The decision to keep the Penang government offices in Komtar instead of relocating to Bayan Mutiara, as previously planned, will save close to RM1 billion in public funds.

NONE Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the previous government under BN had wanted to spend close to RM600-700 million on the relocation, not including the cost of a new administrative building.

“They wanted to abandon Komtar and build a new administrative centre that will become Penang’s own Putrajaya,” he told a press conference at the Penang Development Corporation (PDC) today.

“Instead of spending money, we should be making money. That is why we have decided to stay put in Komtar. We should try to maximise our resources, to get more money so we can continue our development and social programmes which are consistent with a people-centric government.

Bayan Mutiara is a new neighbourhood developed partly on reclaimed land on the eastern coast of Penang Island.

When the relocation plan was halted following criticism from many quarters and by the lack of funds, the site was turned over for residential development by PDC Properties, the property development arm of the state government.

More angst

Lim also reiterated his disaffection for state development officer Nik Ali Mat Yunus, highlighting the lack of cooperation from federal officers posted to the state.

“Without adequate funding from the federal government and non-cooperation or even sabotage by ‘Little Napoleon’ federal officers, the Penang government has no choice but to find our own resources to raise much-needed development funds,” Lim said.

NONE He and Nik Ali (left) have been at loggerheads over several state-federal projects with the latter having called the chief minister ‘rude’ for interfering in the civil service.

Nik Ali has since declined to comment on any criticism by the state government or Lim.