IT is the first day of Hari Raya Aidilfitri, and our frontliners from the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) and Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) are still having their sleeves rolled up and working ever harder for a healthy and safe environment for us.
As Penang is a state that doesn’t let any of its frontliners’ efforts go in vain, state Local Government, Housing, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo today decided to extend his appreciation by distributing Raya cookies to 1,458 local councils’ frontliners.
MBPP mayor Datuk Yew Tung Seang and MBSP mayor Datuk Rozali Mohamud distributed the Raya cookies to their respective staff; while the entire distribution ceremony was witnessed by Jagdeep virtually through Zoom.
“I have been doing this every year, and I see no reason to not do it this year as well. Unfortunately, we are unable to do it in the usual manner where we are able to meet and greet one another during this auspicious time.
“I really miss seeing my dear frontliners and distributing it myself, but the current situation doesn’t permit me to do so.
“This is because at this point in time, nothing is more important than keeping one another safe and healthy.
“We have to win this war against the Covid-19 pandemic. For that to happen, unfortunately certain sacrifices had to be made which may seem very difficult, but it is only for our own good,” Jagdeep said during the live streaming session through Zoom.
Yew and Rozali distributed the cookies at their respective grounds at City Hall, Esplanade and MBSP headquarters building in Bandar Perda, Bukit Mertajam.
Jagdeep, through his Local Government portfolio allocation, spent RM23,000 for the cookies. Out of the 1,458 frontliners, 650 are from MBPP and 808 from MBSP.
Among those who joined in the Zoom session were MBPP secretary Datuk Addnan Mohd Razali, MBSP secretary Rosnani Mahmod and Penang State Secretariat office head of local government division Nur Aishah Md Norodin.
Story and pix by Kevin Vimal