BATU Lancang assemblyman Ong Ah Teong yesterday continued his well-received ‘Com Grocery’ initiative by distributing cash vouchers to 300 underprivileged families.
Ong explained that, starting this year, the previous monthly distribution of RM30 cash vouchers has been consolidated into a quarterly sum of RM90, provided every three months.
“We distributed RM90 cash vouchers to each family yesterday, with the next disbursement scheduled for April, three months from now. We ensure that all recipients are genuinely in need before extending our support,” Ong stated.
He hosted an appreciation dinner today for about 130 guests, including media practitioners, members from six Village Community Management Councils (MPKKs), one Women and Family Development Committee (JWPK), and one Penang Youth Committee (JBPP), as well as hawkers’ representatives from Jelutong Market, Batu Lancang Market, and Perak Road Market at the Jazz Hotel Penang in Tanjung Tokong.
Ong, who has been organising the appreciation dinner annually since 2019, highlighted that the vouchers can be redeemed exclusively at three markets within the Batu Lancang constituency: Batu Lancang Market, Jelutong Market, and Perak Road Market.
Among the notable attendees were Bagan MP and Air Putih assemblyman Lim Guan Eng, Jelutong MP RSN Rayer, Penang Island City Council councillors Tan Soo Siang and Nicholas Theng, as well as former MBPP councillors Harvindar Singh and Choong You Ray.
Embracing the New Year spirit, the dignitaries went from table to table, extending warm greetings and wishing attendees a ‘Happy New Year,’ while sharing festive cheer with the enthusiastic call of ‘Heng! Ong! Huat!’ for a prosperous 2025.
They also celebrated the birthdays of three attendees, singing birthday songs and concluding with hearty cheers of ‘Heng! Ong! Huat!’
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Siew Chia En