LED by its Country Manager Dr. Firas Raad, a delegation from The World Bank paid a courtesy visit to Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow at Komtar in the evening of Sept 28.
Dr. Raad’s delegation included lead economist Dr. Richard Record, country economist Chong Yew Keat, country operations officer Tan Mei Ling, economist Achim Schmillen, senior financial sector specialist Rozani Osman, public sector specialist Abdullah Maamor Ibrahim and communication associate Joshua Foong.
Dr. Raad, a Jordanian, expressed his interest in Penang 2030 which was recently launched by the chief minister as well as his willingness to provide knowledge services to Penang based on the global experiences of the World Bank which can be arranged and done for the first time at subnational level in cooperation with the state government.
According to Dr. Raad, the World Bank’s key counterparts in Malaysia are with the Malaysian Ministry of Finance (MoF), Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) and the Economic Planning Unit (EPU).
When asked on areas of his key focus, the chief minister replied developing the infrastructure needs of the state as spelt out in the Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP) is his priority.
In this regard, Chow elaborated on the challenges facing the PTMP such as the current debate on the preference for PIL 1 and LRT or the tram system.
The World Bank delegation also enquired on the provision of affordable housing in the state as well as the impact of urbanisation towards Penang.
Penang Institute (PI) director Datuk Dr. Ooi Kee Beng, who was also present, expressed the readiness of PI to work closely with The World Bank in the event its offer to provide knowledge services in support of the state government materialised.
Story by Victor Seow
Pix by Alissala Thian