‘Stakeholders’ cooperation crucial for Penang’s recovery’

GEORGE TOWN – Penang needs the cooperation of all stakeholders to recover from the adverse impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, said Yang di-Pertua Negri Tun Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak.
 
In his first public engagement since the easing of pandemic restrictions, he said that stakeholders in the public and private sector need to understand the importance of holding regular discussions and dialogues.
 
“This is to propel the state forward in the post-Covid era where changes are inevitable,” said Fuzi when opening the Penang Future Forward Summit co-organised by the KSI Strategic Institute for the Asia Pacific and Wawasan Open University (WOU).
 
Present were KSI president Tan Sri Michael Yeoh and WOU education foundation chairman Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon.
 
In his speech, Fuzi said that the importance of education must also be recognised by all, as it forms the basis for a tolerant society through the principles of the federal constitution and Rukun Negara.
 
“I hope that our beloved state of Penang will achieve the progress everybody craves for.”
 
He said that the state has an economy uniquely different from other states, driven by the vibrancy of its manufacturing and services sectors.
 
“With this, there is hope that the state can recover from the upheavals of Covid-19.”
 
Fuzi also touched on medical tourism, saying he is glad private hospitals have some financial reserves to weather the pandemic.
 
However, he said 70% of travel businesses have shut down.
 
“Some have to close temporarily and some permanently.”
 
Fuzi hopes that the authorities will implement measures to reactivate the tourism industry as it involves jobs for thousands.
 
“To recover faster, there is a need to contain the pandemic better and to realise that this virus has caused people to do things differently.
 
“Some may find that online education works well with them but with others, it may have an adverse impact. We must be mindful of this. The pandemic has changed the structure of our economy and we must be responsive to it.”
 
Puzi urged the people to be attentive to increased production costs, less travel and the need for physical distancing, which conflicts with the need to speed up automation in the post-Covid era.
 
“The working culture will also change with the adoption of working from home.”
 
Penang recorded RM1.1 million in manufacturing investments in the first quarter of this year from 14 projects, of which 52% are direct domestic investments and the rest, foreign direct investments.
 
At the event, Puzi conferred lifetime achievement awards to four outstanding Penangites who have excelled in their careers.
 
They were SME Bank Bhd non-executive chairman Datuk Seri Nazir Ariff, Farlim Group chairman Tan Sri Lim Gait Tong, The Star Media Group adviser Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai and Areca Books publisher and heritage advocate Khoo Salma Nasution. – The Vibes, October 25, 2021