Penang gets less than it gives to Putrajaya, Chow reminds Sanusi

 The chief minister said states like Kedah have received more in federal funds despite contributing less to federal coffers.

Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow looking over an exhibit of photographs of the state’s double-decker ferries which were retired in 2020 after six decades.

GEORGE TOWN:

Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow has reminded Kedah menteri besar Sanusi Nor that Penang receives less than it contributes to the federal coffers, after Sanusi claimed that Penang receives preferential treatment from Putrajaya.

Chow pointed out that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said in the Dewan Rakyat on June 30 that Penang received an annual average of RM7.9 billion from 2023 to 2025, despite contributing an annual average of RM10.7 billion in tax revenue.

Chow said Kedah was among some states that received far more in federal funds despite contributing less, adding that the federal government must assist all states, regardless of their political alignment, in the spirit of federalism.

Projects such as the East Coast Rail Link had not been shelved despite benefitting PAS-led states like Kelantan and Terengganu, Chow said.

“If politics was considered, wouldn’t the project have been shelved? I think that is not the consideration of any federal government. If projects are good for the country, they should be implemented,” he told reporters at the Penang Ferry Museum today.

Chow, who is also Padang Kota assemblyman, said Penang had waited for a long time for the substantial federal funds it received for key projects such as the Mutiara Line LRT project and the expansion of Penang International Airport.

He also said that while he had repeatedly asked Putrajaya to return at least 20% of taxes collected from Penang for its development, he remained “federal-spirited” in recognition of the risks of states demanding too much from the federal government.

“When every state demands more than what they actually need, it will weaken the federal government. When a federal government is weak in any country, states will secede,” he added.

Sanusi had accused Putrajaya yesterday of being unfair in allocating RM16 billion for the Mutiara Line LRT project in Penang.

Such a huge sum should have been distributed equitably based on the needs of all states, such as Johor, which has a larger population, Sansuni said at a Johor election campaign event.

Sanusi said Penang’s federal funding showed that states not aligned with Putrajaya were being treated unfairly.

Penang’s heritage-based tourism

Chow said Penang was committed to preserving its heritage buildings, culture and cuisine to boost heritage-based tourism in the state. To date, the state government has gazetted 50 heritage items including 15 heritage sites and 28 heritage cuisines.

Chow praised the Penang Ferry Museum management for its efforts to transform one of the state’s retired double-decker ferries into a museum that had attracted 30,000 visitors since its opening on Sept 16 last year.

Penang’s fleet of double-decker double-ended ferries, which carried vehicles and passengers, came into service in 1957. They were decommissioned in December 2020 and replaced by single-deck launches for motorcycles and passengers. - FMT