CHIEF Minister Chow Kon Yeow will be attending a special meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) pertaining to the fight against Covid-19 in Putrajaya today at 3pm.
The meeting will be chaired by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Chow revealed this in a live broadcast session on his Facebook page this morning, saying that he had received an invitation to the meeting yesterday afternoon.
Chow was among five leaders from the Pakatan Harapan-ruled states who were left out of the first NSC meeting held by Muhyiddin on March 17.
The other menteri besar and chief ministers were from Kedah, Selangor, Negri Sembilan and Sabah.
But later, Chief Secretary to the Government Datuk Seri Mohd Zuki Ali apologised for not inviting the five leaders and causing confusion.
He said Muhyiddin had ordered that all menteri besar and chief ministers be invited regardless of political party background to tackle the Covid-19 outbreak which is a matter of national importance.
“I will be leaving immediately for Putrajaya after this broadcast,” Chow said at his office in Komtar.
“Representing all Penangites, I will be raising four issues at the meeting in Putrajaya today.”
They are:
• First, I will ask the Federal Government to implement more stringent enforcement of factory operations during this movement control order (MCO) period. The manufacturing industry is one of the leading industries for Penang, and without full details, many are still confused by the closure guidelines and exceptions of factory closures.
• Second, I will ask the Federal Government to ensure that all medical equipment is adequate for hospitals and government clinics.
• Third, I will raise the issue of difficulty in getting face masks, thermometers, sanitisers and other safety equipment required by both private medical practitioners and the public.
For face masks, I will recommend that the Federal Government impose export quotas as well as provide subsidies to local manufacturers so that production can meet domestic demand.
At the same time, I will also request that the Federal Government supply the said items to all state governments throughout the country for distribution to those in need.
• Fourth, I will seek the status regarding the state government’s application for an allocation of RM30 million from the economic stimulus package presented by the Prime Minister before this.
Chow said the Penang government was one of the first state governments to respond and cooperate with the Federal Government in their efforts in fighting Covid-19.
“In crucial times like this, there is no place for political differences. Penang will put aside all political differences and concentrate on fighting Covid-19 to protect the people of Malaysia and Penang in particular,” he added.
Chow also announced that the state government has decided to pay the salary advance for March today to its public servants to help them cope during this period of difficulty.
“From the cleaning staff to the law enforcement staff and personnel in charge of essential services, they have never stopped working for the people of Penang.
“For those who could not come to office, they are working from home.
“Also to those in the Covid-19 Special Task Force working round the clock, I also would like to say thank you.”
Asked by the media whether Penang would follow the stringent step taken by the Pahang government in closing business premises between 7pm and 7am, Chow said that this prohibition may not be necessary if the movement control order is strictly observed.
He, however, said that the state government would be open to ideas and if necessary, the local councils would impose business hours’ restrictions.
To another question, Chow said he had received satisfactory report of people’s compliance with the MCO as it enters its third day.
He said he believed the people should and would obey the order of the Federal Government if the army would be called in to help police enforce the MCO.
He said the police, who are also included in the Special Task Force, had conducted roadblocks at several places in Penang and that enforcement officers from the local authorities were also hard at work.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Alissala Thian
Video by Law Suun Ting