The federal government has been belittling, sidelining and discriminating Penang from mainstream development since Dr Koh Tsu Koon became chief minister 15 years ago.

Under the rule of former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the federal government isolated Penang by spending billions to modernise Kedah's Langkawi as a major tourist destination in the country.

As a result Langkawi receives twice more tourists each year than Penang's average 3.2 million visitors.

In the early 1990s, the federal government planned to build an international airport in Kuala Muda to serve the northern corridor of the Peninsular at the expense of Bayan Lepas International Airport in Penang.

However, the airport project was shelved.

The original intention to move the international airport from Penang to Kedah, said Penang Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) deputy chairperson Cheah Kah Peng clearly exposed the federal government's intention to block the state from becoming the getaway for the northern region.

"Otherwise the federal government would not have wanted to shift the airport when it could have easily used the money to upgrade the Bayan Lepas airport," he told malaysiakini .

Koh succeeded Dr Lim Chong Eu who quit his chief ministership following his electoral loss to DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang during the 1990 general election.

Since then Penang has not been enjoying any major development in any sectors.

Once the state was top of the ladder. But today it has fallen behind many other states in industrial, road, port, airport and city development. The state also lagged behind many others in foreign investments, tourist arrivals, business opportunities and employment.

"Penangites' purchasing power is not strong due to lack of businesses and employment," said Cheah.

Disappointing decisions

The federal government's decisions, under the Penang-born Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, not to build the second bridge and allowing the hike in ferry fares were the latest setbacks faced by Penangites.

"Amazingly Koh's government was caught unaware about the federal government's decisions on the bridge and fare hike.

"If it is true then the federal government surely had shown disrespect and belittle the state government and the people of Penang," said Cheah.

Effective May 1, ferry fares went up from 60 sen to RM1.20 sen for foot passengers, RM7 to RM7.70 for cars.

Cheah said the 100 percent fare hike for foot passengers would be a blow to the lower income group.

Although fares increase, the opposition politician said for the past 15 years, ferry facilities, especially its terminals, had not undergone any major facelift. He termed this as 'unfair'.

He also pointedly noted that the state government's failure to restore George Town's city status, which had been lost due to technical reasons, and Penang's free port status, were examples of the federal government's discrimination.

"If Langkawi can become a free port, why not George Town, a renowned international city. After all, we were once a free trade area," he said.

Due to all these, Penang's growth as an industrial powerhouse in the region and surge to attaining a developed state status had been thwarted.

While the federal government should be blamed for systematically discriminating, sidelining and isolating Penang, especially in important public projects, the state government cannot escape from the responsibility of allowing this to happen.

Cheah said it's timely for the state government to speak up and safeguard the rights, interests and benefits of Penangites.

"Koh should pressure the federal government to build the second bridge, restore George Town's city status and Penang's free port status.

"Otherwise, in few years time, the state and its people would be in far worse shape than now," he warned.

ATHI VEERANGGAN is malaysiakini 's Penang-based stringer.