Penang Care Society

The Penang Care Society (hereafter referred to as PgCare Society), formerly known as PgCare Alliance, a coalition of like-minded non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and institutions, was established on July 16, 2021. The main purpose of establishing the PgCare Society is to provide aid and assistance to families and individuals who have been significantly impacted by the pandemic and the protracted lockdown. The initial effort made by friends to organize the distribution of supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the expansion of the organization into various departments that are assisting the people of Penang in dealing with the consequences of the pandemic.

PgCare Society has a mission to provide assistance to needy individuals in Penang with the help of its 28 alliance partners. Among the partner NGOs are D’Home Mental Health Association, Befrienders Penang, Penang Sneham Malaysia Welfare Organisation, Kiwanis Club of Penang, Women’s Centre for Change, Penang Buddhist Tzu Chi Merits Society Malaysia, HOPE Worldwide, Home Dynamics, Agape Counseling, Than Hsiang Association, and Junior Chamber International Penang. The partnership also comprises the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM), Malaysian Semiconductor Industry Association (MSIA), Small and Medium Enterprises Association (SAMENTA), and Social Security Organization (PERKESO).

PgCare Society was set up to address the short and long-term social issues relating to mental health, food aid, and employment, which have all been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The service aims to assist families and individuals who have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic to regain their well-being and dignity. This will be accomplished by encouraging organizations and institutions who share similar values to collaborate with the Penang State Government. The collaboration between the Penang government and the PgCare Society aligns with the Penang 2030 goal of “A Family-Focused Green and Smart State that Inspires the Nation.” PgCare Society aims to bring hope for a brighter future to all affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

When it was first created, PgCare Society emphasized four primary pillars: mental health aid, food aid, job aid and financial consultation. At the end of 2021 the organization then added two more services: A Virtual Care/Telehealth Service and Traditional Chinese Medicine. In the context of Mental Health Aid, PgCare Society provides helplines for people who need someone to talk to or just listen when they are frustrated, anxious, or feel down. Among the NGOs supporting these initiatives are Befrienders Penang, Home Dynamics, Women’s Centre for Change, Agape Counseling, and others.

PgCare Society has provided a list of Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN), or state legislative assembly members, as well as a list of local MPs in Penang on its website, so those who need food aid can call the PgCare Society Helpline directly for assistance. Moreover, if people are looking for a job, the PgCare Society will assist individuals in finding the ideal employer for their skills and experience. PgCare Society also assists in financial consultation for those in need, especially those who are in financial peril due to job loss, loss of mobility, and other factors. In addition, regarding Virtual Care & Telehealth Services, PgCare Society volunteer doctors are available to provide virtual care consultations via video or phone to those in need, particularly individuals who are under home quarantine after testing positive for COVID-19. This is to ensure that patients do not feel alone when experiencing illness. People can book appointments for this service for as little as 5 Malaysian ringgits.

To date, PgCare Society has received more than 7,000 calls from members of the community and distributed around 1,200 food kits to those in need. Over 233 pieces of medical equipment, including oxygen concentrators and oximeters, have been loaned out to COVID-19 patients. Additionally, the society has recommended almost 100 individuals looking for work. These are only a few of the numerous ways that PgCare Society is offering support to the local community in Penang.

For the purposes of the Young Global Research Project, we are focusing on Job Aid as provided to the community by PgCare. We would like to know more about how the organization has assisted people to find work in Penang state. We interviewed the founders, Dr. Ngoo Seong Boon and Mr. Chong Soon Kheng regarding their work and involvement with the PgCare Society.

Interview

Interviewees
Dr. Ngoo Seong Boon (Chairman of PgCare Society)
Mr. Chong Soon Kheng (Deputy Chairman of PgCare Society)

Q: Can you introduce yourself by briefly describing your position and how long you have worked at PgCare Society?

Ngoo: My name is Ngoo Seong Boon. My position is Chairman. I am the founder of Penang Care Society and I have held this position since 2021, together with Mr. Chong.

Chong: I am Chong Soon Kheng and I am the Deputy Chairman of PgCare Society. I am also a co-founder of this organization.

Q: Can you explain the role of PgCare Society in empowering locals to work in the local community?

