Speech by the Chief Minister of Penang YAB Tuan Chow Kon Yeow for the Eye on Jetties Photo Exhibition
Speech by the Chief Minister of Penang YAB Tuan Chow Kon Yeow for the Eye on Jetties Photo Exhibition
2 January 2020
YB Daniel Gooi
State Assemblyman for Pengkalan Kota;
Mr. Chan Kim Keat
Chairman of Village and Community Management Committee (MPKK);
for Clan Jetties
Ms. Chong Lee Choo
Representative from City Eye;
Ms. Leong Wai Yee and Mr. Chang Wei Chuan
Photographer for the “Eye on Jetties” photo exhibition;
Residents of Clan Jetties
Ladies and Gentlemen
Thank you for having me this morning for the official launch of the “Eye on Jetties” photo exhibition held here at Jetty35, Weld Quay on the second day of the year 2020. Despite being the second day of a brand new year, it is still a working day for most of us and especially elected representatives who work non-stop since the day we got elected.
For myself especially, working here at Weld Quay and the constituency of Pengkalan Kota started as far back as 1990 when I was first elected as the State Assemblyman for this constituency in the 8th General Elections. Subsequently, I represented the area as the Member of Parliament for Tanjong for 3 terms from 1999 until 2013, before coming back for my fourth term in 2018.
The journey as an opposition elected representative back then until I became a Member of Parliament for the government as well as the Chief Minister of Penang has been an exciting one with highs and lows. Who would have thought especially the residents here at Pengkalan Kota that the young chap who once represented them in the State Assembly back then could become a Member of Parliament for the government as well as the fifth Chief Minister of Penang?
For this, I would like to thank the people of Pengkalan Kota and generally the people of Penang and Malaysia for the opportunity as well as the support all these years. I am truly honoured and can only repay your support by working harder, to turn Penang into a family-focused, green and smart state that inspires the nation by year 2030.
The photo exhibition we are having today is a special one, which showcases the uniqueness and the beautiful scenery of the Clan Jetties and their residents. As part of the core zone for the George Town UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Penang State Government is committed not only in preserving the Clan Jetties as a unique heritage site, but to further enhance the liveability for the local residents to ensure a long-term sustainability.
In order to coordinate such efforts, a special Clan Jetties Committee was formed by YB Yeoh Soon Hin, the Penang State EXCO for PETACH with the involvement of the local Member of Parliament, State Assemblyman as well as government agencies such as George Town World Heritage Incorporated in 2018 to oversee issues such as the maintenance of jetty structures, the commercial activities as well as the sewerage system issue at the Jetties.
With the photo exhibition today, I hope that visitors will not only stop here but to continue further to explore Clan Jetties and see for yourself the living heritage of Penang. I also hope that the exhibition will inspires you to go on and capture fascinating images and to keep them as your own personal memento and experience.
Once again, thank you very much for having me and with those words, I hereby officiate the “Eye of Jetties” Photo Exhibition here at Jetty35.
Thank you.