A NEW alliance, called the PgCare Alliance, has been established in Penang to accelerate help to the people during this difficult period.
Eighteen non-governmental organisations (NGOs), associations, industry players had, so far, come together to form PgCare Alliance.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, as the advisor to the alliance, said the state government was happy to collaborate with PgCare Alliance to provide faster aid to the needy in Penang.
“The Covid-19 pandemic has been ongoing for almost two years and many NGOs have stepped forward to work with the Penang government to help those in need.
“We are still facing various challenges caused by the pandemic although the state has entered the second phase of the National Recovery Plan. The pandemic has also impacted the mental health of individuals in Penang.
“Some people may be facing loss of jobs, financial constraints or even stress from families during this pandemic.
“Befrienders Penang has received over 6,200 calls during the pandemic period, while D’Home Mental Health Association has also received increased number of calls for help from the public,” Chow said in his speech before launching the alliance in Komtar today.
Chow said the collaboration between the Penang government and PgCare Alliance is in line with the Penang2030 vision of ‘A Family-Focused Green and Smart State that Inspires the Nation’.
“PgCare Alliance has four main core areas – mental health, job, food and shelter, and financial.
“Datuk Seri Leslie Lee has been appointed to lead the mental health task force, Datuk Jimmy Ong (job aid), Felix Chuah Gim Chuan (food and essential aid) and Datuk Seri Wong Siew Hai (fund raising).
“A neutral, inclusive and fair platform is established through this alliance.
“We strive to complement each other based on our available strength, to accelerate the assistance required, to avoid duplication of available resources, and to strengthen support.
“An integrated digital platform will be set up soon to ease communications between partners in the alliance, state assemblymen service centres and those in need of assistance during these trying times,” he said.
Chow added that the name, PgCare Alliance, was chosen by the main committee after several discussions.
“The name was chosen to rebrand the PGCare contact tracing app which was previously used in Penang as one of the state’s contact tracing initiatives. The PGCare contact tracing app was later integrated with MySejahtera.
Chow thanked state Welfare and Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh, Penang Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Yeoh Soon Hin, Dr Ngoo Seong Boon and Chong Soon Kheng for kickstarting the initiative and coordinating the organisations under the PgCare Alliance.
Phee has been appointed the chairman of the alliance, while Yeoh and Komtar assemblyman Teh Lai Heng have been appointed as the deputies.
The current committee members of PgCare Alliance are Datuk Seri Dr Ooi Eng Hock, Datuk Seri Leslie Lee, Datuk Seri Wong Siew Hai, Datuk Jimmy Ong, Dr Ngoo Seong Boon, Chong Soon Kheng, Cefinny Teh Jin Pei, and Felix Chuah Gim Chuan.
Visit the PgCare Alliance website www.PgCareAlliance.com or Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pgcarealliance for more details.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Alissala Thian
Video by Ahmad Adil Muhamad