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

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