CM urges Penangites to keep abiding by the MCO

PENANGITES are adapting to the situation resulting from the movement control order (MCO) which has been imposed for nearly a month, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said.

“I want to thank everyone for their cooperation, such as practising the 1m social distancing rule in public places. The rule is important to curb the outbreak, he said during his visit to the Air Itam market this morning.

Chow, who was accompanied by Air Itam assemblyman Joseph Ng and northeast district police chief ACP Soffian Santong, was seen distributing face masks to the market-goers and traders in the vicinity of the market.

Chow distributing face mask to the traders in the market

“It is also important for us to practise good personal hygiene besides applying social distancing.

“Please be patient and resilient during this challenging period. Let’s overcome this together.

“We understand that many are financially impacted or on the verge of losing their jobs. However, what must be done has to be done.

“We need to endure this until the country successfully contains the outbreak. I believe that the Government will then lift the bans and we can move towards normalcy.

“It is also important to adhere to the advice given by the experts to break the chain of Covid-19 infection.

Chow handing over face mask to the police personnel on duty at Air Itam market

“In many countries whereby the precautionary measures were ignored and not followed strictly, the disease spread quickly and claimed many lives.

“The Ministry of Health has stated that we are on the right track in eradicating the outbreak. I hope that we do not get derailed from this ‘right track’ which we are on since the implementation of the MCO,” Chow said.

Meanwhile ACP Soffian said that the police would be tightening the enforcement of the MCO phase three.

“We are seeing an increase of vehicles on the road lately. So, we will be having ‘snap checks’ on motorists.

“The public usually tell us that they are out to buy food but for instance, if they travel all the way from Air Itam to Jelutong then that will not be permitted.

“We will be stricter this time, and we hope that the public can be more responsible by following the rules,” he said.

Soffian and Ng accompanying Chow during his visit to the Air Itam market today

Ng said that his constituency received some 30,000 face masks from the Federal Government which were currently being distributed to his constituents.

“We have so far distributed them to stratified homes and will be also giving out to those residents staying in landed properties.

“Those who need the face masks can get them from our service centre in Air Itam,” Ng said.

Story by Tanushalini Moroter
Pix by Law Suun Ting
Video Alissala Thian