GEORGE TOWN — Penang has thrived to become an economically developed state under the Pakatan Harapan (PH) administration even when it was an opposition state, and despite the political instability of the previous federal governments, said its Deputy Chief Minister II Jagdeep Singh Deo.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Scoop, Jagdeep also said Penang now enjoys a better working synergy with Putrajaya, as both the state and the federal government are ruled by PH and Barisan Nasional (BN) as allies.
“We made it on our own, (even) before this federal government (was formed and with) all the ‘murkiness’ (in past years) and then finally now with (Datuk Seri) Anwar (Ibrahim) there (as the prime minister).
“We have been surviving here since 2008, and we were the only state government that was not with them (Perikatan Nasional),” he said, referring to the period after the Sheraton Move.
“But we made it, alright, better than any other state,” he said during the interview.
Jagdeep was referring to PH’s experience in running Penang as an opposition state when it first took over Penang from BN in 2008, and later as an opposition state again after the Sheraton Move collapsed the PH-led federal government in late February 2020.
The Sheraton Move created a “domino effect” where PH-led state governments in Perak, Kedah, Johor, Melaka, and Sabah also collapsed and were replaced by PN-led governments through defections of state assemblymen from PH to PN.
Nevertheless, the Penang government survived the political crisis as PH continued to retain its two third majority in the state assembly with only four assemblymen defecting to PN – slightly reducing the majority from 37 out of 40 state representatives to 34.
Jagdeep also said that Penang’s perseverance and its role in elevating PH to Putrajaya has become a source of inspiration for Malaysians.
“The people in the whole of Malaysia saw that if Penang can do so better than all the other states, why not (their states)?” he added.
For record, in 2023, Penang contributed 7.4% of Malaysia’s GDP, coming in as the fifth state with the highest contribution after Selangor (25.9%), the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur (15.9%), Johor (9.5%) and Sarawak (9.1%), according to the Statistics Department.
Synergy with Putrajaya
Asked about the better working synergy between Penang and Putrajaya, Jagdeep pointed to his own experience where he could speak with Anwar directly. The prime minister was a former client of his and his late father – Datuk Seri Karpal Singh – who have long represented the former opposition leader in numerous court cases.
Additionally, Jagdeep said he has a close working relationship with federal ministers and would frequently host them whenever they visit Penang to meet him to discuss affairs related to his portfolio as the state’s Human Capital Development, Science and Technology executive councillor.
This working synergy was manifested in recent months when Anwar launched Penang’s first light rail transit (LRT) project – the Mutiara Line – on January 11. The LRT line, which is expected to be completed in 2031, will connect the now under-reclamation Silicon Island to Komtar and to Penang Sentral in Butterworth through a cross-strait route.
Trustworthy government
Jagdeep, when asked about the formula taken by Komtar to foster better working synergy with Putrajaya, simply highlighted the former’s reputation as a trustworthy government that has created a clean, healthy and safer Penang..
“Of course, there are many other things (that can be considered as Penang’s formulas) but transparency is extremely important.
“We are very open (as) we do not engage in any untoward activities where the (state) government is concerned. Our main agenda is to serve the people,” he emphasised.
No opposition to DLP directive for Penang
On a separate matter, Jagdeep, who also oversees educational matters, says the state government has never encountered any resistance from local stakeholders ever since he said in 2023 that Penang will push for Science and Mathematics to be taught in English in its schools to ensure that there are enough skilled workers for tech-related jobs in the future.
“Well, in Penang, if there is anybody who wants to resist that, they are invited to come and see me and tell me what the problem is. But so far, there has not been one inch of resistance.
“We want to educate (the students) in every language (and) I promote every (single) language. So if there is any complaint, I have not seen one here in Penang,” he said when asked whether the state directive has drawn opposition from local NGOs.
He also said that his office is working closely with officials from the federal Education Ministry and other ministries on getting more schools to teach both subjects in English. – March 15, 2025