PENANG STATE ASSEMBLY APPROVES BUDGET 2025, ADJOURNS SITTING

GEORGE TOWN, Nov 28 (Bernama) -- The Penang state assembly sitting, which commenced on Nov 22, was adjourned today to a date to be determined later.

Over the five-day Second Meeting of the Second Term of the 15th state assembly session, 78 oral questions, 782 written questions, four motions, and one Bill were tabled.

Significantly, the Supply Bill and Development Estimates Motion 2025, presented by Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, were approved via voice vote following debates by 40 assemblymen since Monday.

On Nov 22, Chow unveiled the Budget 2025, allocating RM940.223 million for operating expenditures, marking the lowest deficit in the state’s history at RM33.63 million.

The Budget 2025, themed 'Ekonomi MADANI, Rakyat Diperkasa, Negeri Sejahtera' represents a reduction of RM106.78 million compared to the Budget 2024 of RM1.047 billion. 

At the start of the sitting last Friday, PAS Nibong Tebal vice-president Abidin Ismail was sworn in as the Sungai Bakap assemblyman before Speaker Datuk Law Choo Kiang.

Abidin, 56, won the Sungai Bakap by-election on July 6 with a majority of 4,267 votes, securing 14,489 votes to defeat Pakatan Harapan candidate Dr. Joohari Ariffin, who received 10,222 votes.

Among the motions approved were amendments to the committee meeting rules, and the cancellation and reappointment of a chairman and a member of the Appeals Board under the Penang Freedom of Information Enactment 2010 (Enactment 16) for the 2024–2027 term.

Before adjourning, today’s state assembly sitting unanimously approved, undebated, the alignment of management and administration of the Penang State Government Consolidated Trust Account, including the separation of trust accounts under the State's Miscellaneous Committee Trust Fund.

The alignment also involved the closure of unused government trust accounts and the reclassification of trust accounts from Section 9 to Section 10 of the Financial Procedure Act 1957.

-- BERNAMA