Penang Chief Minister Sdr Chow Kon Yeow shared his thoughts in a feature article on Kwong Wah Yit Poh (published on 5 July 2019).
How is the State Government doing? After more than a year in office, I hope my State Exco members are focusing their minds and energies to deliver their respective mandate.
The weekly State Executive Council meeting is important because it is the platform for us and the other three ex-officio members to discuss the affairs of the State and give the go-ahead in any policy direction.
The meeting is usually held on Wednesday to be in line with the Federal Cabinet meeting schedule. However, when Parliament sits, the Federal Cabinet meeting is moved to Friday and we also follow suit. If needed, it can be held on any day of the week as there is no restriction.
Each Exco member has the opportunity to give his or her input into any subject matter being deliberated or proposed.
Each of us has been assigned several portfolios and therefore must be responsible for anything that comes under our responsibilities. However, all of us are collectively responsible for all the decisions made by the Executive Council. It is the same for every State.
This is the best place to test your leadership quality as you get a chance to propose a new policy but that also means one has to get the support of the rest.
You may get the support if the Executive Council accepts your idea as feasible and its implementation will bring good results for the people and the State.
It may, however, also be rejected or put on hold due to various reasons and the Exco member will have to relook the proposal and come back with an improved version.
The Exco meeting is the place for us to be an all-rounder on all the issues and this is the place for one to learn about the workings of the government and be familiar with on-going issues.
I have learned a lot from such meetings and when called upon to make difficult decisions, I have to draw from the precedents and existing laws and policy position.
Land and legal matters are permanent items for deliberation in the Executive Council meeting as this is where final decisions have to be made.
The Executive Council will also have to monitor the performances of the agencies and GLCs and they are invited from time to time to present issues for the attention of the State Government.
Federal agencies may also request to present new laws or regulations for the consent of the State Government. Likewise, private sectors may also be invited to present their proposals for our consideration and approval.
There are a lot to be done for Penang. Exco members, let us all rise up to the occasion and deliver our best for the people.
Feature article on Sdr Chow’s official Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ChowKonYeow/posts/10157452613904169
行政议会，工作不言累
槟州政府至今运作得如何？在任职首长一年多之后，我希望我的州行政议员们能集中精神与精力去履行各自的任务。
每周召开的行政议会会议很是重要，因为它是我们和其他三位当然成员讨论州事务，并指引槟州继续向前迈进的平台。
行政议会会议通常在周三召开，以迎合联邦内阁会议的时间。 当国会召开时，内阁会议将改至周五进行，我们也会效仿之而将会议改期。由于没有时间与日子上的限制，若有需要，行政议会会议可以在每周的任何一天被召开。
每位行政议员都有机会对正在审议或提议的任何课题，提供他/她们的意见。
我们每个人都获分配到所要负责的事务，并必须对职责范围内的任何事情负责。但是，我们所有人都必须集体承担行政议会中所有决定的责任。每个州属亦是如此。
这是测试领导能力和质量的最佳场所。在这里，你有机会提出新政策，但你也必须取得其他人的支持。
如果行政议会认可你的提案是可行的，并有利于人民和槟州，则你将获得支持。
不过，有关提案也可能因为各种原因而被拒绝或被搁置，而该名行政议员需要重新审视其提案，再在会议上提呈改进后的提案。
行政议会会议是个让我们成为通晓所有课题的通才的地方，也是一个让人们了解政府运作，熟悉时下课题的地方。
我从这些会议中学习到很多东西，并在需要做出艰难决定时，借鉴过往的例子和现行的法律及政策立场。
土地和法律事务是行政议会会议里固定需要被审议的一环，因为这是必须做出最后决策所要注意的地方。
行政议会也必须监督各机构和官联公司（GLC）的表现，并不时邀请他们呈列各项课题，以便州政府更了解与掌握相关事项。
联邦机构也可以要求向行政议会提呈新的法律或条规，以寻求州政府的同意。同样的，私人界也可能被受邀在会议上提呈他们的提案，供行政议会成员审议和批准。
我们要为槟城做的事还有很多。行政议员们，让我们不负众望，应对挑战，竭尽所能，为民服务。
文稿在光华日报： https://is.gd/qMaMuI