PENANGITES are urged to give their full commitment to the directives given by the Health Ministry in combating the Covid-19 outbreak.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow called upon the people to stay at home and avoid going out if necessary under the imposed Movement Control Order (MCO) from March 18 until March 31.
“As the chief minister, I hope that the plea made by the ministry and Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin would be adhered to by everyone.
“This outbreak has spread widely across the world and has even reached an alarming level especially in Italy.
“Everyone of us must do our part and cooperate with each other to tackle this Covid-19 scourge. It should not be taken lightly with the current situation of infected cases in the country.
“On our end, the state would do its best to ensure that the people’s lives will not be threatened.
“I really hope the people would stay at home during this period and don’t go outdoors if possible,” he said during a briefing session on Covid-19 in Komtar today.
At the time of writing, Penang has recorded 30 Covid-19 cases while the country has so far detected 790 cases.
State Local Government, Housing, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo, who was present, said the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) ‘Special Squad’ was on the field all the time to monitor whether the people were following MCO.
He called the people to be patient and followed MCO accordingly in these two weeks.
“Please bear with this for this period. It is for the sake of the people.
“I would also like express my gratitude to MBPP and Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) for their prompt actions in handling the situation,” he added.
MBPP mayor Datuk Yew Tung Seang also briefed those present that the council’s ‘Special Squad’ comprising about 50 personnel were on the ground carrying out their duties.
“We need everyone’s cooperation to battle this outbreak and we cannot be slacking during such period.
“We will conduct checks on premises from time to time to ensure MCO is fully taken into account, “Yew said.
Under MCO, those who do not abide by the directives can be fined not more than RM1,000 or jailed for not more than six months’ or both.
Also present was MBPP secretary Datuk Addnan Mohd Razali.
Story by Edmund Lee
Pix by Noor Siti Nabilah Noorazis
Video by Ahmad Adil Muhamad