Development allocation for Penang up 60% in 4 years, says Anwar

 The prime minister says RM7.8 billion has been earmarked for the state this year, compared to RM5.7 billion in 2023.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said although the allocation for Penang has increased significantly, the government is not neglecting the other states. (Bernama pic)

GEORGE TOWN:

 Development allocation for Penang has increased by up to 60% since 2022, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said.

Anwar said allocations to the state, which were below RM5 billion in 2021 and 2022, had been consistently increased since 2023.

“In 2023, Penang was allocated RM5.7 billion; 2024 RM5.8 billion; 2025 RM7.6 billion; and for this year, RM7.8 billion.

“This is a rightful and reasonable allocation, reflecting an increase of nearly 60% compared with 2022,” he said at the road transport department’s (JPJ) 80th anniversary celebration and the JPJ Madani mega carnival at the state stadium grounds in Batu Kawan today.

Anwar, who is also the finance minister, said the key projects implemented in Penang included the Light Rail Transit Mutiara Line project and the traffic dispersal project between the Juru toll plaza and the Sungai Dua toll plaza.

He stressed, however, that the government was not neglecting the other states, and had continued to increase development allocations nationwide in line with the growth in government revenue.- FMT