Penang to continue with RM60,000 annual allocation for opposition reps

GEORGE TOWN – Penang will continue with its annual allocation of RM60,000 for opposition backbenchers, said Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.

He said the allocation will be part of next year’s fiscal budget which he will table in the state assembly later this month.

From the 40 state assemblymen in Penang, 11 are from PAS-led Perikatan Nasional, which holds seven state seats.

For the 29 Pakatan Harapan-held state seats, Chow said each of them will receive RM500,000 to cater to their constituents’ needs.

It was earlier reported that most of the funds will be used mainly to repair and upgrade infrastructure in the 40 PH state constituencies.

Meanwhile, Chow also said there are no plans for now to replace Datuk Seri Lee Kah Choon when he exits as the special investment adviser to the chief minister.

Lee will leave later this month after some 15 years at the helm of the investments portfolio for Penang.

Under Lee's stewardship, Penang recorded encouraging domestic and foreign capital for its services and industrial sectors.

Chow said that the roles of state-linked agency InvestPenang, regional authority, namely the Northern Corridor Implementation Agency), and the Malaysian Investment Development Authority are sufficient for now.

Penang is a leading recipient of foreign direct investments in the country, with some RM47 billion secured over the past decade due to the state’s emerging significance as part of the global supply chain for electrical and electronic components.

Chow also mentioned that ties between the state and the Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce would not sour following his intention to file a libel suit against the chamber’s lifelong advisor Tan Sri Tan Kok Ping.

“It is a matter between two individuals and it should not be related to the organisations that they represent,” said Chow.

Chow also led the state exco for youth, sports and public health Daniel Gooi, Air Itam assemblyman Joseph Ng and state sports council director Harry Chai in presenting incentives to state-based athletes, who had won medals at the recent Asian Games and Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, China.

The sports council allocated RM89,3000 to the medal winners.

They are Muhammad Ariff Afifudin Ab Malik (karate, gold), Muhammad Zarif Marican Ibrahim Marican (sepak takraw, silver), Muhammad Azlan Alias (sepak takraw, silver), Muhammad Zaim Razali (sepak takraw, silver), Muhammad Syahir Mohd Rosli (sepak takraw, silver), Zainatul Husniah Zulkifli (athletics, bronze), Nurul Aliana Syafika Azizan (cycling, bronze), Ooi Tze Liang (diving, bronze), Zy Lee Kher (para swimming, bronze) and Nur Azlia Syafinaz Mohd Zais (para cycling, bronze).

Others present were Penang Amateur Athletics Association president Datuk Seri Syed Mohamad Syed Murtaza, Penang Sepak Takraw Association secretary Ismadi Abu Bakar, Penang Cycling Association secretary Munir Mohamad Ismail and Penang Karate Association secretary Ho Chan Wei. – The Vibes, November 7, 2023