Guan Eng: Federal govt owes Penang RM1.6 billion in flood funds

GEORGE TOWN: Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng today repeated his call for the remaining RM1 billion in flood mitigation funds allocated under the Malaysia Plan to be released to the state immediately.

He said based on a parliamentary reply obtained last month, Penang only received RM1.04 billion when RM2.57 billion was allocated.

Lim said the RM2.57 billion allocation had been made from the Fifth to the Eleventh Malaysia Plans.

He also hit out at state Umno chief Zainal Abidin Osman for proclaiming that RM2.6 billion in flood mitigation funds had been provided by the federal government to the state before.

“So it is clear from the parliamentary reply that the federal government owes Penang RM1.6 billion in flood mitigation funds.

“It is not RM2.6 billion as said by Zainal, as only RM1 billion plus was received.

“So we would like to claim what is rightfully ours. Even if you approve RM1 billion, that would be enough for now.”

Speaking at a press conference in Komtar, Lim said he hoped no more unwanted statements would be forthcoming.

He also expressed disappointment that the federal government seemed uninterested in handing out flood relief for the victims of the Nov 4-5 floods, unlike the Penang government which was giving RM700 to affected households.

At the same press conference, he received a donation of RM339, 604.55 to the Penang Flood Relief Fund by the Young Buddhist Association Of Malaysia and Yayasan Belia Buddhist Malaysia.

Earlier, he had launched Asia Pacific’s first “Immersive Interactive” exhibit at the TechDome, on Komtar’s fourth floor.

The exhibit uses multiple projectors and laser sensors to create different environments in a confined space, giving visitors a surreal experience.

This is the first time the technology has been brought out from the UK. The exhibit is the only one of its kind on display in Malaysia and Asia Pacific.

Seventy such systems are being used by UK schools to teach students, especially those with special needs. It has also been used to train staff at hospital, emergency and security firms. -FMT