THE Penang Island City Council (MBPP) and the Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) are conducting regular inspections at stratified homes through the Commissioner of Building (COB) to ensure a good level of standard operating procedure (SOP) compliance.
State Local Government, Housing, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh said as of Nov 5, the COB has inspected 1,341 highrise buildings which recorded 99.53% of compliance level.
“However, 74 high-rises still did not follow the SOPs, such as failing to maintain physical distancing in elevators and failing to disinfect commonly used places or surfaces frequently. We have given them a stern warning.
“If they still do not pay heed to the warning given, then we will have to take further action through law enforcement.
“The Joint Management Body (JMB) and Management Corporation (MC) must abide by the regulations set, and only allow outsiders for important matters and maintain a high level of hygiene,” Jagdeep said during the handing over ceremony of grocery items to the councils’ frontliners at City Hall today.
A total of 570 staff from MBPP and MBSP received the aid which was a gesture of love from Jagdeep in conjunction with the Deepavali festivity and to honour their contributions in the fight against the pandemic.
Also present was MBPP mayor Datuk Yew Tung Seang.
Meanwhile, Jagdeep also shared that a total of six parks which come under the jurisdiction of MBPP, namely the Padang Kota Lama playground, the empty grounds at Japanese Garden, Jalan Gangsa, Lorong Delima 11, Lorong Delima 9 and Solok Tembaga have been temporarily closed.
“Although the remaining 181 parks on the island are still open, the sports and recreation activities should be carried out in accordance to the SOPs given by the National Security Council. The visitors are prohibited from using the public facilities such as the equipment at these parks.
“We need to seek the advice from the Penang National Security Council to open the Japanese Garden but the rest of the parks are still under our consideration and review,” added Jagdeep.
Jagdeep also stated that based on the information shared by the Health Ministry, there are still seven active Covid-19 clusters in Penang as of Nov 11.
“Out of 12,557 people that were screened, 1,340 were confirmed cases. I would like to emphasise here that, we should give respect to our frontliners as well as the Health director general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah for his service.
“Do not make a mockery of him, please appreciate his efforts in containing the disease,” said Jagdeep.
Apart from that, Jagdeep also said that from 424,443 inspections done by MBPP as of Nov 9, 99.69% of compliance level was recorded.
For the MBSP, a compliance level of 99.35% was recorded after conducting 646,498 checks.
Story by Tanushalini Moroter
Pix by Law Suun Ting