Penang not sidelined in Budget 2016, says council head

The federal government has always been fair in distributing allocations during the tabling of the national budget and has never sidelined any state, including Penang, for that matter. Penang Federal Action Council chairman Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Osman told a press conference in Kepala Batas today that the distribution of the allocations was done after taking into consideration all aspects and requirements of the states. As such, he said the allegation that Penang had been sidelined in the 2016 budget was not true because a huge allocation had also been channelled to the state throughout the 10th Malaysia Plan. He said this in response to the remark by Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng who expressed disappointment when Penang seemed to be sidelined in the 2016 budget tabled by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak last Friday. Zainal Abidin, who is also Penang Umno Liaison Committee chairman said, Penang already had two bridges, besides several expressways and an international airport, and it was only right now that the development in other states should also be given attention. "For people's wellbeing, the people of Penang will definitely benefit from the budget, including through BR1M assistance, tax exemption, school and even hospital. "The upgrading projects on Seberang Jaya Hospital and Maternity Hospital, which were announced earlier, will also be continued even though it was not announced during the tabling of the budget," he added. – Bernama, October 26, 2015.]]>