THE Padang Tembak community centre, jointly established by the Penang government, the Penang Island City Council (MBPP), and the Penang Buddhist Tzu Chi Merits Society, has garnered an overwhelming response from the residents.
State Social Development and Non-Religious Committee chairman Chong Eng expressed her satisfaction with the centre, which was set up a year ago and has benefitted the young and old.
“Various community-related activities have been held. They were face-to-face tuition classes, digital clinics, cooking classes, drawing classes, yoga and balancing classes, badminton training, and heritage tour outreach.
“It was an opportunity for the participants to learn and create strong bonds within the community through all these programmes.
“Overall, the Penang Buddhist Tzu Chi Merits Society has done a remarkable effort in organising all these activities,” she said at a press conference in Komtar today.
Chong Eng praised the volunteerism spirit shown by the Penang Buddhist Tzu Chi Merit Society’s volunteers.
“They did their best by coming out with various initiatives to lift the morale of the folk.
“All the classes held were also in line with the ‘Age-Friendly City’ initiative,” she said.
Penang Women Development Corporation (PWDC) Ong Bee Leng said she was pleased with the transformation of the community centre.
“It has a complete organisational team, and it has managed to achieve the goal of community empowerment,” she said.
Ting Sing Poh, who is one of the Penang Buddhist Tzu Chi Merits Society volunteers, said she was glad the centre could assist and transform the community.
Among those present were Penang Buddhist Tzu Chi Merits Society commissioner Datuk Khoo Boo Leong and volunteer Edwin Khoo.
Story by Edmund Lee
Pix by Muhamad Amir Irsyad Omar