Chow says Penang awaits DAP leadership call before equal constituency law move

Chow says Penang awaits DAP leadership call before equal constituency law move



Penang will await a decision from DAP’s national leadership before considering any move to introduce an Equal Constituency Development Enactment in the state, said Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow. — Bernama pic


Summary

• Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow has stated that the state will await a decision from the Democratic Action Party's (DAP) national leadership before considering the introduction of an Equal Constituency Development Enactment.
• Emphasizing the need for national-level coordination, he mentioned that DAP national chairman Gobind Singh Deo is involved in deliberations.
• This response comes amid calls from Projek Stability and Accountability for Malaysia (Projek SAMA) for Penang and Selangor to legislate equitable Constituency Development Fund (CDF) laws.
• Chow noted that opposition assembly members in Penang have been receiving allocations, amounting to RM60,000 each.

First Published: Friday, 21 Aug 2026 7:05 PM MYT


BATU KAWAN, Aug 21 — Penang will await a decision from DAP’s national leadership before considering any move to introduce an Equal Constituency Development Enactment in the state, said Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.

He said DAP national chairman Gobind Singh Deo had contacted him on the matter, adding that any decision should be coordinated at the national level.


“This matter will be taken up by our national leadership, so we wait for any decision from the national leadership. We will wait so that it can be coordinated,” he told reporters after witnessing the Partnership on Renewable Energy Initiatives between McDonald’s Malaysia and Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) at McDonald’s Batu Kawan Drive-Thru here today.


Chow was responding to a question on calls for Penang and Selangor to introduce legislation to ensure equitable constituency development allocations for elected representatives.


Projek Stability and Accountability for Malaysia (Projek SAMA) had urged the two Pakatan Harapan-led states to enact equitable Constituency Development Fund (CDF) laws, saying both have the legislative capacity to guarantee equal allocations for all elected representatives and reduce executive discretion over the funds.


On allocations for opposition assemblymen in Penang, Chow said the state government has been providing funds to them for many years.

He said opposition representatives regularly raise the matter during State Legislative Assembly sittings and seek higher allocations.


“We have allocations for opposition members. We have continued this for many years,” he said.

Chow said opposition assemblymen currently receive RM60,000 in allocation. — Bernama