GEORGE TOWN: The Penang government is set to introduce five new faces to fill vacancies in the state executive council.
The portfolios are industry development, international trade, entrepreneur development, corporation and community relations; local government, traffic management and flood mitigation; Islamic affairs, domestic trade and consumer affairs; public works, utility and transport; and tourism development.
“We hope to form the government by Wednesday. Five new faces will be filling the positions,” Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow told a press conference at his office here today.
It was his first press conference as the fifth chief minister.
Earlier this morning, Chow, 60, took his oath of office before Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas at his official residence in Seri Mutiara here.
Present during the ceremony was Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng.
Pakatan Harapan won 37 of Penang’s 40 state seats in the 14th General Election (GE14).
Chow said the state government would increase the allocations given to opposition assemblymen to empower the opposition parties.
He said, previously, each assemblyman was allocated RM40,000 annually. However, none of it was used due to political reasons.
“In our manifesto, we made it clear we would provide resources to the opposition and make its leader the Public Accounts Committee chief.
“Allocations for them will also be increased, and hopefully, the funds can be utilised for the benefit of people in their constituencies,” he added.