GEORGE TOWN: The Penang government will wait for a study by the federal government on the abolition of the pension scheme among civil servants before deciding to implement it.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow today said the state government would not discuss the proposal as long as a decision had not been made at the federal level.
"This matter is at the idea stage. So let the relevant parties finish their studies first before any decision is made."
He said this after officiating the Linear Garden project at Padang Kota here.
Asked about the proposal, which would involve elected representatives and ministers, he said: "It needs to be refined before a decision is made because it involves amendments to several acts.
"We will wait for the study and the presentation because the results will involve appointed elected representatives."
Yesterday, the government dismissed claims that the proposal to abolish the pension scheme for new civil service hires would victimise Malays, who form the majority in government service.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the proposal had been under study for a long time as there was a need for a new service scheme to avoid the risk of the country going bankrupt and future generations facing problems.
On today's event, Chow said the Linear Garden was one of the main components of the North Seafront Master Plan, developed as a new tourist attraction in the city centre
He said the site was upgraded in 1991 before George Town was declared a Unesco world heritage site in 2008.
"This project will lead to more sustainable socio-economic development of the state's heritage assets, including natural assets."