PENANG, 13 Jan 2009: The Penang government will not provide allocations to associations to organise activities, including certain festivities, if they do not benefit or generate income for the state.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the state government could not sponsor these activities if they do not generate income, especially during the current unstable economic situation.
“I apologise for not being able to allocate funds to organise the Chinese New Year Open House,” he told reporters here today.
He was commenting on the state government’s decision to not fund the Chinese New Year Reception to be held at the Chinese Assembly Hall, Penang, on 27 Jan.
In a letter dated 22 Dec, the assembly had asked the state government to sponsor the reception they were organising.
Lim said they would only consider sponsoring social activities that would benefit the state government.
Lim said he had to make the decision although he knew it would make associations under the Chinese Assembly unhappy.
“I have to do this even though it will make me unpopular,” he said.
Lim said the Chinese Assembly claimed that they had previously received yearly sponsorship from the state government to hold the Chinese New Year Open House.
“The state government has a new stand and this applies to all races in Penang,” he said. — Bernama
