GEORGE TOWN: Penang Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas has called upon the state government to look into moving the state administration and legislative assembly into a new complex.
He said this was necessary due to rapid development of the state with increased demands and the need for better services.
He hoped the state government would look into the matter as this would provide state assemblymen, administrative personnel on duty, members of the media and others with better amenities.
He proposed that the administrative and legislative complex could be constructed in a strategic location, possibly on reclaimed land.
The state administrative centre has been operating from Komtar since 1986.
“The need for new work space which takes into account the increase in government agencies' staff has become a factor for the construction of a new state administrative centre which is in line with the current development,” he said in his speech at the opening of the state legislative assembly here today.
The current sitting of the State Assembly is taking place at Dewan Sri Pinang.
The 200-year-old Penang legislative assembly building along Lebuh Light is undergoing RM3.67 million upgrading works. It is is expected to be completed in March next year.
According to historical records, the original building was built in the 1820s by convict labourers from India. The building was part of George Town's Central Police Station and the magistrate's courts.
The building retained its judicial function until 1959, when it was finally converted for use by the then newly-formed state legislative assembly.
“Looking back, in 2015 I proposed that a new legislative assembly building be built," Rahman said, adding that in 1959 there were only 24 assemblymen compared to 40 assemblymen now.
“In my opinion, it is now time for the state government to examine earnestly the possibility of building the state legislative assembly building together with the state administrative centre in one complex,” he said.
Meanwhile, Rahman praised the state’s financial management in obtaining a higher revenue in 2018 compared to 2017.
He said audited accounts showed that the revenue for 2018 was RM987 million, up from RM757 million in 2017, a RM230 million increase.
He said the expenditure for last year was RM1.05 billion, compared to RM705 million in 2017, which was a RM299 million increase.
As for the state financial reserve, Rahman said that it stood at RM1.07 billion in 2018 and RM1.092 billion in 2017.
Rahman also applauded the state government for reforming the political system and has seen the Chief minister’ s term being limited to two terms.
He said the effort would not only improve the check and balance system but also prevent abuse of power.
The first session in the third term of the 13th State Legislative Assembly will sit until May 6.
Assembly proceedings continue on Monday.