4. Be aware of 1. Practise 3. Wash hands regularly Covid-19 physical distancing 2. Wear face masks with soap and sanitiser pandemic AUGUST 16 – 31, 2020 Super start to 2020 State records almost RM6.8 billion in approved manufacturing Remaining 4% (RM321.1m) is approved manufacturing FDI for the period of January to March this year. domestic direct investments (DDI). Top manufacturing FDI from Switzerland, the Last year Penang top in terms of approved United States and Singapore. manufacturing FDI with RM15 billion. State’s approved manufacturing FDI accounts for 96% of State attracts 32 manufacturing projects which are Penang’s manufacturing investment inflows in 1Q2020. expected to create 4,035 new job opportunities. * See P2 for full story Kedah Sarawak 651.7 822.9 Selangor Johor 984.3 Pulau Pinang 1,068.0 PENANG again 6,776.2 We are thankful for Foreign Direct Investment the strong confidence tops list of approved (RM million) manufacturing placed in us by the multinational corporations foreign direct – Chief Minister investments for 1Q2020 Chow Kon Yeow 2 NEWS AUGUST 16 – 31, 2020 BULETIN MUTIARA Story by Christopher Tan Pix by Law Suun Ting ESPITE the dark clouds of Covid-19 hanging over Penang tops Dthe whole world, Penang has something to cheer about. The state has again topped the list of approved manufactur- ing foreign direct investments (FDI) for the first quarter of this FDI chart year (1Q2020) - after taking pole position with RM15 billion for manufacturing FDI for the first Penang expects 2020’s invest- the whole of last year. quarter of this year were from ment inflow to the state to be For the period of January to Switzerland, the United States lower than the 2019 all-time- March this year, Penang record- and Singapore. high of RM16.9 billion. ed a promising RM6.8 billion He said Penang received re- “We are mindful that the glob- in approved manufacturing FDI markable investments such as al FDI outlook is on a downtrend - not bad indeed for one of the projects from Dexcom and LEM until at least 2021, and that the smallest states in the country. International. public health challenges will per- Chief Minister Chow Kon Ye- Chow also spoke about Pen- sist in the near future. ow said the approved manufac- ang’s RM7.1 billion in total ap- “The Penang government will turing FDI in the state account- proved manufacturing invest- remain vigilant in our efforts ed for 96% of Penang’s manu- ments (FDI and DDI) for 1Q2020 to attract high-quality and high- A visibly jubilant Chow is thankful that Penang is a facturing investment inflows in amidst the challenging global technology investments,” Chow destination of choice for investors. 1Q2020. macroeconomic environment. said. “The remaining 4% or “We successfully garnered He added that the state gov- very supportive towards attract- kiyuddin Abdul Rahman, Deputy RM321.1 million was approved 32 manufacturing projects in ernment, through InvestPenang, ing investors to the state. Chief Minister II Prof Dr P. Ra- manufacturing domestic direct 1Q2020, which are expected to Penang Development Corpora- “The RM7.1 billion in total ap- masamy, state executive council investments (DDI). create 4,035 new job opportuni- tion (PDC) and other relevant proved manufacturing investments members Yeoh Soon Hin, Jag- “I am pleased to note that ties in Penang. agencies, is committed to as- for 1Q2020 is the fruit of our work deep Singh Deo, Datuk Abdul Penang is a major contributor to- “The machinery and equip- sisting investors and to facili- since 2019 – a ‘flow over’ from Halim Hussain, Chong Eng and wards the country’s FDI. ment, scientific and measuring tate project implementations on 2019 to 2020,” he said. Soon Lip Chee. Joining them was “We contributed 64% share of equipment (which include medi- the ground. Also present were Deputy InvestPenang chief executive of- Malaysia’s total FDI. The state cal devices) as well as the elec- He also thanked federal Chief Minister I Datuk Ahmad Za- ficer Datuk Loo Lee Lian. plays a crucial role in driving trical and electronics industries government agencies such as Malaysia’s participation in the collectively constituted 95% Malaysian Investment Develop- global supply chain. of the state’s total approved ment Authority (Mida) for work- Boost for domestic tourism “We are thankful for the manufacturing investments for ing with InvestPenang in attract- strong confidence placed in us 1Q2020. ing high-quality investments to PENANG has welcomed the Ma- Mica president Datuk Dr Angie by the multinational corpora- “This encouraging invest- the state. laysia Inbound Chinese Associa- Ng said the concept of FOLIDAY tions,” Chow told a press con- ment performance for 1Q2020 Datuk Seri Lee Kah Choon, tion (Mica) to further promote do- is for tourists to travel with their ference at his office in Komtar exceeded our expectations,” the special investment adviser mestic