to provide sweeteners to win over the public for the next election,” he said.
Chow said that the political infighting may also be a factor in the change in the budget date. – The Vibes, August 27, 2022
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