A STATE Opposition representative has questioned the 90% achievement of the Pakatan Harapan 2018 election manifesto promises for Penang.
Dr Afif Bahardin (PPBM-Seberang Jaya) brought up the ‘value’ of each manifesto promise when debating the motion of thanks to the Penang Governor’s speech at the State Legislative Assembly today.
“I disagree that 90% of the election manifesto promises have been achieved. It might be less than 60% of what was promised and implemented for the people.
“How can we equate the ‘value’ of solving traffic woes and public transportation, with the ‘value’ of planting 100,000 more saplings across the state? It is illogical in terms of policy, statistics, or data. We can’t equate both ‘values’,” he said.
In reply, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said Dr Afif was one of the many representatives who were involved in the formation of the manifesto back then.
“Each manifesto promise was not given a ‘value’ of how much it was worth back then.
“However, four years later, you came to this august House and say that the pledges have different ‘values’; that planting 100,000 more saplings across the state has lesser ‘value’ than solving traffic problems.
“From where such ‘values’ came from and why were they not specified four years ago?” Chow questioned.
Chow said: “If we should use ‘value’ (to justify achievement), can we say that we have achieved 100% with Penang’s 2021 total approved manufacturing investments of RM76.2 billion?”
“That was the highest value that we have ever achieved!” Chow said.
He added that an achievement percentage was given for pledges which had been fulfilled and those that were in progress.
“Some (projects) may take years to be completed and may not be completed within an election term.
“We can agree that after an effort has been initiated, or after an agreement has been signed, a tender has been called, or work has started, they are achievements too,” Chow said.
On a separate matter, Chow said no green light has been given by the Ministry of Transport (MoT) for the Penang International Airport (PIA) expansion project and the proposed Kulim International Airport (KXP).
He said MoT has repeatedly said all airport projects are still on hold, pending the completion of the National Airports Strategic Plan (NSAP) study.
“If the industries in the northern region are seeing growth, MoT should make a wise decision,” Chow said in reply to a supplementary question from Opposition leader Datuk Muhamad Yusoff Mohd Noor (BN-Sungai Dua).
Story by Christopher Tan and Edmund Lee
Pix by Alissala Thian