EVERY sector speaks the language of best practices. In business, the focus is on efficiency and competitiveness, in education, on quality and innovation, in public health, on saving lives and reducing long-term costs.
GEORGE TOWN: Penang ’s financial transparency, zakat governance and environmental oversight have come under scrutiny at the state assembly sitting, with the Opposition demanding answers over several issues.
Opposition leader Muhammad Fauzi Yusoff questioned the transparency of Chief Minister’s Incorporated , Penang’s investment arm and asset management agency, claiming it was operating without sufficient financial accountability. Muhammad Fauzi said CMI managed 71 projects in 2024 and 2025, with revenue from land rental and lease arrangements under CMI and State Secretary Incorporated amounting to RM8.43mil as of Sept 30, 2025.
He said amendments to the Chief Minister Incorporated Enactment required the corporation to maintain proper accounts and for the Chief Minister to table financial statements and the Auditor-General’s views in the state assembly.
“Unfortunately, until now the Chief Minister has failed to table the financial statements and Auditor-General’s report regarding the accounts. “How is it possible for an entity managing millions of ringgit in state revenue to operate without proper financial transparency? “This is not about perception. This is about the basic principles of governance,” he said on Monday .
Muhammad Fauzi also questioned the management structure of CMI, saying the public still lacked a clear picture of the companies, shareholding structures and ownership links under the entity.
“And how can checks be carried out if the corporate structure itself is not transparent? ” he asked. On zakat governance, Muhammad Fauzi said issues surrounding zakat should not be dismissed as slander while investigations by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission were ongoing. He said the matter involved an official investigation, with 63 individuals, including top state leaders, senior government officers and religious figures, having been called up.
“The public does not need denials alone. Instead, they deserve clear and convincing explanations,” he said. Muhammad Fauzi proposed setting up an independent Syariah audit body at the state level to review and audit decisions involving zakat, wakaf and baitulmal management.
“This step is important not only to improve transparency, but also to ensure religious institutions are protected from any doubts that could affect the confidence of Muslims in this state,” he said. He also called for the 2025 audit report of the Penang Islamic Religious Council to be tabled at the next state assembly sitting.
The MACC has previously confirmed that 63 individuals, including state officials, religious council members and officers, were called up to assist investigations into the alleged misuse of RM184,000 in zakat funds and land purchases worth about RM10mil. Separately, Muhammad Fauzi raised concerns over the RM1bil Jelutong landfill rehabilitation and reclamation project, which he said had reportedly failed to obtain Environmental Impact Assessment approval five times.
“The question is, how can a mega project announced since 2020 still fail to meet basic environmental requirements after more than 680 days? ” he asked. He said repeated rejections by the Department of Environment indicated there were still serious technical and environmental risks linked to the project.
“We do not reject the need to rehabilitate the Jelutong landfill site, but the public is questioning why the sea reclamation component continues to be defended despite public objections and repeated failures to obtain approval,” he said.
Penang State Assembly Muhammad Fauzi Yusoff PN CMI Chief Minister's Incorporated SSI CAT MAINPP Zakat MACC Syariah Audit Body Jelutong Landfill EIA Department Of Environment
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Penang DAP Chief Steven Sim Discusses Challenges of Upholding Ideals in GovernmentPenang DAP leader Steven Sim discusses the difficulties his party faces in maintaining its idealism in government, especially when it has to work with other component parties. He highlights the importance of the youth wing and elected representatives, and the need for hard work and differentiation from opposition parties to secure elections.
Read more »
Penang Durian Growers Tackle Fake Produce with QR Code TrackingDurian growers in George Town, Penang have launched a QR code tracking system to authenticate durians as authentic Penang produce, preventing them from being mislabeled as produce from other states or countries.
Read more »
Penang State Legislative Assembly Speech, New Bills, Motions AheadThis news item highlights the upcoming First Meeting of the Fourth Term of the 15th Penang State Legislative Assembly, with 81 oral questions, 783 written questions, two Bills, and three motions set to be tabled.
Read more »
Penang opposition leader alleges Chief Minister Incorporated accounts not fully auditedGEORGE TOWN, May 11 – Penang Opposition Leader Muhammad Fauzi Yusoff has alleged that the accounts of government-linked corporations, Chief Minister Incorporated (CMI), was not...
Read more »