STATE LEVEL FAMILY DAY: CELEBRATING FAMILIES

SPEECH BY YAB CHOW KON YEOW,

CHIEF MINISTER OF PENANG

STATE LEVEL FAMILY DAY: CELEBRATING FAMILIES

Saturday, 15 June 2019

Dewan Budaya, USM

Good morning. I am thankful to every one of you who gathered here to celebrate this Family Day, which is held for the first time at the state level in Penang. Nearly 10 months after I have launched the Penang2030 vision, “A Family-Focused Green and Smart State that Inspires the Nation”, here we are today, having the state-wide Family Day celebration. I would like to stress that it is each and every one of you who have made this possible. It is you, who have chosen to “vote” for a state that treats families as fundamental blocks of a happy society. As your Chief Minister, I have heard your voice loud and clear. Your unwavering support has made me even more determined to realize the Penang2030 vision for all of us and for our future generations.

The theme for this Family Day is “Celebrating Families”. Some of you may be sceptical and reasonably wonder why there is a need to celebrate families. After all, isn’t ‘family’ the very first social institution that has been around ever since the dawn of humankind? Well, it is no secret that individuals who have strong emotional and psychological support from their family tend to excel in life and, in turn, have more capacity to contribute to their state and country. They are also generally more confident and have a positive outlook on life. Therefore, it is essential to create that positive environment to ensure that our children have the opportunity to thrive in life. Unfortunately, I am unable to do it on my own as it necessitates the responsibility and commitment of all of us to do so.

This Penang2030 vision is collectively owned by every citizen of Penang. Thus, I would like to take this opportunity to urge that each and every one of us as Penangites to take ownership of this responsibility and lead by example to achieve this common goal of ours. Every gesture counts. It may be something as simple as cleaning your home together as a team or something as small as saying “well done” to your children for good performance at school. The point is, all of us can start by building stronger bonds with our family members in our own unique way.

Every time I look at my endearing sons, it has always dawned on me that we, Penangites, are not building this state for this generation, but we are building this state so that our children, their children, and their children’s children may enjoy what we enjoy today and even more. Penang is on the world map for numerous great things and was even chosen as one of the places for the “ultimate Asia experience” by CNN as recent as June 3rd, 2019. However, none of this “Asia experience” would have happened without our unique brand of family values that the visitors find heart-warming. Indeed, behind every famed and world-class Penang food, Penang heritage building, and Penang preserved natural habitat, there is a group of passionate Penangites, whose families have taken root in this soil for many generations and will continue to do so by their children. It is such great family values that enable us today, to hold our heads up high and it is of great significance that we ensure such family values are passed on to the future generations.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am particularly proud to see the State EXCO for Women and Family Development, Gender Inclusiveness, and Religions Other Than Islam, Saudari Chong Eng, together with Penang Women’s Development Corporation (PWDC), who have taken the strategic initiative to create more platforms for public involvement and organizing this Family Day to bring family members together to interact through fun and educational activities.  Seeing you here today, bringing your family and friends, is a testimony to the fact that Penang is ready to move forward towards a more family-focused way of interaction and realizing our common dream as a state.

Lastly, I thank you all for attending and supporting this event. I wish every one of you will leave with unforgettable moments in this state celebration and walk home with family bonds stronger than ever. With this, I would like to officiate the celebration of Family Day in Penang.

Thank you.