tourism in the state. friends and family, have fun and on July 22. he said. to the Chief Minister, said the State Tourism Development, enjoy lots of freebies. Chow revealed that the top Chow said, nevertheless, Penang government has been Arts, Culture and Heritage Com- “We have selected six states mittee chairman Yeoh Soon Hin to launch our FOLIDAY Campaign, said the association’s “FOLIDAY namely Terengganu (islands), Campaign” aimed at promoting Perak (retreat), Penang (educa- Penang as the education and tion and heritage), Johor (MICE), heritage destination of choice Sarawak (Culture) and Sabah for interstate travellers and the (Nature),” she said. China market. Penang Global Tourism chief “The FOLIDAY Campaign is executive officer Ooi Chok Yan rather unique as it encompasses presented several short videos both short and long-term ap- that highlighted the exciting plac- proaches to boost local tourism. es of interest in Penang. “Through this campaign, local “Penang has received over 50 tourists can visit Penang now and accolades in the past 10 years. enjoy the tour packages; while “The state is known as the foreign travellers can experience preferred destination for MICE, Penang later when international cruise, medical, education and borders reopen. wedding,” he said. “The campaign will boost our Among the tourism industry domestic economy besides cre- players who took part in the ating job opportunities for the lo- networking session were Pen- cal community. ang Hill Corporation, The TOP “I was informed that Mica is Penang, The Habitat Penang confident of attracting 500,000 Hill, Entopia, The Wembley and domestic tourists to Penang from Cititel Express, G Hotel, M Sum- July to December this year,” Yeoh mit 191 Executive Hotel Suites, said in his speech before launch- Hotel Equatorial, Lexis Suites ing the FOLIDAY Campaign in Penang and DoubleTree Resort Penang on July 17. by Hilton Penang. BULETIN MUTIARA AUGUST 16 – 31, 2020 NEWS 3 Overjoyed after obtaining Malaysian citizenship (From left) Recipients Tamil Devi Murugan, Mohamad Safuan Ghouse, Yeap Chin Hong (father of recipient Yeap Yon Zhi), Mathavan and Story by Kevin Vimal dians and other races. Ng in a group photo with Ramasamy (centre) Pix by Chan Kok Kuan Deputy Chief Minister II Prof Dr after getting their citizenship certificates. P. Ramasamy said a special citizen- OR some of them it was a ship assistance committee, com- long eight-year wait but when prising five special officers, was who was adopted by Mathavan Nair told Buletin Mutiara during a brief tion,” she said. FJuly 20 arrived, it was a joyful set up to coordinate citizenship ap- and wife Amarjit Kaur. interview session. Ng Swee Lin, 66, said after two day for three stateless children and plications in all five districts in the “Due to my wife’s health condi- Housewife Sapiah Hamzah was failed attempts to acquire a blue IC, two red identity card (IC) holders state. tion, we were unable to have kids. overwhelmed after her adopted he could finally rejoice over the fact when they were finally granted Ma- “Since 2013 until February So, we decided to adopt Tarvind son, Mohamad Safuan Ghouse Ab- that his application was approved. laysian citizenship. 2020, the programme has ben- who has given us nothing but just dul Rahim, eight, gained his certifi- “My application was unsuccess- The “Program Kewarganega- efited 1,539 stateless individuals happiness. cate of Malaysian citizenship after ful in 1978 and 2011 before it was raan Pulau Pinang”, which was in Penang to gain their citizenship,” “We had to wait for eight years eight long years. approved in 2015. I thank the Pen- established in 2013, was aimed at Ramasamy told Buletin Mutiara af- before getting the approval from “I would like to thank the min- ang government for showing great addressing the stateless problem ter the event. the ministry (Home Ministry), but it istry and Penang government for support in this matter and hope faced by different communities, One of the beneficiaries was was worth it because now our son playing important roles to ensure they will keep up the good work,” including the Malays, Chinese, In- nine-year-old Tarvind Jayden Nair, is a Malaysian citizen,” Mathavan the approval of my son’s applica- said Ng. Exploring wonders of Balik Pulau BALIK Pulau, famous for its promote tourism. green lung and ecosystem, has “The themes are heritage, huge potential to become a eco-tourism, family oriented and Yeoh (left) and Gooi taking time off to feed well-known tourism destination. mangrove forests. the goats at the farm. State Tourism Development, “This will definitely create a Arts, Heritage and Culture Com- platform to take Balik Pulau’s mittee chairman Yeoh Soon Hin tourism to greater heights,” he said Balik Pulau could be fur- told Buletin Mutiara after visit- ther developed into one of the ing the Audi Dream Farm in Sun- popular places of interest.