Penang sets up committee to push for more autonomy, funds
Machang Bubok assemblyman Lee Khai Loon said the committee will help protect Penang's rights and ensure the people's voice reaches the federal level clearly and effectively. (Bernama pic)
GEORGE TOWN : The Penang assembly has revived a select committee on federal-state relations set up three years ago to press for greater autonomy and fairer funding from Putrajaya.
In proposing the motion, Lee Khai Loon (PH-Machang Bubok) said the committee would look at federal policies and development projects in Penang that require allocations from Putrajaya.
'In a federal system, both the state and federal governments have their roles. But in practice, there are many gaps and imbalances that need long-term, structured solutions, not just one-off fixes.
'That's why this committee is important. It helps protect state rights and ensure the people's voice reaches the federal level clearly and effectively,' he told the state assembly today.
Lee said the committee will also push for a more transparent revenue-sharing model, demand better federal-state cooperation in infrastructure, economic and social development, and seek greater autonomy through devolution of powers to Penang.
He said the committee was first formed during the previous term of the assembly and needed to be revived to keep federal-state relations accountable and constructive.
Lee nominated Gooi Hsiao Leung (PH-Bukit Tengah) to chair the committee, and for the other members to comprise himself, Azrul Mahathir Aziz (PH-Bayan Lepas), Teh Lai Heng (PH-Komtar), Connie Tan (PH-Seri Delima), Fauzi Yusoff (PN-Sungai Dua), and Izhar Shah Arif Shah (PN-Seberang Jaya).
The motion was passed without debate after the speaker urged the legislative assembly to proceed with a voice vote.
Lee maintained that the committee would not act as a confrontational body but as an institutional platform to strengthen federalism and ensure local concerns are not ignored.
'This is about good governance, not politics,' he said.
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