GEORGE TOWN: It has been 10 days since state DAP chairman Chow Kon Yeow was sworn in as the fifth Penang chief minister, following Pakatan Harapan’s convincing win in the northern state.
Ever since then, Chow has been engaged in a series of meetings with various stakeholders, one of which was a chefs’ association.
“I have already started meeting a wide spectrum of stakeholders, such as the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBA), Prasarana Malaysia Berhad, the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) and even a chefs’ association.
“Other agencies will be calling on me as well. I will meet as many groups as possible to get a feel of the issues,” he said at a press conference here today.
Chow, who is also in charge of land matters and land development, and the transport and information portfolios, was asked to comment on whether he would be meeting NGOs such as the Penang Forum, which is a coalition of 20 NGOs which has been actively voicing out on environmental issues in the state.
To this, the Padang Kota assemblyman said in the past, he had always had meetings with NGOs.
“They have already forwarded a request for a meeting. Initially, we fixed a date but that had to be rescheduled as it clashes with some programmes.
“Some time in June, we will be meeting Penang Forum,” he added.
Penang Forum had recently expressed its desire for a dialogue session with the state government on pressing development issues in the state.
In a statement issued last week, it said there was an urgent need to review the Penang Transport Master Plan and to re-evaluate the need for environmentally-damaging large-scale reclamation plans.
“We need to rely less on property development as an engine to drive the Penang economy.
“Instead, we should focus on building more affordable housing for the people and raise the quality of life through the provision of adequate open green spaces,” Penang Forum had said in a statement.