THE Penang government is set to conduct community Covid-19 screening at all its 40 constituencies in the state, targeting 40,000 individuals.
According to state Local Government, Housing, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo, the phase one of the programme would involve 1,000 individuals (high risk group) from each constituency.
“The mass screening will cost nearly RM3 million which will be borne by the state government. This progamme is similar to the one done in Selangor.
“Meanwhile as we wait for the vaccine supply to arrive, the state government has come up with this initiative,’’ said Jagdeep after conducting a spot check at the Kuantan Road Market today.
Jagdeep also said a special committee had been formed to oversee the implementation of the programme, which also includes identifying of the eligible individuals for the screening test.
“During the state exco meeting yesterday, the chief minister told me to lead this programme with help of several parties, namely Health Ministry, state secretariat office as well as the state representatives.
“Apart from that, this programme will also involve some civil servants, state secretary, state Finance Department as well as some representatives from Selangor, who will be our advisers since they had started this programme earlier.
“We will be coming up with the mechanism of the programme, and hopefully it can take off in two weeks’ time,’’ he added.
Meanwhile, Jagdeep urged the Federal Government to initiate economic stimulus package for the ‘rakyat’ to help them sustain during the full lockdown which will be implemented from June 1 till June 14.
“During the implementation of the movement control order 1.0 (MCO 1.0) on March 18, 2020 for 47 days, the Federal government had come up with the economic stimulus package (Prihatin Rakyat Economic Stimulus Package), amounting to RM250 billion for its people.
“Thus, this time we also ask of the prime minister to announce another economic stimulus package for the ‘rakyat’, especially for the people of Penang.
“The situation has caused anxiety among our people and hopefully with the announcement of such package, it will calm them down as they will be severely affected economically during the full lockdown.
“We hope Penang will receive at least RM130 million like last year or more to help all affected sectors in the state,” he added.
Story by Tanushalini Moroter
Pix by Adleena Rahayu Ahmad Radzi