GEORGE TOWN: Penang’s unity government remains stable despite political tensions between Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional in other states, says Chow Kon Yeow.
The Chief Minister said cooperation among parties in the state government remained smooth and unchanged for now.
“Penang is status quo at the moment, but we must always take cognisance of the changing environment.
“In Penang, we are working well at the moment,” he told reporters on Thursday (April 30), adding that the state assembly sitting will proceed on May 8 as scheduled.
He was responding to questions on the state’s political situation following tensions involving Negri Sembilan Umno and Pakatan.
Penang’s administration currently includes one Umno assemblyman for the Sungai Acheh seat, Datuk Rashidi Zinol, who oversees rural development, agrotechnology and food security, as well as entrepreneurship.
Chow said political cooperation in the current landscape did not necessarily follow a uniform formula nationwide, as states could adopt alignments suited to local needs.
“I think in Malaysia’s political scenario today, every party needs to look at its coalition partners.
“It’s not so rigid that it must be the same nationwide. Every state may have its own alignment,” he said.
He added that the priority was to form a stable coalition with a shared development agenda for the benefit of the people.
“So it is about getting reliable coalition partners to contest as a team in the respective state.
“In contrast to collaborations at the national level, each state will try its level best to present a coalition of like-minded parties for the people to choose,” he said.
