SEVERAL assemblymen have started to contribute their bit to help speed up the vaccination process in the state by providing free transport services for the elderly and disabled in their constituencies.
Bukit Tengah assemblyman Gooi Hsiao Leung said he has always been concerned about transportation for senior citizens and the disabled in the community, especially during this period when they need to go to designated PPVs to be inoculated.
“I was really eager for my office to participate in this programme a month ago, and it gives us so much satisfaction to be able to assist the vulnerable groups to receive their Covid-19 vaccine.
“So far, we have helped transport 70 individuals from the senior citizens and disabled categories.
“As an assemblyman for my people here, I will continue to do the best for them. In a way, I also hope my efforts will prove to be vital in the Federal and state governments’ agenda to speed up the vaccination process,” Gooi said during a phone interview with Buletin Mutiara today.
Batu Lancang assemblyman Ong Ah Teong said this initiative was crucial for the elderly and disabled because sometimes they received appointments at PPVs far from their homes.
“So far, we have helped 30 individuals in Batu Lancang, and we are still receiving more requests every day. My office and I have prepared seven vehicles during this period. The transportation surely helps to lighten their burden,” Ong said.
For Sungai Pinang assemblyman Lim Siew Khim, she sees this as an opportunity for all assemblymen in the state to step forward and show that they care by providing assistance as and when it is needed.
“Besides providing transport, we have also helped the vulnerable groups in Sungai Pinang to register for the vaccination programme.
“So far, we have helped eight senior citizens, and will be helping more in the future,” Lim told Buletin Mutiara.
Meanwhile, Jelutong MP R.S.N Rayer, when interviewed, said he was planning to drive the people for their vaccination appointments himself in the future.
“I am prepared to drive them to the venues.
“This is to encourage everyone to be vaccinated, and most importantly, to assist senior citizens who don’t have transport or who don’t live with their children and are in dire need of transportation to and from the PPV,” Rayer said.
Other participating representatives include Batu Uban assemblyman A. Kumaresan, Komtar assemblyman Teh Lai Heng, Pulau Tikus assemblyman Chris Lee Chun Kit and Air Itam assemblyman Joseph Ng Soon Siang.
Story by Kevin Vimal
Pix courtesy of state assemblymen