Chow tells finance minister to release anti-flood funds

Incoming Penang chief minister reminds incoming federal finance minister about long-delayed funds for flood alleviation.

Much of Penang was flooded in November last year and the state government says funds for flood-mitigation projects have been delayed.

GEORGE TOWN: Incoming Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow has made his first demand of the federal government. He has asked the incoming federal finance minister, his old boss Lim Guan Eng, to release long-delayed funds for flood alleviation projects.

Seven people died in severe flooding in November last year with many roads inundated with water and more than 4,000 evacuated from their homes.

Chow said he was optimistic about getting the funds.

Speaking to reporters after being named as chief minister-designate to succeed Lim, who has been named as finance minister, Chow said: “We hope Lim will not forget Penang and give us the allocations that we need.”

Lim laughed along with Chow and was heard saying: “Of course.”

According to a reply to a question in the state assembly last year, the federal government had spent only RM443 million on flood mitigation projects in Penang between 2006 and September 2017.

Chow had told the house very little federal money had come into Penang for flood mitigation projects despite large budget allocations in various Malaysia Plans.

The state government made a one-off aid payment of RM700 to 48,424 residents affected by last year’s flood. A total of RM33.4 million was spent. -FMT