Story by Victor Seow
STATE exco member for Youth & Sports, Women, Family and Community Development Chong Eng, in her winding-up speech in the recently concluded State Assembly session, gave a detailed account on infrastructure development by the state government to uplift sports in Penang.
“Penang is proud of its progressive initiatives with a fixed direction which include various infrastructure development for an assortment of sports. These involve the construction of the RM45 million bicycle lane project under the Penang Bicycle Lane Master Plan which was planned in 2016. Another two new badminton complexes – one at Macallum Street which can fit in eight badminton courts and a basketball court – and one at Sungai Pinang which has 12 badminton courts,” she said.
“There’s also a new RM2.5 million badminton complex with six courts at Jalan Bukit Panchor in Seberang Perai Selatan and a RM30 million sports complex in Ampang Jajar, Permatang Pauh which can accommodate 30 badminton courts as well as a swimming pool. There’s also a suggestion for an additional four swimming pools and 82 new badminton courts in four years’ time,” the Padang Lalang assemblymember added.
With regards to her portfolio Women, Family and Community Development, Chong Eng thanked Yap Soo Huey (DAP–Pulau Tikus) for suggesting the Golden Father Programme which is in line with gender equality and as a motivation for fathers to play a more active role in domestic chores.
“The suggestion for having basic courses in household management or ‘home living skills’ to be a criteria for the Golden Father Programme is a good one which will be considered and fine-tuned by the state government. The state government takes the view that gender equality is a pre-requisite of a harmonious and happy family,” Chong Eng noted.