THE Machang Bubuk Volunteer Fire Brigade today submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, seeking the state government’s assistance in securing proper and legal land for its operations.
The memorandum was handed over during an engagement attended by representatives of the Machang Bubuk Volunteer Fire Brigade, the Machang Bubuk Village Youth Association, SJK (C) Kay Sin board of governors, the Central Seberang Perai District Office and the Central Seberang Perai District Education Office (PPD SPT).
The volunteer fire brigade and the youth association are currently operating on government land allocated to SJK (C) Kay Sin.
Responding to the memorandum, Chow said he would forward it to Central Seberang Perai District Education officer Adnan Idris for follow-up with the Education Ministry and the relevant ministries to explore a suitable solution.
He noted that the School Board of Governors of SJK (C) Kay Sin has no objection to the two organisations continuing to use the site.
“The matter requires the cooperation of the relevant authorities to determine the appropriate mechanism for regularising the land use and facilitating an official land application, or other options which would provide long-term certainty for the two organisations’ operations,” Chow said.
Machang Bubuk Volunteer Fire Brigade assistant secretary Manson Choong said the brigade, which has been operating on government land for 30 years since its establishment in 1996, currently has 211 registered members.
“Since the Chief Minister visited the fire brigade here today, we took this golden opportunity to seek his help on the land issue. We’re operating on government land, and we are worried that one day, we may be asked to relocate.
“We’re a non-governmental organisation and provide services to the community in areas such as Machang Bubuk, Alma, Bukit Mertajam, Juru and the neighbourhood. We just hope the status of the site can be formally resolved and our long-term operations can be safeguarded,” Choong said.
Also present were state executive councillor for Trade and National Unity Goh Choon Aik, Central Seberang Perai District Education officer Adnan Idris, Ong Jin Cheng, special officer to Chan Ming Kai, the political secretary of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, SJK (C) Kay Sin Board of Governors’ chairman Hoe Chiew Heng, Machang Bubuk Volunteer Fire Brigade secretary Chong Wan Fuat, Keong Lee Poh, representing Machang Bubuk assemblyman Lee Khai Loon.
Earlier, Chow visited Hock Teck Chin Sin Temple in Sungai Lembu, Penanti, as part of his Jelajah CM Chow programme to engage with residents and MPKK Sungai Lembu members.
MPKK Sungai Lembu secretary Alex Nyong said 50 out of the 110 houses in Sungai Lembu have applied for a leasehold extension to 99 years.
“We still have more than 20 years before the leasehold expires. We hope to take advantage of the state government’s 90 per cent discount and hope that our applications can be expedited,” he said.
Penanti constituency coordinator Salehan Jahaya noted their request and said he would follow up with the relevant authorities.
Also present were state executive councillor Goh Choon Aik, temple chairman Boon Sen Men, temple secretary Toh Bon Hoi, MPKK Sungai Lembu chairman Tan Sing Lee and Ong Jin Cheng.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Darwina Mohd Daud
Video by Siew Chia En