THE Penang Special Security Committee has decided to allow certain services to operate, following a meeting today.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said that the committee had decided to allow immediate repair exercise for critical works to operate.
“Cleaning services and spraying of insecticide are also allowed.
“Maintenance work for 10 critical sectors has to continue.
“Meanwhile for banking services, only the IT Department and Cash Management Department are allowed to operate,” he said.
Chow also listed several services that were allowed to operate twice a week, starting April 6.
“The following services are allowed to operate only on Mondays and Thursdays, from 8am to 2pm, starting April 6.
“They are – agricultural input stores (fertilisers / poison); hardware stores; stores selling pet food, animal food and animal medicine; and spare part stores,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Penang government has decided to cancel all Ramadan bazaars in the state to constrain the spread of the Covid-19.
“All free CAT bus services sponsored by the Penang government will stop operating from April 4.
“As for the BEST FIZ bus services, only Route A and C (a bus for each route) will continue to operate.
“Other Rapid Penang bus services are still operating as usual. The public can obtain the details via Rapid Penang Journey Planner smart app or call the hotline at 04-255 8000,” Chow said.
On a separate matter, the Penang government is confident that it will be able to give out the entire payment under the Penang People’s Aid Package by the second week of April.
Chow said the state government understood the people’s hardship and would want to disburse the aid as soon as possible.
“We have given out the RM500 one-off aid to each of the 1,392 state Social Welfare Department general aid recipients as promised. As for the Social Welfare Department Federal aid recipients, I was told that the payment will be made by April 10.
“Both local governments have started to disburse the RM500 one-off payment to licensed hawkers today (April 3). The city councils believe that the task can be completed within three days upon receiving completed documents from the eligible hawkers.
“The payment for tour guides and school bus operators has also started yesterday (April 2). The aid for trishaw peddlers will be given out manually this week,” Chow told the public via Facebook Live on his Facebook page today.
Chow also thanked an entrepreneur in Penang for offering his hotel rooms as accommodation to the state Health Department and hospital workers during this period.
“It is my hope that more people from the private sector can step in and offer accommodation to those who have to be quarantined, including those who have just returned from abroad,” he said.
Chow further thanked everyone in Penang for their sacrifices.
“The Chinese practised discipline and did not go out to visit the graves of their ancestors during the ‘Cheng Beng’ festival this year; the Malays were unable to conduct Friday prayers in the mosques for the third Friday today; the Christians in the state were unable to go to church due to the movement control order (MCO); and the Hindus and Sikhs practised their beliefs without disregarding the MCO.
“Thank you everyone for your sacrifices. Your sacrifices have saved many lives.
“I would also like to thank the frontliners for their services. Here is a video showing the efforts and initiatives taken by everyone in Penang to combat the Covid-19 outbreak.
“Tough times will make us tougher. Penang Fights Covid-19!” he said.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Alvie Cheng