GET YOUR FIT ON 2.0 FUND RISING EVENT

SPEECH BY YAB CHOW KON YEOW CHIEF MINISTER OF PENANG FOR GET YOUR FIT ON 2.0 FUND RISING EVENT

 

03 NOVEMBER 2019

 

Good morning.

Firstly, I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation to the Lions Club of Tanjung Putri for inviting me to be a part of this meaningful ‘Get Your Fit On 2.0’ Fund Raising Event.

As to my knowledge, fighting diabetes is the signature cause of Lions and Leos around the world, and I am certainly glad that the Lions Club of Tanjung Putri has come up with a creative programme via Zumba and fitness activities to improve diabetes awareness and to foster a healthier lifestyle within our community. Not to mention, the funds raised through this programme will be donated to the Diabetes Malaysia Penang Branch to provide assistance for the needy in Penang.

Ladies and gentlemen,

I would like to point out a fact as mentioned by our Health Minister earlier this year; Malaysia has the highest rate of diabetes in Asia and one of the highest in the world with 3.6 million Malaysians afflicted with diabetes. This number means that in every 10 citizens there is one who is suffering from diabetes. Of grave concern is that the number is foreseen to increase to 7 million Malaysians by year 2025. This is an awfully worrying trend that should not be taken for granted.

In order for us to curb and to avoid falling victim to this disease, everyone, young and old, should be well aware of it. There are many ways to create awareness on this matter, but one’s family is deemed to be the most natural and effective way to do so. Families have been viewed as the social unit responsible for the health and well-being of its members as it does influence the health behaviour and mentality of its members, both in positive and negative ways.

Cognizant to that, the Penang State Government through the Penang2030 vision, often emphasise that staying healthy is a family-based undertaking, and sports and recreation for different ages are a priority. As such, on behalf of the Penang State Government, I would like to take this opportunity to strongly urge everyone to participate in activities or programmes such as the one we are having today to further enhance our well-being through positive influence on the health behaviour and mentality of family members.

Today, I am glad to see that there are more than 500 participants gathered here to join this meaningful project which coincides with the theme for the diabetes awareness month and World Diabetes Day 2019 which is “Family and Diabetes”. This is definitely a very good start and we should keep up the effort!

Finally, it is with great pleasure I commend the initiative, effort, and perseverance of the Lions Club of Tanjung Putri in your efforts and thoughts to help the needy in Penang while raising awareness on diabetes. I hope today’s programme will achieve its goals and thus create a healthier lifestyle for all Penangites.

Thank you.