June 16 – 30, 2021 Ber Thisyear
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June 16 – 30, 2021 Towards herd immunity Story by Kevin Vimal and vid-19 infection curve. August and September,” Khairy said in Chow said on his Facebook on Riadz Akmal Chow and Khairy visited the state’s his speech. June 15, that the Setia SPICE Arena first mega PPV – the Setia SPICE Arena According to statistics, a total of mega PPV has the capacity to ad- ERD immunity by the end of Octo- – on June 3. 3,212,873 vaccine doses (dose 1 and minister 3,000 doses of Covid-19 ber this year. Khairy, while echoing Chow’s calls, 2) have been administered nationwide vaccine per day. H That is the target of the state said he would soon be suggesting to as of June 2; out of which 171,903 dos- Thanks to the various PPVs – in- government in its aim to flatten the Co- the relevant authorities to consider es have been administered in Penang. cluding public hospitals, private hospi- vid-19 curve. using companies or premises located Besides the sole mega PPV, there tals, and clinics – Penang managed to Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the within the Bayan Lepas Free Industrial are many other normal PPVs in Pen- achieve its target of injecting 10,000 state is mobilising its resources and mak- Zone and Batu Kawan Free Industrial ang, such as the Dewan Millenium Covid-19 vaccine doses per day on ing the necessary preparations to reach Park as potential PPVs. Kepala Batas, Dewan Seberang Perai June 7. the target. “This is to speed up the country’s ef- Arena, Dewan Serbaguna Jawi, Caring Chow urged those who have not “We are committed to ensure that we forts to further curb the spread of the Society Complex, Penang Pesta site, registered for the National Covid-19 achieve herd immunity by the end of Oc- infection, as well as to ensure that fac- Balik Pulau Sports Complex, Tapak Immunisation Programme to sign up tober this year,” he told reporters at the tory workers are inoculated as soon as Ekspo Seberang Jaya, and others. for vaccination. vaccination centre in Dewan Millenium, possible. Several PPVs are also in the process “Registration is important for us Kepala Batas on June 5. “We hope that over 150,000 people of opening. Once they open, these cen- to cover the 1.3 million to 1.4 million Chow said the National Covid-19 Im- nationwide can be vaccinated daily in tres would enable more people to get people, which is 80% of our targeted munisation Programme Coordinating the coming months, especially in July, their vaccination shots. population,” Chow said. Minister Khairy Jamaluddin had given his assurance that vaccine supply to all the states, including Penang, would be increased rapidly in July and August this year. “This is important in our effort to curb the spread of the infection. “The state is also encouraging private State mobilising clinics to volunteer to be resources, making Covid-19 vaccination cen- necessary preparations tres (PPVs). “We want to in- to achieve target. crease the capac- ity of the PPVs so Vaccine supply that more people to be increased can be vaccinat- rapidly in July and ed,” he added. Chow said August this year. herd immunity would help State hopes more the state flat- private clinics volunteer ten the Co- to be Covid-19 A senior citizen getting his jab at the vaccination centre in Dewan vaccination centres. Millenium, Kepala Batas on June 5. 2 NEWS June 16 – 30, 2021 BULETIN MUTIARA Penang’s dream The Botanic Gardens green space is a sea of green! Story by Kevin Vimal Pix by Ahmad Adil Muhamad FTER having served for four years as the Penang ABotanic Gardens curator, Datuk Dr Saw Leng Guan called it a day at the oldest garden in Malaysia on May 28. And just before he officially left, he called for his succes- sor and staff to stand strong in their commitment to turn this gardens into a world premier destination. While the Penang Botanic Gardens can still be improved tremendously in various areas for the delight of the people, Saw said the gardens, never- theless, must be commended for its unusual yet unique loca- tion as it is placed just about three to five kilometres from the city centre and neighbouring beautiful natural forests. Phanera kockiana. Mussaenda philippica 'Calcutta'. Osmoxylon lineare. “The set up here is very hard to find elsewhere, and the fact of the best natural amenities Also, during the interview, a few things within this space, that it sits so close to the natu- that even words wouldn’t be Saw said when he was ap- which included the setting up ral forests is what makes it so able to describe the feeling. pointed