THE Penang government is working on two concepts – the whole-of-government and the whole-of-society – in order to win the war against Covid-19, says Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.
He said this after helping to distribute lunch packets to 300 residents from Bukit Gelugor at the Bukit Gelugor MPKK (Village Community Management Council) hall in Taman Tun Sardon today.
“At the State Legislative Assembly sitting on Friday, I had said that government agencies cannot work in silo mentality,” Chow said at the Bukit Gelugor MPKK hall, the first of his three aid distribution programmes today.
“If an agency does not know what another agency is doing, then our fight against the virus outbreak will be jeopardised.
“The whole-of-government concept means that each agency knows its responsibility and will help each other.
“The second concept is that we also involve the participation of the society to ensure the success of this Covid-19 campaign.
“We are thankful that in Penang, we have NGOs (non-governmental organisations) and individuals who are willing to help the underprivileged as well as donating medical supply, PPE (personal protective equipment), face masks, face shields and other items to the frontliners.”
Also present were Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh, Seri Delima assemblyman Syerleena Abdul Rashid, Bukit Gelugor MPKK chairman Mohd Hafiz Abd Aziz and Jaya Catering & Restaurant Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Govindasamy @ Suresh.
Giving a hand in distributing the lunch packets was Jalan Akuarium MPKK chairman Amir Rudin Abdul Rahman while Ramkarpal’s personal assistant Rachael Teh and her colleagues from Ramkarpal’s service centre and MPKK members helped to oversee the smooth running of the programme.
Chow thanked Ramkarpal for organising the programme and Suresh for his company’s meal contribution.
Ramkarpal commended Suresh for also distributing food packets to another 300 residents of Air Itam at Jalan Zoo and other areas the previous day.
Syerleena said the residents in Bukit Gelugor were delighted with this government initiative as people from all over the world are facing challenging times during this virus pandemic.
The next stop was at Sungai Gelugor MPKK hall where Chow, Ramkarpal and Syerleena handed out groceries to 70 recipients.
Helping them in the distribution of the groceries were Sungai Gelugor MPKK chairman Marasik Jabar and Penang Island City Council councillors Tan Soo Siang and Mohd Khairul Mohd Ali.
A recipient, Mazaiti Mohamad, 55, expressed her gratitude to the state government after receiving the provisions like rice, cooking oil, sugar, salt, sardine and biscuits.
“I’m very appreciative of the government’s help. This will lighten my burden as I am a single mother of four.
“Three of my children are grown ups and they have their families to take care of. The youngest is staying with me. I am not working and this provision is timely as Ramadan is just round the corner,” said Mazaiti.
The third and final stop for Chow was at Island Park MPKK hall at the Japanese Garden. There, Chow, Ramkarpal and Syerleena presented boxes of provisions like flour, instant mee, rice, sugar, sauce (kee chup), sardine and baked beans to nine residents.
Also present to help out in the arrangement were Island Park MPKK chairman Tan Seang Aun and his committee members.
Tan said there were supposed to be 25 recipients but those who were unable to attend would have their provisions delivered to them.
After the aid distribution, Ramkarpal proceeded to Sun Moon City, a low medium-cost apartment, in Paya Terubong for another aid distribution programme.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Darwina Mohd Daud
Video by Noor Siti Nabilah Noorazis
