ALL activities might be streamlined into three categories to allow for a better understanding of the sectors or activities that are allowed to operate.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the state has been informed that the Federal Government might categorise the activities into three categories – open freely (buka dengan bebas), open with conditions (buka dengan syarat) and not allowed to open.
“It will make it easier for people to understand,” Chow told reporters after checking out the Penang City Park today.
Chow and his team – Penang Youth and Sports Commitee chairman Soon Lip Chee, Kebun Bunga assemblyman Jason Ong, Bukit Bendera MP Wong Hon Wai and Penang Island City Council mayor Datuk Yee Tung Seang – checked out the park and, later, the Penang Botanic Gardens to ensure that visitors obey the guidelines and standard operating procedure (SOP).
The Penang City Park (formerly Youth Park), Relau Metropolitan Park, Penang Botanic Gardens, Bukit Jambul hiking area, Penang Hill heritage path at the lower station and the entrance of the jeep path (for pedestrians only) are open from 7am to 7pm, starting today (June 6).
The number of visitors (except for the Relau Metropolitan Park), however, is restricted to 200 people at any one time. Only 50 people are allowed at a time at Relau Metropolitan Park.
Chow said the state welcomed the opening of some public parks and gardens in Penang for the people to exercise and conduct recreational activities.
“However, the people must continue to follow the guidelines and SOP,” he said.
A visitor, Arthur Ng, 36, was happy with the opening of the public parks.
“I am here to hike. I feel safer with the implementation of the SOP. The PGCare app is easy to use.
“I have been using it frequently,” he said when met at Penang City Park.
Separately, Chow said the state also welcomed the financial incentives and packages by the Government.
“More importantly is to allow people get back to their business, so that they can get some income. There is a limit to a Government’s ability to come up with financial assistance packages.
“By allowing people to get back to their business, it will reduce the financial impact on the Government,” he said, adding that there were still a number of prohibited activities under the conditional movement control order (CMCO).
Chow, however, stressed that public health is still utmost important to break the Covid-19 chain of infection.
He said the Penang government would await the announcement by the Federal Government.
On another matter, Chow said the Penang International Airport was still not open to receiving tourists via direct international flights.
“This is according to the Federal Government’s decision.
“We have some empty flights arrived in Penang to bring some visitors back to their countries, not the other way round.
“The Government must ensure that proper protocol is available if it decides to change its decision,” he said.
The public can visit http://www.klia.com.my/passenger-guide/faq-covid-19-conditional-movement-control-order-cmco for more details.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Alvie Cheng
Video by Law Suun Ting