TWO property developers and a foundation have stepped in and contributed surgical masks and medical-grade face masks to the state government.
Mah Sing Group and Mah Sing Foundation donated 30,000 surgical masks while Iconic Worldwide Berhad contributed 20,000 medical-grade face masks to the Penang government.
Mah Sing was represented by head of northern region and senior general manager Lai Kok Soon; while Iconic was represented by managing director Datuk Tan Kean Tet.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow thanked the contributors for donating the face masks, adding that the masks would be distributed to the frontliners in Penang.
Meanwhile, the state government had taken the initiative to distribute 6,000 face masks to food deliverers to safeguard them from the risk of Covid-19 infection.
As the country undergoes the movement control order (MCO), food delivery workers have been tirelessly ferrying meals from restaurants to consumers every day.
The restaurants have also stopped accepting dine-in customers since the MCO enforcement started on March 18 to help the country flatten the curve of Covid-19.
Takeaways are however allowed by the authorities. Thus, this has kept the brave delivery workers busy.
Although they are applauded for their courageous efforts, they also risk their lives if they are not taking any appropriate preventive measures when dealing with the customers during their daily rounds.
The face mask distribution took place near Maybank in Komtar today, involving three food delivery companies, namely Foodpanda, DeliverEat and GrabFood.
Each food delivery company received 2,000 face masks.
GrabFood company were represented by its Penang city manager Daphne Lim Beng Shuan and its head of operation Alex Teoh Chia Liang.
Foodpanda was represented by its Penang Island recruiter Hakimi, while DeliverEat was represented by its George Town rider management supervisor Nurul Nadia Nor Azmi.
Also present during the face mask distribution were Chow’s political secretary Teh Lai Heng, who is also the Komtar assemblyman, and Bukit Bendera MP Wong Hon Wai.
Nurul Nadia expressed her gratitude and thanked the state government for the face masks.
“The face masks come at the right time because we are currently having a shortage of face masks supply. At the same time, we have many riders in Penang.
“Now our riders can use the face masks to protect themselves when they are out doing the delivery.
“So, on behalf of the company, I would like to convey my sincere appreciation to the chief minister and the state government,” she said.
During the MCO enforcement, food delivery services can operate from 8am to 8pm.
The MCO is now into its 23rd day and will end on April 14 after being extended from March 31 to contain the spread of the coronavirus.
Story by Riadz Akmal and Christopher Tan
Pix by Ahmad Adil Muhamad
Video by Adleena Rahayu Ahmad Radzi