Time to build new Penang gov't offices, state assembly building

Penang Governor Abdul Rahman Abbas has proposed that a new state government administrative complex be built on a plot of land that is now being reclaimed.

Reclamation works are currently going on along Gurney Drive, the coast off Queensbay, which is opposite Pulau Jerejak and across the channel from Pantai Bersih in Butterworth.

The present state government offices have been housed in Komtar (photo, below) since 1986, Abdul Rahman noted.

"This proposal is made considering the fire incident that happened in Komtar recently (April 5)," Abdul Rahman said in his speech at the official opening ceremony of the Second Meeting of the 14th Penang Legislative Assembly today.

"The incident caused panic, inconvenience and there were obvious weaknesses," he added at the event held in Dewan Sri Pinang.

"There is a need to have a new working space for our government officers, as we will also be having more staff, so a new complex in line with the state's new development is necessary."

Abdul Rahman also proposed that a new State Legislative Assembly building be constructed to replace the present one on Light Street, and that it be built near the new administrative complex.

He called on the state government to look into the matter and to earmark a plot of reclaimed land for the purpose.

Yesterday, Penang State Legislative Assembly Speaker Law Choo Kiang announced that the building on Light Street is currently closed for renovations by the Public Works Department.

Renovation work started on March 13 and it is expected to be completed by March 11 next year.

The work was awarded to Syarikat Fajar Eratimur Sdn Bhd, through an open tender, and cost is RM3,673,000.

This is not the first time that the state legislative assembly was relocated to another building due to renovation work.

From 1995 to 1996, the state assembly sittings were held at the Universiti Sains Malaysia campus, while in 2005, the proceedings were held at the Dewan Sri Pinang, due to renovation works.  - Mkini