FOR the second consecutive year, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow showed his interest in the affairs of media personnel by visiting the media companies in Penang.
In view of the upcoming Chinese New Year celebration on Jan 25, Chow and his entourage braced the sweltering weather to distribute oranges to the media staff during the visit.
From one media company to another, Chow and his team dropped by with plenty of zest, energy and smiles.
He began his tour by visiting RTM Penang at Burmah Road at around 8.30am.
There to greet him and his team were RTM Penang director Ng Meng Mee and other staff members.
He was taken on a tour of the office before being ushered into a room for an interview.
During the live interview session, Chow wished everyone in Penang a great year ahead and that they would be prosperous in the Year of the Rat.
“Gong Xi Fa Cai,” he said in Mandarin.
One of the stops was at The Star Northern Hub in Bayan Lepas where Chow and his team were given a rousing welcome by a lion dance troupe.
Chow, together with some state executive councillors and assemblymen, took part in the yee sang tossing ceremony with some of The Star senior management staff before being brought on a tour of the publication’s Editorial Department.
After the tour, Chow and his team were treated to a sumptuous lunch.
Also present were Star Media Group chief content officer Esther Ng, Group regional operations general manager (north) Simone Liong, Group executive editor Rozaid A. Rahman and News Editor Alex Teng.
Other media houses that Chow and his team also visited were Kwong Wah Yit Poh, Bernama, Oriental Daily, Sin Chew Daily, Nanyang Siang Pau, and China Press.
During his stops, Chow, looking relaxed, shared light moments with Kwong Wah general manager Lee Hin Chan, deputy general manager Lin Seng Huat and editor-in-chief Lim Seong Eng; China Press northern region manager Lim Kek Hong and northern region chief reporter Teh Poh Bee; Nanyang northern region manager Quaik Chong Tatt and northern region deputy news editor Loh Choon Yin.
He also had friendly chats with Guang Ming chief editor Tan Teng Kim; Sin Chew senior area manager Puah Eu Peng and northern region chief reporter Chua Ching Joo and Oriental’s bureau chief Ooi Yee Hoon and Bernama’s bureau chief Nur Adila Abdul Wahab.
Boxes of oranges were given out as a token of appreciation for the hard work of the media personnel.
Also present during the visit were Senator Lim Hui Ying, Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong, Jelutong MP RSN Rayer, Bukit Bendera MP Wong Hon Wai, state Women and Family Development, Gender Inclusiveness and Religions Other Than Islam Committee chairman Chong Eng and state Youth and Sports Committee chairman Soon Lip Chee.
Joining them were assemblymen Teh Lai Heng (Komtar), Lim Siew Khim (Sungai Pinang), Ong Ah Teong (Batu Lancang), Daniel Gooi (Pengkalan Kota), Joseph Ng (Air Itam), Heng Lee Lee (Berapit), H’ng Mooi Lye (Jawi) and Hui Ying’s special officer Joshua Woo.
Story by Edmund Lee
Pix by Adleena Rahayu Ahmad Radzi
Video by Darwina Mohd Daud