Many unaware of RM320 increase in aid

Cheng(right) taking down the particulars of an applicant at the Bagan MCA service centre in Butterworth as Sum (third left) and the division's youth chief
David Chua Teik Siang (second right) observe the session.

Many poor families are not getting welfare aid from the government as they have yet to register with the Penang Welfare Department.

Bagan MCA division vice chairman Sum Yoo Keong said many were still unaware that the government’s monthly welfare aid had been increased from RM400 to RM720 effective this year.

Eligible individuals must register with the department or else the aid would not reach them, he said.

He added that to help them register, two MCA members had recently taken up temporary posts as community development assistants in the department.

Sum said Bagan division member Cheng Lee Sin, 18, took up the post on Feb 1 to serve people in Butterworth.

He said Kepala Batas MCA division deputy secretary Tan Teow Joo, 35, took up a similar position since October last to serve people in Kepala Batas.

“The duo have also gone to the streets to look for poor individuals and disabled people, who are eligible for the aid, and help them register,” he added.

- The Star -

Division chief not defending post

On July 19, 2008, in Community Highlights

Bagan MCA division chairman Datuk Wei Bak Hoe will not defend his post in the coming Penang MCA division polls and has nominated one of his vice-chairmen as his successor.

Wei, 70, who has been division chairman for the past 19 years, said he would not seek re-election as he had been holding the post for a long time.

“It is time to pass the leadership to some-one else. I’ve found a person who is capable of taking over the helm and I am endorsing Loo Khay Thye as a candidate for the chairman’s post in the division polls,” he said during a press conference at the Bagan MCA division headquarters in Butterworth on Wednesday.

Loo, 60, is one of the division’s four vice-chairmen and has been holding the post for the past 12 years.

■ His choice:Wei(right)shaking hands with Loo.With them is Tat Guan.

The state MCA division polls will be held on July 27 and the Bagan MCA division is spe-culated to be a hot spot to watch out for on the mainland.


Asked if there had been any infighting among the members over the chairman’s post, Wei shot down such rumours.


“People say that there is a tussle for the chairman’s post but there is no such thing. It is just speculation by outsiders.


“If there is really a fight (for the post), we would gotten wind of it at least a month ago. Things usually heat up a month before the polls but so far, there has been nothing,” he explained.


Wei also endorsed Taman Cempaka Sari MCA branch chairman David Chua, 45, as a candidate for the Bagan MCA Youth chief post. Chua will be coming up against current chief Ang Bak Wooi.


Bagan Wanita MCA chief Kuan Choy Chun, 65, who was at the press conference, announced that she would also be retiring.


“I am endorsing Teh Lay Cheng, Bagan Wanita MCA vice-chairman, for the Wanita chief post,” she said.


Kuan said Teh, 38, was the ideal successor because of her experience as a Seberang Prai municipal councillor.


Teh’s father Teh Tat Guan will defend his post as division deputy chairman.


Kuan was also the division’s Wanita chief from 1983 to 1985.


-THE STAR-