ENGAGING with the local communities, understanding their situation and addressing issues faced by the people have been the main objectives of the ‘Jelajah ❤️ Penang’ programme.
The programme, which started with the Bukit Bendera parliamentary constituency on June 16, has been fruitful.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow and his team had covered the Bukit Bendera, Kepala Batas, Permatang Pauh and Tasek Gelugor parliamentary constituencies thus far.
“We will continue with the programme until we have completed all 13 parliamentary constituencies in Penang.
“The ‘Jelajah ❤️ Penang’ programme is held in collaboration with several state agencies.
“We visit several areas in each constituency, engage the people, understand and address their problems.
“For example, we are engaging the small business entities in this rural area.
“The Penang government gives out grants and subsidies to enable small traders and entrepreneurs in the state to grow.
“During our ‘Jelajah ❤️ Penang’, we have received requests to upgrade and improve several tourism products, and to address some land issues.
“Through this programme, we have the opportunity to understand the community deeper, assess and evaluate how we can do more to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic. The district offices and relevant agencies will follow up on several issues that were brought up by the people during our visits.
“We want to promote and rejuvenate the state’s local activities and economy.
“We do not talk politics during our visits and there are not many politicians who joined the programme. Our visits are more on how we can touch base, connect with the local community, and listen to their needs.
“It is more important to instil confidence in the people, that the state government is with them in their recovery journey after the Covid-19 pandemic,” he said after visiting widow Shafaah Suaid, 35, at her house in Jalan Permatang Berangan B, Pokok Tampang, Permatang Berangan today.
Chow and his wife Tan Lean Kee visited Shafaah and her sons after learning about the fatal accident which killed Shafaah’s husband on July 21.
Shafaah said her husband Muhamad Fitri Rosli, 34, was involved in an accident with a car on his way to work at about 6am in Jalan Merbau Kudung.
“Normally, we would go to work together on a motorcycle but on that fateful day, he rode to work on his own.
“We are both factory workers, working in Juru.
“The location was dark and the driver of the car did a sudden illegal U-turn at an area where there were double continuous lines down the centre of the road.
“My late husband came from behind and collided with the car as the driver made the U-turn without putting on a proper turn signal,” she said.
Shafaah said her husband was in critical condition and lying motionless when she arrived at the accident scene.
“I could only tell him to try to hang on and not leave us. But, he passed away in the accident,” she recalled.
Muhamad Fitri left behind his wife and their two sons aged seven and three.
Chow presented a token of condolence to Shafaah after the visit and offered his deepest condolences to the family.
Also present were Chow’s political secretary Teh Lai Heng, north Seberang Perai district officer Zulkifli Rashid, Penang Agriculture Department director Mohd Muhaimin Ibrahim, and special coordinating officer Lay Hock Peng.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Ahmad Adil Muhamad
Video by Darwina Mohd Daud