The 2019 Chinese New Year Open House of E&O Bhd Group

Speech by Chief Minister of Penang

at The 2019 Chinese New Year Open House of E&O Bhd Group

Straits Green, Seri Tanjung Pinang
16 February 2019

 

YB Zairil Khir Johari
State Exco for Works, Utilities and Flood Mitigation

YB Wong Hon Wai
Member of Parliament for Bukit Bendera

YB Chris Lee Chun Kit
Assemblyman for Pulau Tikus

YB Jason Ong Khan Lee
Assemblyman for Kebun Bunga

Ms Lyn Chai
E&O Berhad Group corporate strategy director

Members of the media

Distinguished guests

Ladies and gentlemen

Good afternoon.

I would like to thank the E&O Group for hosting this Chinese New Year Open House and giving me the honour to celebrate the festive season with the Tanjung Tokong community.

I still remember when YAB Tuan Lim Guan Eng launched the 4-acre Straits Green public park in 2013 and it has since been the site of many events and activities involving the residents of Seri Tanjung Pinang and the communities surrounding it. Credit must be given to E&O Berhad for not just investing in the landscaping of this beautiful space but also for their continued support in the maintenance and management of the park for the past 6 years.

In 2014, E&O elevated the use of Straits Green by establishing the Think Green Community Education Programme which I had the pleasure of launching. With a focus on engaging the younger generation, the Think Green Programme has successfully nurtured eco-consciousness, healthy living and more importantly a strong sense of community spirit amongst the participating schools.

I am truly impressed to see how this programme has grown over the years, from its initial start with just one school to its current participation of 6 schools with about 950 students benefitting from a whole range of indoor & outdoor programmes. I was informed that recently the Think Green Club of Sekolah Kebangsaan Tanjung Tokong took home the prize for the “Best Co-Curriculum Club 2018”. Kudos to the winning team.

This initiative is a great example of a corporate organization whose ethos is to contribute to positive social change and I applaud E&O for their dedication and commitment in this regard which is also reflective of the support for Penang2030 which I launched last year with an emphasis on improving liveability, the economy, civil participation and balanced development to achieve a "family-focused, green and smart state".

Nurturing our students through eco-consciousness programmes is indeed a step in the right direction to make Penang a green state.

Finally, on behalf of the State Government, I thank the E&O Group for their generosity in contributing RM200,000 towards the Penang State’s Chinese New Year celebration. This is the Group’s 13th consecutive year supporting the State and I would like to encourage other corporate entities to take the lead in giving back to the community through CSR programmes as a framework of your businesses.

Last but not least, it is my hope that the New Year will bring good fortune, good health and lasting happiness to all.

Gong Xi Fa Cai! Xin Nian Kuai Le!