Penang's RM5mil expansion for exco offices slammed

GEORGE TOWN: The Penang government has been criticised for approving a RM5mil allocation to expand its state executive councillors' (exco) offices.

MCA Youth national deputy organising secretary Tan Yang Pang claimed that the project, which was approved by the DAP-led state government through Penang Development Corporation (PDC), failed to consider the suffering of people during the pandemic and ignored their well-being.

"How can the state government approve such a major project just to upgrade its exco offices? This is a very disappointing decision by the state government," he said in a statement on Tuesday (Feb 2).

Tan, who is also Bukit Mertajam MCA Youth chief, said the funds could have been used to help pay rent for the poor in Penang.

He stressed that as an elected representative of the people, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow and exco members do not have a "ticket" to enjoy or benefit from taxpayers' money.

"The state government can make use of the money to do good by introducing more stimulus packages as it will help to ease the people's suffering," he said.

He urged Chow and PDC to give a detailed explanation to the people of Penang and not let the matter fall on deaf ears.

Chow said in a statement on Tuesday (Feb 2) that the project to renovate the state exco offices in Komtar was mooted in 2019 owing to a lack of space.

"The offices were first created in 1986 and no major renovations have been carried out since," he said.

Chow said the total cost of renovating the exco members' offices on levels 52 and 53, including moving the offices temporarily to level 31, would cost an estimated RM4.95mil.

He said the cost could be reduced with a competitive open tender and the project would also help stimulate the economy by helping contractors during the pandemic.

He reiterated that all projects approved would be implemented with proper procedures and tender processes.

In January, the state government also drew flak when Chow was seen in a RM458,000 Mercedes Benz, his new official car to replace the previous vehicle bought in 2013.

He later took responsibility, but said the proper administrative process was followed before purchasing the car.