Equal Allocation Bill Unlikely To Be Tabled At Upcoming Penang Assembly Sitting - Chow

BUKIT MERTAJAM, Sept 12 (Bernama) -- The Penang government is unlikely to table a proposed enactment to ensure equal constituency development funds (CDF) for all state constituencies at the coming state legislative assembly sitting due to time constraints.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said he had instructed the state legal adviser to prepare a draft of the proposed enactment, which was presented at the state executive council meeting on Wednesday.

“But I think we need time to look into the details. We will propose stakeholder engagement as well, so I think we will not be able to present the proposed enactment in the coming state assembly because we have a timeline to meet,” he told reporters after presenting the Penang2030 Eighth-Year Report Card here today.

Chow was responding to a question on DAP’s recent call for Penang to enact legislation guaranteeing equal development allocations for all state constituencies, regardless of the political affiliation of their elected representatives.

On Sept 8, DAP Secretary-General Anthony Loke said the party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) had resolved to urge the Penang government to introduce such legislation.

Loke said CDF should be allocated equally regardless of the political background of elected representatives, adding that the principle should also be extended to the federal level and adopted by all state governments.

Currently, the Penang government allocates RM60,000 annually to each opposition assemblyman, while government assemblymen receive RM500,000.

In August, Chow said the state government would await a decision from DAP’s national leadership before proceeding with legislation on equal CDF allocations.

He said Penang had been providing allocations to opposition representatives for many years, although they had repeatedly sought higher allocations during state assembly sittings.

-- BERNAMA