curator in 2017, he had of an understory plant house at unusual and unique. “The structure of this gar- spent the first two years revising the front of the gardens. “This is what it really means dens is exquisite and that’s also the gardens special area plan “Other efforts such as in- by nature at its best! one of the factors that makes it (SAP) with the ultimate goal of stalling QR codes on metal Saw scanning one of the QR “Personally, for someone stands out,” Saw told Buletin revitalising the space for people plates that were placed next code labels that would then who has been in this field for Mutiara during an exclusive in- from afar and near to enjoy. to the trees and plants should flash information about that particular plant. over three decades now, Pen- terview at the Penang Botanic “After completely revising the also be mentioned as a suc- ang Botanic Gardens has some Gardens on May 27. SAP, my team and I worked on cessful mission. department. “This was important because “How do gardens look there are over 400 species of good? It is the people’s re- plants and trees here. There- sponsibility to assure it looks fore, it would be beneficial for and remains good. visitors to scan the QR codes “Gardens is a place where and learn more about them,” we put plants together and Saw added. tell a story. And to tell a sto- When asked on future devel- ry, you may not necessarily opments within the gardens, need to have the relevant Saw said the SAP, which covers education, but sometimes an area of 212ha, has plans to all you need is the will to go further improve the garden com- the extra mile and of course, position, visitor facilities, plant being truly passionate about collection management, exist- what really matters to you,” ing hiking trails and build a new Saw added. viewing and tower deck near the Separately, after having waterfall located at the inner seen it all, 65-year-old Saw’s part of the gardens. next vision in life is not “For this to happen and to small, but truly ambitious as make this garden even more the Taiping boy has now set special, we need people power. his sights on broadening his When I say people power, it knowledge on palm trees and means a very strong team ad- to conclude the study with a ministering these efforts in the thorough documentation. BULETIN MUTIARA June 16 – 30, 2021 NEWS 3 Boost for Penang Covid-19 Fund Jagdeep handing a packet of face masks to Soffian at the Taman Free School Market. Story by Edmund Lee State Local Government, “I believe that more elected since last year. cy should know better the group Pix by Adleena Rahayu Housing, Town and Country representatives and councillors Besides that, Jagdeep said of people to be screened,” he Ahmad Radzi Planning Committee chairman (from MBPP and Seberang Pe- the state government has ap- added. Jagdeep Singh Deo said for rai City Council) will be joining proved RM3 million for mass Co- Jagdeep, who is also Datok DAY after Chief Minis- now 15 of the 40 assembly- in as well. vid-19 screening programmes Keramat assemblyman, also ter Chow Kon Yeow and men in the state have pledged “I understand that many Pen- in all 40 state constituencies. donated 1,000 packets of ba- Astate executive council- to contribute 30% of their sal- angites are facing a difficult pe- He said 1,000 people from sic necessities to the needy lors pledged to contribute their ary to the fund. riod now. Their livelihoods have each constituency would be households in his constituency. June salary to the Penang Cov- He thanked them as well been severely affected since selected for the programme, Northeast district police id-19 Fund, a total of 15 assem- as the MBPP councillors for last year. which means a total of 40,000 chief ACP Soffian Santong, who blymen and 10 Penang Island committing a portion of their “Therefore, the state is do- people would be screened in was present, called on the pub- City Council (MBPP) councillors earnings to the fund at a time ing its best to help out in these the first phase. lic to adhere to the SOPs at all stepped forward to contribute when the Covid-19 pandemic challenging times,” he told re- He said the programme was times. part of theirs. is raging. porters after conducting a spot important and he hoped all “Don’t follow SOPs only check on standard operating elected representatives would when policemen or enforce- procedure (SOP) compliance at support it. ment officers are around. State to fast track plans Taman Free School Market. “The mass screening pro- Please do it for the sake of This is the second time Chow gramme will be implemented in your health and safety.