GEORGE TOWN: Penang Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak hopes the state can ease into Phase Three of the National Recovery Plan (NRP) soon so that more economic and social sectors can be opened.
He also expressed hope that lives will return to normalcy for the people and they get to enjoy the things they were unable to during the Movement Control Order (MCO).
He said strict adherence to the standard operating procedures (SOP) was vital under the new normal.
"I want to thank Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow's administration for having ruled the state in the best possible way at a time when we are facing the Covid-19 pandemic. Indeed, the pandemic is a test for the administration.
"We are now under Phase Two of the NRP. It is my hope that we can ease into Phase 3 soon so more economic and social sectors can be opened, and people's lives will return to normalcy," he said in his maiden speech when officiating the state legislative assembly sitting this morning.
Present were Chow, state Legislative Assembly Speaker Datuk Law Choo Kiang, state Secretary Datuk Seri Abdul Razak Jaafar and state opposition leader Datuk Muhamad Yusoff Mohd Noor.
Penang eased into Phase Two of the NRP in July after it met the three threshold indicators fixed for the state.
Ahmad Fuzi took his oath of office as the eighth Yang di-Pertua Negeri on May 1. He succeeded Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas who had served for 20 years.
Ahmad Fuzi also extended his congratulations to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri on his recent appointment as the ninth premier.
"I hope this development will open a new chapter towards a more stable political climate so all efforts can be trained towards resolving the health and economic crises," he added.
In his speech which lasted for over 90 minutes, Ahmad Fuzi touched on a host of issues, which included the Covid-19 pandemic, Penang's economy, trade, industry and development as well as the controversial Penang South Reclamation (PSR) project.
Elaborating, he said the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (NIP), launched on Feb 28, was the way out of the Covid-19 pandemic.
"I want to express my appreciation and thanks to the federal government for the Covid-19 vaccine supplies to the state.
"As of last Thursday, some 1.101 million adult population had received at least the first dose, which is about 62.1 per cent of the adult population. Of the total, 711,454 people had completed their vaccination, which is about 40.1 per cent of the population.
"The state government is targeting 100 per cent of its adult population to receive at least the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine by early next month. As such, ample vaccine supply is important to ensure the success of the vaccination programme," he added.
Ahmad Fuzi also commended the state government for prioritising the people's welfare through the disbursement of RM176.45 million aid under numerous special assistance packages to ease their burdens and reactivate the state's economy which had been greatly impacted by the pandemic.
Besides that, the state had also formed the Penang Socio Economic Recovery Consultative Council (PSERCC), chaired by Chow, to discuss actions to be implemented to minimise the impact of the pandemic as well as reactivate the economy.
"It is my hope that the state leadership, industrial players and the people can join forces as a team to rise together from this pandemic," he added.
Meanwhile, Ahmad Fuzi also hoped all projects planned for the state by both the federal and state governments would proceed as scheduled despite the pandemic for the benefit of the people.
He ended his speech by calling on the people, irrespective of their race, religion and culture, to remain united for their wellbeing.
"It is important for us to appreciate the nationalism spirit which helped us to achieve independence some 64 years ago," he added.