GEORGE TOWN – Penang’s two city councils will be asked to expand their workforce, to better manage Covid-19 containment efforts and ensure development projects run smoothly.
The Penang City Council (MBPP) and Seberang Prai City Council (MBSP) have deployed close to 5,000 personnel to enforce health and safety standard operating procedures since the start of the movement control order in March.
In the Penang Legislative Assembly today, state local government exco Jagdeep Singh Deo (Datuk Keramat-PH) told Joseph Ng Soon Siang (Ayer Itam-PH) that there are 971 development projects under MBPP, and adequate staff are needed to see them through.
Jagdeep said local authorities are prioritising the “new normal” and curbing the coronavirus’ spread.
Among the measures that have been taken are promoting Covid-19 SOPs on social media and setting up CCTVs to ensure compliance with the rules.
There are also 1,991 MBPP personnel and some 3,000 with MBSP conducting monitoring at wet markets and other public places.
“It’s a lot for them, not just checking whether the public is following the SOPs... but they also still need to finish their work (unrelated to Covid-19 measures),” said Jagdeep.
“I must admit that we do not have enough (personnel). It is taking a toll on the councils.”
He said he will hold talks with MBPP and MBSP on increasing their workforce so that ongoing projects are not forced to come to a halt. – The Vibes, October 16, 2020
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