THE Penang government will continue to support the charity work of the Kek Lok Si Charitable Hospital, and has pledged to allocate RM200,000 in aid of the hospital next year.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the allocation would be channelled through the Kek Lok Si Charity Foundation.
“I sincerely applaud the dedication of the Kek Lok Si Charitable Hospital rank and file, the hospital board members and everyone who have contributed through the Kek Lok Si Charity Foundation.
“In April this year, I have pledged RM200,000 to assist the Kek Lok Si Charitable Hospital.
“Today, I am happy to announce that the Penang government will provide the same amount of RM200,000 to the hospital through the Kek Lok Si Charity Foundation next year.
“The Kek Lok Si Charitable Hospital is certainly not an easy project to be realised.
“As we all know, to build and to run a hospital with its various advanced medical equipment, professional medical team and well-trained personnel will incur huge expenses,” Chow said in his speech during the grand opening of the hospital and the 130th anniversary of the Kek Lok Si Temple today.
Chow said the rank and file of the Kek Lok Si Charitable Hospital have persevered despite the health and economic challenges from Covid-19.
He also said that the medical facilities of the Kek Lok Si Charitable Hospital are on par with any other private hospital in Penang.
Deputy Health Minister I Datuk Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali congratulated Kek Lok Si for achieving a significant milestone this year.
Tunku Abdul Rahman University College Board of Governors chairman Tan Sri Liow Tiong Lai said he was honoured to be invited to the event.
Liow was happy that the community and Kek Lok Si are supporting the healthcare system in Malaysia.
“The healthcare system is under a lot of stress and it needs the community’s support,” the former health minister said.
Kek Lok Si Charitable Hospital medical superintendent and Board member Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan thanked both Chow and former Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng for their advice and guidance.
Teng said the process of setting up the hospital was smooth and he thanked Chow and the state government for the monetary aid provided.
He also conveyed his thanks to former health ministers Liow and Datuk Seri S. Subramaniam, and current Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin for their support.
Kek Lok Si Charitable Hospital Board member Datuk Seri Steven Ooi said Kek Lok Si is an important landmark in Penang and he expressed his joy that the hospital has been officiated.
Also present were the consul-general of the People’s Republic of China in Penang Lu Shiwei, Penang Social Development and Non-Islamic Religious Affairs Committee chairman Chong Eng, Air Itam assemblyman Joseph Ng, Sungai Pinang assemblyman Lim Siew Khim, Bukit Bendera MP Wong Hon Wai, Yayasan Kek Lok Si Board of Directors chairman Ven Jit Heng, Datuk Selva Mookiah (representing Subramaniam), and Malaysian Buddhist Association representative Ven Chi Chern.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Chan Kok Kuan
Video by Law Suun Ting