PENANG has extra reason to be joyful in celebrating the 64th Merdeka Day anniversary today when it officially received 20,000 doses of free vaccine from Selangor at the SP Arena in Seberang Jaya.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow described Selangor’s donation as a show of solidarity between the two states in the battle against Covid-19.
In a symbolic ceremony, Chow received a portable refrigerator containing the vaccine from Selangor MB Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari in front of the SP Arena building.
Chow and state Agrotech and Food Security, Rural Development and Health Committee chairman Dr Norlela Ariffin then placed the portable refrigerator, which was earlier brought out from a Selangor Selcare van, into the boot of a Proton Persona belonging to the central Seberang Prai district health office.
“This is a sign of solidarity between the people of Selangor and the people of Penang in the war against Covid-19,” Chow told a press conference after the vaccine handover ceremony.
“On this occasion, both Selangor and Penang state governments would like to express their gratitude to all parties involved in the success of noble effort which will further strengthen the relationship between the two states.
“Hopefully, this effort will help in accelerating and achieving the herd immunity among the people of Malaysia.”
Amirudin, who had earlier paid a courtesy call on Chow in Komtar, said he hoped that by speeding up the supply of vaccines for the people, it would help reduce the Covid-19 cases.
“With the various efforts that have been made by the state and Federal governments before, Selangor has seen a downtrend in cases.
“And like what I mentioned in a meeting with the Penang Chief Minister, if we do not do something like immediate vaccination process, the possibility of a surge in Penang and other states will occur based on our own experience,” Amirudin said.
As of Aug 30, a total of 1.14 million people in Penang have been vaccinated at least one dose, representing 64.4% of the population having been inoculated while 55.8% of the adult population in Penang have been fully vaccinated.
For Selangor, 81.6% of its population (vaccination percentage aggregated including Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Selangor) have received the first dose and 91.6% of the adult population have obtained the second dose.
Also present at the event were former Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who is also the Bagan MP and Air Putih assemblyman, State Secretary Datuk Seri Abdul Razak Jaafar, Penang Local Government, Housing, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo, Selangor State Secretary Datuk Nor Azmie Diron, Selangor executive councillor for health, women and empowerment Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud, Selangor state executive councillor for local government and public transportation Ng Sze Han.
Others included several state assemblymen like Teh Lai Heng (Komtar), Lee Khai Loon (Machang Bubok) and Gooi Hsiao Leung (Bukit Tengah), Seberang Perai City Council mayor Datuk Rozali Mahmud, state Health Department deputy director Dr Rafidah Md Noor, National Security Council Penang director Nazrul Fazami Mohamad and APM Penang director Kol Ishak Md Radzi.
Story by K.H. Ong and Tanushalini Moroter
Pix by Darwina Mohd Daud & Alissala Thian
Video by Law Suun Ting