RM60,000 versus RM500,000: Chief minister says still weighing DAP’s call for equal funding law

GEORGE TOWN, Sept 12 — The Penang government is unlikely to table a proposed law guaranteeing equal constituency development funds (CDF) at the coming state legislative assembly sitting, due to time constraints.

Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said he had instructed the state legal adviser to prepare a draft enactment.

“It was presented at the state exco meeting on Wednesday,” he told reporters at a press conference after presenting the Penang2030 eighth-year report card at Holiday Inn Resort today.

He said the state government needed time to examine its details, adding that an engagement session with stakeholders would also be required.

“We have some more time to deliberate on it,” he said.

Chow was responding to DAP’s recent call for Penang to enact legislation ensuring equal development allocations for all state constituencies.

On September 8, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke said the party’s central executive committee had resolved to ask the Penang government to introduce the law.

“CDF should be given equally, regardless of the political background of the elected representatives,” Loke said then.

He said the legislation would guarantee fair and equal treatment for all Penang assemblymen, irrespective of political affiliation, and that the same principle should be extended to the federal level and adopted by every state government.

The Penang government currently provides each opposition assemblyman with RM60,000 annually, while government assemblymen receive RM500,000 in yearly constituency allocations.

Last August, Chow said the state would await a decision from DAP’s national leadership before moving ahead with such legislation.

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