MP visits Lumut community to present aid and mark festivities

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LUMUT MP Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha celebrated a multi-cultural weekend with his constituents by attending various Hari Raya Aidiladha and Deepavali celebrations.

Also receiving his attention during the visit were the needy, the farmers and fishermen, who collectively received RM70,300 in aid.

Kong kicked off his walkabout on Saturday by opening a kindergarten, Tadika Chinese National, in Kampong Koh, Sitiawan and was greeted with bright smiles from the pre-schoolers.

He gave RM10,000 to the kindergarten to fund its future plans.

Warm friend ship: Kong (left) greeting mosque committee secretary Ismail Balua after handing over the cows for Hari Raya Aidil Adha celebrations

Kong, who is also Transport Minister, said he hoped the kindergarten would include classes on traffic safety to inculcate good habits among the children.

His next stop was his service centre where he presented RM34,150 in financial aid to 16 farmers, livestock breeders and fishermen to help them increase their productivity.

Another seven needy individuals and 14 non-governmental organisations received a total of RM36,150 from Kong.

During the night, Kong attended a dance competition organised by the Lumut MCA branch at SJK (C) Pekan Gurney’s hall.

He told some 800 people at the event that diligence and teamwork were important for success, and preparing for a dance competition was one way of inculcating these traits.

He also reminded parents that they were role models for their children, and that the home environment in a child’s upbringing had an impact on how they fared in their studies.

Continuing his walkabout on Sunday, Kong presented a total of 33 cows to 31 mosques at the Manjung District Council and Manjung District Office in conjunction with Hari Raya Aidiladha.

He then proceeded to have a belated Deepavali celebration with the Indian community in Kampung Pekan Gurney.

The villagers happily noted that Kong had never failed to attend the Deepavali celebrations all these years. They also expressed their gratitude to him for his help in developing the village.

Pekan Gurney Indian Progressive Front division chief R. Ragu pointed out that the 10 Indian families living there did not have water, power or proper roads for 30 years, before Kong came forward to help.

“The village was surrounded by oil palm plantations and had nothing but muddy roads.

“He also helped us to build proper toilets and repaired our damaged roofs,” said Ragu, before receiving RM2,000 on behalf of the community.

Kong, who is also the MCA secretary-general, rounded up the visit by meeting with MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek and other Lumut division members for lunch in Sitiawan.