KUSKOP Sets Up First-ever Booth At Penang Thaipusam Celebration

GEORGE TOWN, Feb 1 (Bernama) -- For the first time, the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (KUSKOP) has established a dedicated booth in conjunction with the Thaipusam celebration in Penang to provide a range of services to visitors and festival workers.

Its minister, Steven Sim Chee Keong, said the booth not only serves as an information centre on the ministry’s programmes, grants and financing funds, but also provides a rest area, food, beverages and health screening services for the public.

“This place is suitable for everyone at the Thaipusam celebration site in Penang, including senior citizens, persons with disabilities and mothers with young children,” he told a press conference after inspecting the KUSKOP booth set up near Ayira Vaisiyar Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple here today.

He said the booth also involved about 200 volunteers, known as ‘Wira KUSKOP’, comprising youths of various races and religions to assist visitors in terms of logistics, traffic management and welfare, where this initiative reflects the voluntary spirit among Malaysians to ensure the success of a multiracial celebration.

Sim said the booth is expected to receive between 1,000 and 2,000 visitors throughout the programme, including youths seeking information on entrepreneurship assistance.

At the event, he also announced an allocation of RM100,000 to Thaneermalai Shree Balathandayuthapani Devasthanam to support the historic temple's activities.

He said this year marked the 240th year for Thaipusam to be celebrated at the temple to signify the long history of the Indian community and Hindu devotees in Penang.

He also announced an allocation of RM50,000 to the Ayira Vaisiyar Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple to support its welfare initiatives and charitable work.

-- BERNAMA