Kon Yeow orders excos to clear unfinished Penang2030 projects before he steps down as chief minister

Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow presents the Penang2030 eighth-year report card at the Holiday Inn Resort in George Town on September 12, 2026. — Picture by Opalyn Mok

By Opalyn Mok

First Published: Saturday, 12 Sep 2026 6:15 PM MYT

GEORGE TOWN, Sept 12 — Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow has ordered all state executive councillors to identify Penang2030 initiatives under their portfolios that have not been started or completed.

He said the directive was issued several weeks ago, and that he was personally monitoring the outstanding initiatives.

“I have given an order a few weeks ago for every exco to list down things that they have not completed, and I hope that they will take action to complete it.

“I want to hand over Penang nicely to the successor,” he told reporters after presenting the Penang2030 eighth-year report card at the Holiday Inn Resort here today.

Chow said he would seek explanations from state excos overseeing portfolios that had recorded slow progress.

Asked to rate his administration’s performance this term, he gave his standard reply of 70 per cent.

About eight in 10 key Penang2030 targets had either been achieved or were progressing, he said, covering areas including welfare and housing assistance, local government reform, tourism, education, agriculture, entrepreneurship and youth development.

He identified agriculture as one area requiring further improvement.

“Penang has established 384 urban farms, but agricultural productivity remains below the state’s target,” he said during his presentation.

The initial target had been to establish 100 urban farms; once that was achieved, the target was raised to 500, he said.

The state intends to expand technology-assisted methods such as smart agriculture, precision farming and vertical farming, drawing on Penang’s electrical and electronics industry and engineering talent.

Reducing household water consumption was another target the state has struggled to hit.

“If we can cut at least 28 litres, or ideally 55 litres to 220 litres per person per day, that is considered a win for us already,” he said.

He said the national average currently stands at 225 litres per capita daily, against the World Health Organisation’s recommended 165 litres.

“There is still much to be done. There is always much to be done because a government’s job is never done,” Chow said.

“Today is not a celebration. Today is for us to look back so we can orientate ourselves forward more precisely.”

He said several major infrastructure projects would continue beyond 2030, adding that he would leave it to his successor to decide whether existing programmes should be maintained or replaced with new priorities.