PETALING JAYA: The Penang government has risen to the challenge since the first phase of the movement control order (MCO) was enforced 14 days ago to tackle the spread of Covid-19.
Never before in recent history has there been such anxiety and confusion over the coronavirus as it continues to strike fear into the hearts of millions throughout the world.
But the Penang government knows that any decision made by one gripped by fear is unwise.
Thus, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow and his team, consisting of his state executive councillors and members of the state special task force and security council, constantly keep their cool as they come out with strategic plans to overcome whatever difficulties.
Knowing the hardships that many have to endure during these trying times, Chow unveiled a RM75 million economic stimulus package, known as Penang People’s Aid Package, to ease the burden of vulnerable groups on March 25.
Chow said he is aware that some salary earners may be worried over job loss once this crisis is over, self-employed having no income and even business owners facing the prospects of closing down their businesses.
“I understand their worries. Although the state does not have huge resources, we want to help as many in the lower income group as possible. The aid may still be insufficient and we are working closely with the private sector to help rebuild the economy,” Chow told theSun.
“The MCO has been extended until April 14. So, I urge Penangites to be patient and abide by the order. All of us have to be mentally and physically prepared. We’re not in a sprint race, but rather, we are in a marathon.”
The state has approached the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) Penang branch and various chambers of commerce for their feedback on how the state government and the private sector could work together to rebuild the economy.
From the aid package, RM30 million has been allocated for the Penang Business Continuity Zero Interest Loan to enable micro business and SME owners to apply for “revolving model”.
The loan is not only interest-free but also the borrower is only required to repay after six months of obtaining the loan amount.
The aid package was increased by a whopping RM55 million from the RM20 million he had initially announced.
It is to benefit over 400,000 recipients, such as licensed hawkers, small business owners, taxi drivers, trishaw riders, e-hailing drivers, the physically challenged, the low-income group (B40), licensed tourist guides, front-liners and 3 ‘D’ (dirty, difficult, dangerous) workers.
Some will receive RM500 one-off payment and others RM300 one-off payment in April.
The state will give two months’ reprieve to those who are renting the state government and People’s Housing Project (PPR) public housing schemes and one-month exemption for business premises rented under the local and state governments.
For Covid-19 patients, they will be given a one-off payment of RM500 while the beneficiaries of the deceased will receive RM1,000.
The state government will also give a one-off payment of RM1,000 to mosques and RM500 to surau for disinfection in their areas, considering that there may be infection resulting from the Sri Petaling (tabligh) cluster.
The state has also allocated RM30,000 to all state constituency service centres (irrespective of whether they are in the Opposition or not) for emergency use.
Following Chow’s announcement of the stimulus aid package, the state launched the Penang Covid-19 Fund to further help the less fortunate.
Chow did not only urge private firms and the public to donate but he himself as the chief minister and his fellow state executive councillors also walked the talk by donating a month’s salary to the fund.
“We are in this together, in good times and in bad,” Chow said, adding that donations have begun to pour in.
Looking back, Penang acted fairly fast by launching the Covid-19 campaign on March 16 - two days before the implementation of MCO.
Indeed, the state government immediately swung into action when Covid-19 hit the shores of Penang with the media reporting its first case on March 11.
Chow quickly convened a working group to strategise and focus on four areas - containment, transparency, informative and mitigation.
Bukit Mertajam MP Steven Sim Chee Keong was appointed to lead the Penang Lawan Covid-19 campaign, while State Secretary Datuk Abdul Razak Jaafar was appointed to chair the Covid-19 state task force to coordinate among government departments.
Putting politics aside, the state government also invited state Opposition Leader Datuk Muhamad Yusoff Mohd Noor to be part of the high-level State Security Council Committee.
The committee, headed by Chow, coordinates both federal and state multi-agencies’ work on Covid-19 management in Penang.
One of the early measures that Penang took was the cancellation of all state-organised public events to contain the outbreak after five new cases were confirmed in Penang, all from the Sri Petaling cluster, on March 13.
Penang’s two local councils - the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) and the Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) - also set up their respective task force.
A total of 4,700 council workers were then mobilised in two sectors, enforcement of MCO and cleaning/disinfection of public spaces, like marketplaces and some buildings.
Assemblymen, together with the Village Community Management Council (MPKK), have been helping the two local councils since the MCO enforcement.
As social distancing is imperative in the fight against Covid-19, especially in marketplaces and supermarkets, MBPP and MBSP saw to it that markers were drawn at one metre apart so that people do not come into close contact with one another.
MBPP temporarily shut down the Sri Aman market in Relau for three days from March 29 to March 31 for flouting the social distancing rule and failing to provide hand sanitisers.
It said the closure also serves as a warning to others.
MBPP also ordered all roadside stalls in Jelutong, Air Itam, Perak Road, Pulau Tikus and Bayan Baru to close.
The police have also closed the road leading to the Air Itam Market to prevent a stream of vehicles from traversing the narrow road and causing congestion at the marketplace.
From the start, the state government has prioritised the safety of front-liners, recognising the crucial services they are offering.
Even though the medical sector is not under the jurisdiction of the state, the state government has ensured that hospitals and clinics are well equipped.
The RM10 million given to the state by the federal government has been channelled to fully equip the front-liners at the hospitals and clinics.
Besides that, the state government has handed over additional supplies such as personal protective equipment (PPE), beds, gloves, sanitisers and infra-red thermometers, to hospitals as well as police, army and local councils.
These items were purchased from another RM10 million that was allocated by the state government.
Sanitisers were distributed to all high-rise building projects in Penang and six million face masks were purchased for distribution to critical sectors.
A total of 150 billboards were also erected and posters distributed all over the state to provide public awareness messages. The billboards carry messages like “Balik Rumah Sekarang” and “Tapau Balik Makan Di Rumah”.
Penang also took to social media platforms to be transparent on cases reported in the state, with Chow himself addressing the people live via his Facebook page daily.
The campaign also produced various videos in different languages (Bahasa Melayu, Hokkien, Tamil, English) to educate the public on Covid-19 related issues.
It can be tough for those who feel imprisoned by the MCO. Nevertheless, the state’s Exco for Youth and Sports under Soon Lip Chee, has produced a video on indoor exercise methods to keep oneself healthy at home: “Senaman indoor PKP”
Now that the MCO has been extended until April 14, the state has also initiated a food distribution programme to ensure no one will go hungry in Penang.
As of noon yesterday, Penang has recorded 94 Covid-19 cases with one death.
To date, the police have reported a 95% compliance rate of the MCO in Penang.
All in all, the Penang government has been doing its level best to fight the disease.
But the battle is far from being won. Hence, Chow wants the state to aim for full compliance and has urged the people to give their full cooperation by following the MCO.
