CM reminds Gerakan that PDC not taken over by Putrajaya

Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow has ticked off Gerakan deputy chairperson Oh Tong Keong for continually insisting that the federal government has taken over the Penang Development Corporation (PDC).

Chow said that since Oh is now deputy chairperson of Gerakan, he should be more responsible in his statements.

"We still respect his views, but it must be based on facts," he said at a press conference in Komtar today.

Chow was responding to Oh's criticisms about PDC being under the supervision and monitoring of the Economic Affairs Ministry.

The Gerakan leader said on Monday that the move would be a prelude to Putrajaya's eventual takeover of the corporation.

"This is only the beginning; at first, it was claimed that PDC would be monitored, but gradually, the whole PDC will be taken over, and monitoring is just a prelude," he had said.

Oh (centre in photo) had based his remarks on news reports that 32 agencies, mostly related to the economy, would be supervised by the Economic Affairs Ministry.

'Supervision, not takeover'

Chow noted that he had previously explained the issue, and denied that Penang would lose control of the 50-year-old corporation.

"Although I have explained (the issue), the media continue to quote Oh's criticisms on the matter, as if my clarification is not accepted.

"The purpose (of agencies being supervised by the Economic Affairs Ministry) is to reduce the long-standing disparity between the state and federal agencies," he said.

"PDC is one of the agencies, but it is not the only one. Every state's development arm is also now under the supervision of the Economic Affairs Ministry.

"Oh chose not to use the word 'supervising', but instead choose to say 'take over', which is not stated by the ministry."

Chow further pointed out that the 1971 PDC enactment clearly states the roles of state and federal governments.

"The PDC has not been taken over by the federal government, unless Oh has proof of it.

"The enactment clearly states that the chairperson and committee members are appointed by the state."

'Giving direction'

Chow pointed out that state exco Jagdeep Singh and Permatang Pauh MP Nurul Izzah Anwar currently sit on the board, along with state secretary Farizan Darus and state financial officer Lee Kah Choon.

He explained further that the federal minister supervising PDC may provide policy direction on occasion, but that the provision has been there since the corporation was established.

"If this is what is meant by taking over, then PDC had been taken over by the federal government since the time of former chief ministers Lim Chong Eu and Koh Tsu Koon, which was not the case then, and is not now.

"The only way to change the situation is to amend the laws, but we are not going to do that." - Mkini