SPORTS and recreational activity operators, who are registered with the Penang local authorities – the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) and the Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) – are eligible to apply for the RM500 one-off payment under the Penang People’s Aid Package 3.1 from today until March 15.
Penang Youth and Sports Committee chairman Soon Lip Chee said a total of RM97,000 has been allocated for the special financial aid to the 194 sports activity operators who have so far registered with MBPP and MBSP.
The operators include those involved in tenpin bowling, snooker, yoga, zumba, aerobics, futsal, badminton, gymnasium, go-kart, paintball and sports academy.
“The state government takes into consideration the difficulties faced by the operators during this Covid-19 pandemic. The aid will be disbursed from March 16 to March 31 to those who qualify and give their necessary particulars.
“I hope this state government’s initiative can provide some relief to the operators to continue running their business,” Soon told a press conference in Komtar today.
Soon also advised those operators whose licences have expired to renew their licences before the closing date on March 15 to be entitled for the aid.
The licenced operators can apply for the one-off payment online via https://elesen.mbpp.gov.my/ (for Penang island) and http://bantuanrm500-covid.mbsp.gov.my/sukan.php (for Seberang Perai).
MBPP mayor Datuk Rozali Mahmud, who was also present, advised applicants to fill in their details accurately, like the name of the operator must match his or her bank account name.
For further enquiries, the operators can contact the Licencing Department help desks at 04-2638818 (MBPP) and 04-5497685 (MBSP).
Others who were present at the press conference were Penang State Sports Council director Harry Chai Heng Hua, MBSP Licencing Department director Mohd Faidrol Mohd Radzi, MBPP Licencing Department senior assistant engineer Mohamad Badri Zakaria.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Ahmad Adil Mohamad