Penang govt approves RM1.133b for 2013 Budget

The Penang Legislative Assembly adjourned sine die today after approving a RM1.133-billion budget for 2013.

The budget, which carried the theme "Equitable Economy Agenda", is aimed at ensuring the well-being of the people and eradicating poverty.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said that to eradicate poverty in the state, the state government would add value to monthly household incomes of less than RM770.

The assembly also approved the Penang State Constitution (Amendment) Enactment Bill 2012 aimed at preventing elected representatives from party-hopping on their free will.

The bill provides for an elected representative of a political party to vacate his seat if he or she were to resign or be sacked or ceased to be a member of the political party for whatever reason.

This meeting of the assembly also saw the six-month suspension of Opposition Leader Datuk Azhar Ibrahim for the second time.

The decision to suspend Azhar was made by the Rights and Privileges Committee after the Barisan Nasional assemblyman for Penaga failed to explain a statement made on May 8 which was deemed to have tarnished the dignity of the assembly, Speaker Datuk Abdul Halim Hussain and staff.

Azhar was deemed to have said that the verbatim record of the assembly meetings could be manipulated.

When winding up debate on the budget earlier, Chief Minister Lim confirmed that a 0.45-hectare piece of land in Taman Manggis, Jalan Zainal Abidin, here still belonged to the state government.

He said the land title had not been issued to any third party, including Kuala Lumpur International Dental Centre (KLIDC) which had made a successful bid.

He also said that the land had not been charged by KLIDC to any financial institution as alleged by certain quarters because it was still owned by the state government.

Lim said the state government had not issued the title to anyone because it wanted to ensure that its development was in accordance with the guidelines set by the state authorities.

He also said that the sale of the land was in accordance with the law and dismissed allegations of fraud in the transaction.

"There is no legal problem pertaining to the sale of the land to the Penang Barisan Nasional (BN). If the Penang BN wants to pay up 100 per cent, it can do so. This is the Penang state government; we will not run away," he said.

During the winding-up speech by Lim, Teluk Bahang assemblyman Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya intervened to say that the state government should make available entrepreneur programmes to enable the poor raise their income instead of topping up the financial aid to them.

"Giving money will not resolve the poverty problem; it will only be a temporary measure," he said.