GEORGE TOWN, Dec 23 — Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow today said that there has been no directive from the federal government for state governments to form a consultative committee like the one set up between Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN) in Perak.
He said the setting up of the committee in Perak was probably to explore cooperation between the two coalitions now and in the future.
“I believe this is in view of the unity government which involved the cooperation of all parties within the unity government,” he said in a press conference after attending a Sekolah Agama Rakyat and Huffaz aid presentation ceremony here.
He said there was no directive from the federal government for state governments to set up such committees so it has to be decided by the respective states.
“In various states, it will be subjected to the local conditions but there is no harm talking about how to work together,” he said.
Chow admitted that the Penang government is yet to discuss the setting up of such a committee.
When asked about the reasons for the delay in discussions on forming cooperation with BN in Penang, Chow declined to elaborate.
Chow has been skirting the issue since the unity government was formed at the federal level between PH and BN.
Perak recently formed a consultative committee between PH and BN to ensure the stability of the state government.
Meanwhile, the Penang state government will be sending aid to flood-hit Kelantan and Terengganu soon.
Chow said the state exco had a meeting on Wednesday and decided on sending aid to the PAS-led states to help affected flood victims.
“The state financial officer and I will decide on the amount soon,” he said.
He said the state is yet to send any form of aid, either in kind or in cash, to Kelantan and Terengganu.
On the upcoming New Year’s Eve celebrations, Chow said the state has not organised any official New Year’s Eve and countdown celebration for many years, including this year.
“We only have a Chingay procession on January 1st, which the state exco, Yeoh Soon Hin, has said will be deferred,” he said.
However, he said the state government will not stop the private sector from organising New Year’s Eve celebrations.
“The private sector is usually the one to organise New Year’s Eve and countdown celebrations, on a smaller scale, in shopping malls, and sometimes they will invite state representatives to attend these events,” he said
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has announced the cancellation of the New Year’s Eve countdown celebration in Dataran Merdeka due to floods in Kelantan and Terengganu.
