Study PDC enactment before accusing Federal takeover, CM advises Gerakan leader

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CHIEF Minister Chow Kon Yeow has refuted claims by Gerakan deputy president Oh Tong Keong that the state government is powerless by allowing the Federal Government to take over the Penang Development Corporation (PDC).

He even reassured Oh that the state government ‘would not be selling PDC to the Federal Government’ and at the same time telling him to feel ‘safe’.

“PDC is placed under the supervision of the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MEA) just like the other state development corporations,” Chow explained.

He said a statement issued by MEA on Jan 17 said that the MEA has been given the task to supervise 32 agencies.

“The notice did not mention take over. However, Oh did not use the word ‘supervise’ but instead chose to use the word ‘take over’.

“Oh holds a high position in the party as a deputy president, higher than my position as a national party vice-president. He must be responsible for his action. He has the right to comment but it should be justified.

“If we follow Oh’s logic, that by putting an agency under the supervision of the Ministry means being taken over, then PDC would have been taken over since 1969. He should check his facts before he speaks,” Chow said.

Under the Penang Development Corporation Enactment 1971, Chow said the corporation shall consists of the chairman, two ex-officio members, who shall be the persons for the time being holding the offices of the State Secretary and the State Financial Officer, not more than six other members to be appointed by the state authority and three representatives of the Federal Government appointed by the Minister (prime minister).

Chow added that the prime minister may, from time to time, give directions not inconsistent with the provisions of this enactment and the corporation shall, as soon as possible give effect to all such directions.

He revealed that the members appointed to the PDC board are Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Zakiyuddin Abdul Rahman, Deputy Chief Minister II Prof Dr P. Ramasamy, Jagdeep Singh Deo, Nurul Izzah Anwar and Datuk Seri Lee Kah Choon; while the Federal Government appointed a representative each from MITI, Finance Ministry and the Prime Minister’s Office to the board.

“Each state corporation must have Federal representatives. All this while PDC was under the supervision of Ministry of Finance but it is now being placed under the supervision of a new ministry, which is the Ministry of Economic Affairs,” Chow said.

“I just want to say the PDC is still PDC. It has not been taken over and it’s not going to be taken over.

“If you want (PDC to be taken over), you need to change the law which is a state enactment. We are not going to change anything with regards to PDC,” he said.

Story by K. Thaarshenii
Video by Noor Siti Nabilah Noorazis