GEORGE TOWN: State-owned Penang Development Corporation (PDC) is not being taken over by the Federal Government, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said today.
He said PDC, one of 32 government agencies currently placed under the Economic Affairs Ministy, was more for the purpose of monitoring rather than administrative.
“I have not been officially informed except for the news report (on the matter) which was published recently.
“From what I understand, it is only for the purpose of monitoring. It is not a take over of the agency by the Federal Government,” he told newsmen here today.
He was met at the official launching ceremony of the completion of the funicular train ground station development project. Also present was Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng.
He said PDC, just like the Penang Hill Corporation, was governed by law.
“It is good that it is placed under the ministry. This means that if they have money, they can chaneled it towards PDC.
“Anyway, no one was bothered with PDC or Penang for the matter in the last 10 years,” he added.
In a statement released recently, the ministry said it had been given the task of supervising the 32 agencies, especially those directly involved in the wealth redistribution agenda to reduce long-standing disparities and inequalities.
Besides PDC, the other agencies under the ministry included the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda), Bank Pembangunan Malaysia Berhad (BPMB), Unit Peneraju Agenda Bumiputera (TERAJU), Felda Global Ventures Holdings Berhad (FGV) and JKP Sdn. Bhd. (JKPSB), among others.
Meanwhile, Gerakan deputy president and Penang Gerakan chairman Oh Tong Keong criticised the Penang government as being powerless by allowing the Federal Government to take over PDC, adding that the state government had pawned off the interests of Penangnites.
He said PDC was established during the era of former Penang Chief Minister Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu, and all this while the previous state government had worked cautiously to generate good results which contribute to the development of Penang.
“However, we were surprised to find out recently there were 32 government agencies being allocated under the Economic Affairs Ministry and PDC is one of them.
“Penang is the first state to have a development corporation. After its setting up, other states followed. PDC in the past decades has assisted in the development of Penang by attracting foreign investments and played a very vital role.”
Oh said before taking over Putrajaya, former Penang Chief Minister and current Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng had repeatedly called for the Federal Government to give more power and resources to the state.
“Today, after controlling Putrajaya, instead they are concentrating on more power and resources to the Federal Government. Isn’t this akin to saying one thing, but doing another thing?” he asked.
He stressed that PDC owned plenty of land in Penang, and once it becomes a part of the ministry, it was equivalent to handing over the ownership of these lands to the Federal Government.
“Hence, the state government has easily handed over its ownership after all the hard work to obtain these lands.
“What makes the people even more disappointed is the 42 members of parliament of DAP and the Penang government decided to remain silent.
“A corporation with assets and profits like the PDC is now being handed over easily to the PKR-controlled ministry,” hesaid.
Oh urged DAP members and leaders with a clear conscience to stand up and object to the Federal Government taking over PDC.
“They must fight until the end. It is unacceptable, allowing all these assets being accumulated by generations of Penangnites to being pawned off just like that,” he stressed.