GEORGE TOWN, May 1 — Penang has been selected to participate in the Indian government’s initiative for a transnational Indian Ocean maritime Unesco listing.

Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the initiative involves 17 countries around the Indian Ocean, including Malaysia.

He said that once Malaysia was selected to be part of the initiative, it had to decide which state would participate.

“I’m happy to note that the Tourism Ministry has sent a letter to inform that Penang has been selected as the participant in this Indian government initiative for a transnational Indian Ocean maritime listing,” he said in his speech at the opening of the Indian Heritage Gallery and Cultural Centre at Beach Street here.

He said the maritime aspect of the Indian Ocean is not the sole prerogative of the Indian subcontinent.

“The influence of Indian Ocean maritime activities extends across many countries in the region. That is why, 1,000 years ago, Raja Chulan travelled through the Indian Ocean,” he said.

Chow said state executive councillor for tourism and creative economy Wong Hon Wai has been given the mandate to lead the initiative in Penang.

“I believe we will involve all stakeholders, particularly those within the Unesco World Heritage Site,” he said.

He added that the state will identify specific locations to be included in the transnational Indian Ocean maritime Unesco listing initiative through engagement with stakeholders.

Earlier, Chow said Penang has a museum enactment to ensure only establishments that qualify can be labelled as museums.

He said this follows a rise in places using the term “museum” despite not meeting the required criteria.

“These are tourist attractions, so the state needs to ensure only places that meet the criteria can be labelled as museums.

“We are the only state in Malaysia to have a state museum enactment,” he said.

GEORGE TOWN, April 30 — Penang aims to install 600 electric vehicle (EV) charging bays in the state by 2030, said Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.

He said there are currently a few hundred, between 200 and 300 EV charging bays already installed in the state.

“MBPP is rolling out EV charging stations around the city, but only in the few hundreds, not into the thousands yet,” he said after officiating the Penang Autoshow 2026 here today.

He said even public buildings and shopping centres are converting some parking bays into EV charging bays.

“However, for residential buildings, such as apartments and condominiums, there are safety issues to consider,” he said.

He said it is a matter of addressing the technical aspect of EV charging stations everywhere including safety concern.

“In my speech I say that EV market share is already moving higher and higher, 40 per cent globally,” he said.

He said one day, Malaysia will see the same scenario where EV cars will dominate roads one day.

He added that it makes sense to convert to electric cars especially with increasing fuel prices.

Earlier in his speech, he said the shift towards greener mobility is part of Malaysia’s broader national agenda.

“Key targets include 10,000 public EV charging bays by 2025, and electric vehicles making up 15 per cent of total industry volume by 2030,” he said.

He said for the transition to green mobility to be successful, adoption must move in tandem with industry participation, technological readiness and policy alignment.

“In Malaysia, this transition is already gaining momentum. EV sales more than doubled to over 30,000 units in 2025, reflecting strong year-on-year growth, though still representing only a small share of total vehicle sales,” he said.

He said EV adoption in South-east Asia is projected to reach around a quarter of total car sales by 2030, while globally, electric vehicles could account for roughly 40 per cent of new car sales within the same timeframe.

He said it is why platforms like the Penang Autoshow are important to create space for meaningful engagement between policymakers, industry leaders, technology providers and the public, helping to translate policy direction into real market adoption.

GEORGE TOWN, April 30 — The Penang state government is working well with its coalition partners, said Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow.

He said it is still status quo in Penang at the moment.

“But we must always take cognisance of the changing environment but it is still too early although it is still not too early to start preparing and thinking,” he said after launching the Penang Autoshow 2026.

He said the state legislative assembly will still be held as scheduled on May 8.

Chow was commenting on the political crisis in Negeri Sembilan following the withdrawal of support from 14 Umno assemblymen.

He said in today’s political scenario in Malaysia, every party needs to look at their coalition partners.

“And coalition partners here are not so rigid that it must be the same nationwide and every state,” he said.

He said every state may have its own alignment.

“So it is getting the reliable coalition partners to contest as a team in the respective state,” he said.

He believed that each state will try their level best to choose a coalition of like-minded political parties with the same political agenda, development plan and trajectory to the state and country in the coming election.

