Penang CM outlines key challenges ahead of legislative assembly dissolution

GEORGE TOWN – Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow today cited five major challenges facing Penang in possibly his last monthly address to the state’s civil servants ahead of the planned dissolution of the legislative assembly next month,

The state DAP and Pakatan Harapan chairman emphasised that the measures to overcome these challenges need to be effectively undertaken in the next seven years if the state is to attain its self-imposed target of Vision 2030. 

He outlined the challenges to be reckoned with as follows: scarce water resources, shortage of land, need for talent, the impact of climate change, and a push for economic growth. 

He said if the government can navigate past these, the path towards becoming a world-class intelligent state with an emphasis on green tech and family institutions can be achieved.

Speaking at the monthly assembly of the civil servants in Dewan Sri Pinang here, he thanked them for their dedication towards helping the state on its path.

Chow had recently announced that the dissolution of the assembly is scheduled for the third or fourth week of June, paving the way for the state election.

If re-elected, he stressed today, the government will focus on five aspects in the next term. They are: 

- generating better and sustainable economic growth through the state’s core strengths in the electrical and electronics sector, and enhancing healthcare and digitalisation; 

- implementing the Penang Transport Master Plan, including new highways and the light rail transit (LRT) system; 

- addressing traffic congestion with new routes with emphasis on public transport and construction of a new expressway flyover at Sg Dua in Seberang Perai; 

- completing the flood mitigation projects and promoting the use of electric vehicles while implementing a water contingency plan to avert a crisis; and

- empowering the people by focusing on the development of diverse communities while not neglecting the youth, women, and senior citizens.

He added that if re-elected, the state will promote stronger economic growth through environmental sustainability, strong social values, and effective governance.

Chow warned that Penang will be facing a water crisis if it cannot cement new sources, namely through the Sg Perak Raw Water Transfer Scheme.

Penang also needs more land to accommodate the combined foreign and domestic direct investments, where up to RM126 billion was pledged between 2018 and last year.

“The staggering figure shows that Penang is a leading destination for investors in the region,” he said.

Penang has taken remedial steps to reclaim an island called Silicon Island, while the land and minerals office was reviewing all land titles, especially those classified as disputable, through a task force formed three years ago.

Land titles in the uncertain category are high in Penang, and the state needs every inch possible to execute the necessary public infrastructure projects to alleviate congestion, he stressed.

As for talents, Chow said steps are underway to enhance education by focusing on skills in technical and vocational fields, besides stressing the importance of acquiring knowledge in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics subjects.

On climate change, he said the state spent up to RM156.7 million in the last five years to mitigate threats of erosion, floods, and landslides, as well as heavier rainfall.

The state is now in the midst of completing eight flood mitigation projects, protecting the 17 forest reserve areas, and planting 160,000 tree saplings between 2019 and 2020.

Penang has also formed a natural disaster management unit under the state secretariat and a logistic centre to assist during emergencies. – The Vibes, May 26, 2023