OPENING CEREMONY FOR JABIL-SPONSORED COMPUTER ROOM AT PUSAT JAGAAN SURIA

SPEECH BY THE CHIEF MINISTER OF PENANG YAB TUAN CHOW KON YEOW

 

CHEQUE PRESENTATION AND OPENING CEREMONY
FOR JABIL-SPONSORED COMPUTER ROOM AT PUSAT JAGAAN SURIA

 

15 OCTOBER 2022
Pusat Jagaan Suria, Lilitan Sungai Ara

 

 

Dato’ Seri Wong Siew Hai,
President of The Penang Welfare Association For Mentally Retarded Children

 

Mr Tan Siew Jin

Managing Director of Jabil Penang

 

Dato’ Tan Eng Kee

CEO & Executive Director of Greatech Technology Berhad

 

Mr Jimmy Khor

Managing Director of Bold Pack Industries Sdn. Bhd.

 

Principals, teachers, students & parents, 

 

Committee members of Penang Welfare Association

 

Members of the media

 

Ladies and gentlemen

Good afternoon, to all of you.

I am delighted to be invited by Pusat Jagaan Suria and Jabil to join you on this special occasion.

The Penang that we live in today is a progressive, inclusive and diverse one. Since taking over as Chief Minister back in 2018, my administration has envisioned the future of Penang as “A family-focused, green and smart state that inspires the nation”.

The Penang2030 vision aimed for Penangites to take charge of our own future and most importantly, not to leave anyone behind.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused many to lose their jobs in the services sector. As such, we face an urgent need to address the increasing socio-economic divide between those who have more and those who have less.

Therefore, I am very pleased to know that Jabil Penang took the lead in sponsoring the computer room in Pusat Jagaan Suria.  As a global leading manufacturing solutions provider, based out of St. Petersburg in Florida, Jabil enables innovation, growth and customer success in a broad range of industries such as consumer products, healthcare, smart technology and many more.

Ladies & Gentlemen,

Technology and digital knowledge are keys to transforming the world we live in. It is now more important than ever to keep up with technology and continue to innovate products and services that meet the needs of our future generations.

This is why the Penang state government has always channelled resources on improving our digital competitiveness and to expose our students to skills which will be useful for them in the future.

We have spent a total of RM6 million on free coding classes provided by Penang Science Cluster which benefitted 154,269 students from primary and secondary schools in 2018 and 2021.

Furthermore, we now have 4 digital libraries – 2 around the vicinity of Penang Free School and one each in Butterworth and Batu Maung. We want our students to have “a hands-on experience” on the marvels of technology and in turn, to stir their interest in technology matters and the digital knowledge because this is the direction where we are heading.

Moreover, we also need to do more to build a society that cares and reduces existing inequalities.  More importantly, we need to work together to help those in need including the poor, disadvantaged and the academically challenged to ensure no one is left behind in reaping the benefits of the Penang2030 vision.

As such, Pusat Jagaan Suria is an example of a successful public-private partnership, which amplifies the fact that if we are united, we can make all things happen including what I have just mentioned a while ago.

I would like to express my appreciation to Greatech Technology and Dato’ EK Tan for donating RM200,000 to the Penang Welfare Association in support of education for the differently abled. In total, over the last three years or so, prior to and during the Covid Pandemic, Dato’ Tan has contributed a total of RM600,000 (including today’s gift) to the Association in support of the differently abled students and youth. This is a truly commendable effort not to leave any child behind when it comes to education.

My appreciation also goes to Bold Pack Industries which contributed towards the flooring and refurbishment costs of the computer lab to make it a more comfortable learning place for our beloved special students. The new computer lab comprises 20 desktop computers, 5 laptops, 5 printers as well as software to be used by students and teachers.

Lastly, I would like to congratulate Penang Welfare Association, Jabil Penang, Greatech Technology Berhad and all partners for your tireless efforts to build a better future for the differently-abled children in Penang.

Thank you!