FMM CHARITY DINNER 2020
CHIEF MINISTER OF PENANG YAB TUAN CHOW KON YEOW’S KEY-NOTE ADDRESS FOR
FMM CHARITY DINNER 2020
;9TH JANUARY 2021@ E & O HOTEL, PENANG
YBhg. Dato’ Jimmy Ong
Chairman of FMM Penang Branch & Organising Chairman
YBhg. Dato’ Dr Ooi Eng Hock
Immediate Past Chairman of FMM Penang Branch
YBhg. Dato’ Ong Eng Bin,
CEO, OCBC Bank Bhd
State Executive Councillors of Penang; YB Dato’ Abdul Halim, YB Zairil Khir Johari and YB Soon Lip Chee
YBhg. Dato’ Seri Lee Kah Choon
Director of InvestPenang
Generous Donors
FMM Members, Members of the Press, Distinguished Guests,
Ladies & Gentlemen,
Good evening everyone! Salam sejahtera kepada semua para hadirin.
The FMM Penang Branch has come a long way for the past 51 years. This esteemed trade association has always been a close partner to the State Government, various government agencies and departments. We have worked together hand-in-hand for more than five decades for the betterment of the industries, especially the manufacturing sector which have made substantial contributions to the state’s economic growth.
Being the voice of the industry, your enormous contributions through your regular public-private sector dialogues and constructive engagements to address the changes in government laws, policies and procedures have been noted and appreciated by the State Government. This reflects the good work which the FMM has been doing, the strong support you receive and the good rapport you have created among the stakeholders of the manufacturing industry.
To many of us here this evening, the year 2020 was the most challenging year we have ever faced due to this virus known to us as the Corona virus. A virus so tiny yet can cause such devastating impact to the social economic order of the world. Despite being in the most challenging time, FMM Penang Branch managed to raise RM1.1 million to ease the burden of the less privileged members of our society.
Ladies & Gentlemen, let’s give FMM Penang Branch a big round of applause!
The Penang Future Foundation is again honoured to receive a donation of RM100,000 from FMM Penang Branch. The Foundation was established in 2015. In the past 5 years since its inception, we have awarded approximately 500 scholarships to selected scholars from a diverse range of backgrounds who are enrolled in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Accountancy and Finance.
The Covid-19 has affected many households financially. The Penang Future Foundation becomes a critical platform to ensure that our deserving scholars are not denied their education opportunities during this challenging time.
Penang may not have natural resources like some of her neighbouring states but what we do have is a skilled workforce and talents who are, more often than not, an envy of others and these talents are great pull factors for investors.
The State Government is also very grateful to receive another RM100,000 for Tabung Covid-19 a Penang State Government’s initiative under the Penang Lawan Covid-19 from the generous sponsors here.
Through FMM-OCBC Charity event, Penang State Government also received 100 new laptops worth RM196,000 to assist and rent out to our deserving students.
We also received a donation of 500,000 pieces of disposable facemasks contributed by Vitrox Technologies Sdn Bhd and Penang Automation Clusters Sdn Bhd for the State’s distribution to our frontliners.
Ladies & Gentlemen
Our lives after Covid-19 will never be the same again. We have to embrace the new normal. The way businesses being run will have to change. The pandemic put a halt to the traditional business system and heightened the pace to digitalization in every aspect of our lives.
I urge the public and private sectors to work hand-in-hand to help transform Penang into a digital society. The state government will continue to facilitate digitalization through infrastructure, platforms and policies.
The Digital Penang Sdn Bhd was established last year in April against the backdrop of the impending 4th Industrial Revolution in achieving the Penang2030 vision. This agency under the Penang state government was set up to accelerate efforts in pursuing opportunities in the digital economy.
The pandemic has an unprecedented impact on every company, big and small. However, I believe many of our companies are resilient and they will find ways to overcome this challenge. Companies must try to find opportunities amidst crises, for every threat, there is an opportunity.
I know it is not easy for all of us here to march forward to face the challenges ahead of us, especially with the pandemic looming over us every day. Today is a bigger challenge compared to yesterday. Rest assured that the State Government will do our best to support the industries to overcome the pitfalls of this Covid-19 and together we will come out stronger and more resilient than ever.
Despite the pandemic and global economic slowdown, Penang still managed to add a feather to its cap with a year-on-year spike of 42% in approved manufacturing investments for the 3rd quarter this year.
Currently, Penang is ranked number two in receiving investments amounting to RM10.6 billion from January to September 2020 with 47 projects approved. These projects will create 9,137 new jobs.
Ladies & Gentlemen
Before I end my speech, I wish to put on record my heartfelt appreciation to the FMM Penang Branch for a job well done. Together we can achieve the State’s Penang2030 vision for a “Family-Focused Green and Smart State that Inspires the Nation”. It is my pleasure to continue my work and collaboration with FMM Penang Branch and I look forward to many more years of support and success.
Once again, I wish to thank the FMM Penang Branch committee members and staff for all the good work. I wish all of you a great evening.
Thank you!