GEORGE TOWN – Signalling its commitment to help Penangites weather the pandemic and economic slowdown, the state government is considering cutting the salaries of excos and assemblymen.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow yesterday told a press conference that he will take the matter up if the need arises.
The pay cut would apply to those who volunteer, he said.
Penang made a similar move in April, when Chow and excos donated one month’s salary to the state Covid-19 fund. Most of the money was used to buy food for the underprivileged and personal protective equipment for frontliners.
Yesterday, Chow said several principals of private education institutions had sought state help for needy students, as schools have been ordered to close.
“After the announcement on the conditional movement control order, and with the concerted efforts and coordination of the e-learning task force, the state managed to secure a donation of 250 laptops within three days.
“After one week, we are able to distribute the laptops to the underprivileged.”
He said the 250 laptops cost RM198,000.
“I thank all teachers, principals and boards of directors for their efforts to provide the details of the needy students in a short time so that we can efficiently distribute the devices to them.”
Under the Learn From Home initiative, he said, the YTL Foundation, in collaboration with YTL Communications, is providing YES 4G smartphones and 12 months of free YES services with 120GB data to 224 students in Penang. The initiative costs RM201,376.
He said 76 families have received the phones, while 148 families are waiting for their applications to be processed. – The Vibes, November 20, 2020
