CHIEF Minister Chow Kon Yeow will give his support for more funds to be allocated to the health sector when Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin presents the 2021 Budget in Parliament on Nov 6.
He said a larger fund for the health sector would help restore public confidence as well as the economy.
“By making available more financial assistance to the various sectors, it will help the rakyat overcome this challenging time,” Chow said in response to a reporter’s question at a press conference in Komtar today on whether the public health sector should get more funds to combat the Covid-19 pandemic.
“All these needs must be given due consideration for this coming Budget so that as we can overcome the public health issue and that our economy can also bounce back as soon as possible.
“And those suffering from decline in income and those who have lost their jobs will also find new opportunities as we tide over this situation. Hopefully next year will be a new beginning.”
Chow was fielding questions after presenting a mock cheque totalling RM999,840 to representatives of the five district offices in Penang. The money from the state government is meant for State of Penang Minor Scholarships to be given to 1,460 lower and upper secondary students from 117 schools in both island and Seberang Perai.
Due to the Covid-19 situation, the recipients and their parents were not invited to the cheque presentation ceremony.
Chow later also witnessed the presentation of RM1 million cheque by NI to the Penang Future Foundation and RM150,000 to Penang Science Cluster.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Alissala Thian
Video by Darwina Mohd Daud