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CM: No appointment of family members into Penang administration since 2008

GEORGE TOWN: The DAP-led Penang government has never appointed any family member into the state administration since it came into power 15 years ago.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said all state executive council members had been directed not to appoint any family member to any position.

"Since we came into power in 2008, this has been the practice," he said when asked to comment on the matter.

He said this after presenting an allocation from the state government to national-type secondary schools, missionary schools and private Chinese secondary schools in the state.

Chow said if there was any conflict of interest, then such an appointment should be avoided.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has said all cabinet members are prohibited from giving salaries or rewards from government allocations to family members if they want to appoint them as advisers or officials.

Anwar also said the government would ensure that no contracts worth millions of ringgit were awarded to family members of any member of his administration throughout the reign of the unity government.

Asked if he would encourage such an appointment now, Chow said: Ask the PM (prime minister) to clarify."

Meanwhile, on Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu)'s move to lodge a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) against the "lavish" spending of Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN) during the recent general election (GE15), Chow, who is Penang PH chairman, said such an issue did not arise in the state.

He explained that each PH candidate was required to prepare a statement of account on money spent and submit it to the Election Commission within 30 days of the results being gazetted.

"For Penang, all candidates had submitted their statements of account.

"We can gauge one's spending by looking at the flags, billboards and such.

"For Penang PH candidates, there is no issue. All abide by the provisions of the law."

It was reported that Puchong Bersatu chief Shukor Mustaffa claimed that PH and BN had used a large number of posters and flags for their election campaigns.

Shukor also alleged that Anwar, who is PH chairman and PKR president, had used a luxury helicopter during the election campaign.

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