THE Penang government is holding a State Security Council (SSC) special meeting with the relevant agencies to combat the 2019 novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the meeting was scheduled to be held in Komtar tomorrow (Jan 29).
“The meeting is to see how the state can cooperate and work together with the agencies to implement and enforce whatever decisions to be made.
“The state will provide assistance to the agencies accordingly. This will be our role at the state level.
“We hope that the outbreak can be reolved soonest,” he told reporters after attending the Bukit Bendera parliamentary Chinese New Year open house at SJK (C) Shang Wu in Ayer Itam today.
Chow said a press conference would be held after the meeting.
He also advised the public not to trust or spread unverified reports with regard to the 2019-nCoV.
“Accurate reports can be obtained from the Health Ministry or the media,”he said.
The death toll in China resulting from the 2019-nCoV outbreak had exceeded 100.
The Malaysia Health Ministry had so far confirmed four cases of 2019-nCoV infection in the country.
Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng, who was present at the open house, said his ministry would provide its fullest cooperation to the Health Ministry.
He said the Finance Ministry would provide the allocation needed for the 12 thermal scanners as requested by the Health Ministry.
“I have instructed secretary-general of the Treasury Tan Sri Ahmad Badri Mohd Zahir to do the necessary.
“The Finance Ministry will provide its fullest cooperation to the Health Ministry,” he said.
Lim added that it was utmost important to address the situation.
“We need to overcome this obstacle first,” he said.
Also present at the open house were Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Ahmad Zakiyuddin Abdul Rahman, state Women and Family Development, Gender Inclusiveness and Religions Other Than Islam Committee chairman Chong Eng, Bukit Bendera MP Wong Hon Wai and state assemblymen.
Story by Edmund Lee
Pix by Noor Siti Nabilah Noorazis
Video by Darwina Mohd Daud