A TOTAL of 19 high-risk areas have been identified thus far for the mass Covid-19 screening programme which is set to take place in Penang next month.
State Local Government, Housing, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh said the hotspots covered four areas in northeast, five in southwest, one in north Seberang Perai, five in central Seberang Perai, and four in south Seberang Perai districts.
“The detailed information of the areas will be announced later. Once everything has been finalised, the phase one of the programme will begin on July 5,’’ said Jagdeep during his visit to the Tampin Court today.
Jagdeep added that the state assemblymen at all the 40 constituencies as well as parliamentarians have started to identify the individuals for the mass screening.
“The benchmark for the programme is 1,000 per constituency, thus I urge all the leaders to come forward and update us on the progress.
“Apart from the vaccination programme, the Covid-19 screening is also instrumental to curb the spread of the disease,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, Jagdeep said the state government, through one of its housing maintenance funds, Penang Maximum 80% Maintenance Fund (TPM80PP), has recently approved the application for the water tank upgrading work at the Tampin Court apartment in Datuk Keramat.
“The total cost of the maintenance is RM85,300 of which the state government would bear 60% of it and the rest would be borne by the residents.
“To date we have received a total 283 applications from various housing schemes involving 479 projects of maintenance works.
“We have spent a total of RM276.4 million on various housing maintenance funds including the one at Tampin Court.
“The state government will stay committed to assist the people as it is our desire to help out those who are in need,’’ added Jagdeep.
On a separate matter, the Penang Island City Council commissioner of buildings (COB) Nik Ariff Long urged the Joint Management Body (JMB) and Management Corporation (MC) on the island to get registered for the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (Miti)’s Covid-19 Intelligent Management System (CIMS 3.0).
“This is a formality required by Miti to ensure smooth operation of the JMB and MC offices which are categorised as essential services.
“If the relevant authorities conduct a spot check and the JMB and MC are found to be operating without getting the permission from Miti, then a compound might be imposed on them.
“So far, on the island a total of 420 JMBs and MCs have registered and have obtained the approval from Miti,’’ said Nik Ariff.
Story by Tanushalini Moroter
Pix by Chan Kok Kuan