“As to what will be the eventuality, it all depends on state and national election, whether they are held together and all that,” he said.

In Penang, one of the Umno assemblymen, Datuk Rashidi Zinol, is a state exco in charge of the rural development, agrotechnology and food security and entrepreneurship.

GEORGE TOWN, April 30 — An 800-metre stretch of Jalan Persiaran Pantai Sinaran here was today renamed in honour of the late Tan Sri Chin Fung Kee, Penang’s visionary engineer who played a pivotal role in the construction of the first Penang Bridge.

Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who officiated the renaming ceremony along the seafront road, said the state executive council approved the renaming on February 25.

“This is a symbol of the highest respect to the late Tan Sri Chin Fung Kee for his extraordinary contributions towards Penang’s development and the nation’s academic development,” he said.

He said Chin’s contributions included the design of the first Penang Bridge, foundation works for Komtar, and his direct involvement in the establishment and development of the Faculty of Engineering at Universiti Malaya.

“Globally, his expertise was recognised through Chin’s Method, which revolutionised the piling industry and pioneered innovations in natural rubber bearings for seismic resistance, now used worldwide,” he said in his speech today.

He added that Chin’s legacy in technical innovation and leadership in professional bodies such as the Institution of Engineers Malaysia continues to inspire the engineering community today.

“Chin was also globally recognised, including being appointed an honorary fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers in the United Kingdom and Malaysia,” he said.

He hoped the recognition afforded to Chin will inspire future generations.

GEORGE TOWN, April 30 — Water levels in Sungai Muda have risen back above the critical threshold after previously dipping to a dangerous level, raising Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said today amid continued concern over raw water stability for the state.

He said the river level, which had fallen below the 1.5-metre critical mark last week, has shown an upward trend in recent days.

“The water level at Sungai Muda is at 1.64 metres today, it was 1.56m on April 28 and 1.6m yesterday,” he told reporters after officially launching the renaming of Jalan Persiaran Pantai Sinaran to Persiaran Chin Fung Kee here this morning.

He added that further details on the water level conditions in Penang will be released by the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) later today.

Last week, the Sungai Muda level dropped to a danger level of 1.27 metre at Lahar Tiang.

PBAPP chief executive officer Datuk K. Pathmanathan said the safe level is two metre and under normal conditions, PBAPP abstracts about 1,300 million litres per day of raw water from Sungai Muda for use at the Sungai Dua Water Treatment Plant (WTP).

To mitigate the drop in water levels, PBAPP immediately began to draw down water from the Expanded Mengkuang Dam to supplement raw water supply to the Sungai Dua WTP.

GEORGE TOWN, April 30 — Penang’s financial position is still healthy so there is no need for a supplementary budget at this time, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said today.

He said the state government is currently maintaining a surplus position despite concerns over rising costs affecting project implementation.

“If spending increases, that is what becomes worrying, but so far we are still in a surplus position,” he told reporters after officially launching the renaming of Jalan Persiaran Pantai Sinaran to Persiaran Chin Fung Kee here this morning.

Chow said the state is focusing on cost-control measures to ensure expenditure remains manageable while avoiding unnecessary financial strain.

He said one of the steps being considered is rescheduling projects that have yet to be awarded.

“So implementation will be delayed until market conditions improve,” he said.

Therefore, he said it is necessary for the state to review the timing of project rollouts.

“This is a step to observe the situation until it stabilises, after which works can be awarded,” he said.

Chow added that projects that are already underway will continue as planned and will not be affected by any scheduling adjustments.

“This is because contractors are also facing difficulties in submitting bids during this period due to rising costs,” he added.

He said there may also be requests from contractors regarding fuel prices.

“For Penang Development Corporation specifically, we will negotiate with contractors who are seeking claims related to diesel price increases affecting project costs,” he said.

He said the state has already decided to share the burden with contractors.

“This is to ease the pressure, even though PDC will have to absorb part of the increased costs,” he said.

He said the state need not introduce a supplementary budget as long as costs can be controlled and revenue collection meets projections.

Yesterday, government spokesman Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said all ministries, agencies and government departments have been instructed to spend moderately as a measure to reduce financial pressure following global economic uncertainty that has also affected Malaysia.

The directive was issued by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to ensure government spending is carried out more responsibly and prudently.