He said this is because PDC is a corporation formed under the auspices of the Penang state assembly and hence, it is under the control of the state government.

On Jan 17, the ministry said it would “supervise” 32 agencies across the country to “strengthen development planning” at state, regional and national levels.

This led to Gerakan deputy president Oh Tong Keong saying the federal authorities had usurped and “taken over” the PDC, the country’s first state development corporation.

Chow denied Oh’s claim, saying the latter should do his homework before criticising the state government.

“PDC has never been taken over. It will remain in the hands of the Penang government. Oh can feel safe that it is not going to be ‘sold’ off to another party,” he said at Komtar here today.

He said that since PDC was formed through an enactment at the state assembly on Nov 17, 1969, it had been under the supervision of the finance ministry until the economic affairs ministry assumed the role recently.

Under the ministry’s supervisory role, it is expected to give “directives” in line with the country’s economic agenda but it is up to PDC to follow the “directives” or take them as advice, he said.

Earlier, Chow announced that 2,342 taxi drivers and 653 school bus operators would receive a total of RM898,500 as part of the state’s yearly incentive payment.

Each beneficiary will receive RM300 on Saturday and Sunday.

The aid is given out twice yearly, usually before the Chinese New Year and Hari Raya Puasa.