WITH only less than 100 days before the state elections for six states in Malaysia, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow stressed the importance of instilling the values of harmony among the people.
“Our strength is unity and we have never marginalised any individual in the state.
“Instead, every achievement is shared and enjoyed together among the people of Penang.
“We continue to hold community-based programmes that benefit the society because we value harmony. We pilih perpaduan dan tolak perpecahan (choose unity and reject division),” he said in his speech during the Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house at Taman Tangling today.
The open house was jointly organised by the Bukit Tambun state constituency and the Batu Kawan parliamentary constituency.
Chow, who is also the Batu Kawan MP, said the open house could be a platform to promote friendship and foster close relationships in the community.
“We use this opportunity to celebrate togetherness and wish our Muslim friends ‘Salam Aidilfitri’,” he said.
Chow also highlighted several projects in Batu Kawan which have benefitted the people there.
Among them are the motorcycle bridge connecting Taman Belibis with Taman Tempua under the Chief Minister’s special allocation; the flood mitigation project under the Seberang Perai City Council in Lorong Belibis 32; the upgraded Taman Tangling basketball court under the state government’s allocation; and the road upgrade of three intersections along Jalan Bukit Tambun by the Penang government although the road is under the purview of the Federal Government.
Chow also stressed the need to nurture the relationship and move simultaneously together with the Federal Government in realizing the Penang2030 vision and Malaysia Madani.
State Entrepreneurial Development, Trade and Industry Committee chairman Datuk Abdul Halim Hussain and Bukit Tambun assemblyman Goh Choon Aik also called for harmony.
“This is a time for peace and to foster friendships,” Abdul Halim said.
Goh said the open house was one of the ways that the government was bringing community events to the people.
He added that the state and Federal Governments were also striving to upgrade facilities and infrastructure to ensure that they could catch up with the rapid development.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Alissala Thian
Video by Adleena Rahayu Ahmad Radzi