Ngoo: We are providing a platform for people who are looking for a job to link up with PERKESO, a social security organization and some industry associations such as the Malaysia Semiconductor Industry Association (MSIA), SAMENTA, etc. Those associations consist of manufacturers, such as Multinational Corporations (MNC), while SAMENTA is more for small and medium enterprises. They are all a part of the same alliance. When there is a job request, we pass it down to these associations, and they will broadcast it to their members, who then pass out resumes or requests from the local community, especially those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chong: People can access and get the information about what Dr. Ngoo said from our website and can search from there to get more details about job seeker assistance as provided by PgCare Society.

Q: How does the organization ensure the effectiveness of its initiatives and programmes?

Ngoo: My name is Ngoo Seong Boon. My position is Chairman. I am the founder of Penang Care Society and I have held this position since 2021, together with Mr. Chong.

Chong: I am Chong Soon Kheng and I am the Deputy Chairman of PgCare Society. I am also a co-founder of this organization.

Q: Can you explain the role of PgCare Society in empowering locals to work in the local community?

Ngoo: We are providing a platform for people who are looking for a job to link up with PERKESO, a social security organization and some industry associations such as the Malaysia Semiconductor Industry Association (MSIA), SAMENTA, etc. Those associations consist of manufacturers, such as Multinational Corporations (MNC), while SAMENTA is more for small and medium enterprises. They are all a part of the same alliance. When there is a job request, we pass it down to these associations, and they will broadcast it to their members, who then pass out resumes or requests from the local community, especially those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chong: People can access and get the information about what Dr. Ngoo said from our website and can search from there to get more details about job seeker assistance as provided by PgCare Society.

Q: How does the organization ensure the effectiveness of its initiatives and programmes?

Ngoo: For job requests in the local community, we ask applicants to fill in what they require before we pass it on to PERKESO. Every month, we review with PERKESO as to how these applicants have progressed, so we have a tracking system to ensure that all of their needs are being met. So, if PERKESO cannot find them the right job, PgCare Society will broadcast their information to all our industry partners.

Chong: PgCare Society works as a platform where factory or business owners looking for people to work can come to us. During the lockdown, these industrial associations needed a lot of foreign workers, but they could not come to Malaysia. Therefore, they have a workforce shortage and an urgent need to hire local people, so we started to connect these enterprises with people looking for work. At this moment in time, many local workers come from tourism, hotels, etc. We try to fit these people into jobs and get PERKESO to help by giving some incentives to hire these people.

Q: Does PgCare Society also provide training for those who are unemployed to upgrade their skills?

Chong: PgCare Society can provide grants and train those who have lost their jobs. For example, we can provide these people with cooking classes if they want to run a bakery business. We will train them, get government and industry support, and some funds to get them started. PgCare Society will help them buy all the equipment needed to start their business.

Q: Do you receive any feedback from the local community regarding the organization’s initiatives to address employment?

Ngoo: Yes we did receive some positive feedback from the local community and the Penang State Government. One of the awards we received is the Love PENANG Community Awards Programme, two years straight (2022-2023). Many people have played a significant role in helping the community during the pandemic. This award does not belong to me alone but it is also for all the unsung heroes who have contributed a lot in this challenging period.

Chong: Yes indeed. We were grateful to receive a tremendous amount of support from the local community and local government. Without this we will not be able to achieve our mission of helping those who are in need.

Q: Based on our research, we found PgCare Society was established to aid and assist families and individuals affected by the pandemic and the prolonged lockdowns. Since the pandemic has largely ended in Malaysia, has your focus changed?

Ngoo: Right now post-pandemic, we are not active in helping people to find jobs. However, one side effect of the pandemic is mental health. We can see that youths, especially students, are more prone to have mental health issues. This is because they were forced to isolate and study at home for 2 or 3 years. Therefore with the end of the pandemic, they suddenly have to step out straight into society, which can lead to phobias and stress. Beginning last year, suicide cases in Penang from May to July increased dramatically. A lot of the victims are in their 20s. That is why PgCare Society is focusing on mental health.

Chong: We use an online app, the Plus Vibe app, to support our efforts. We are training a lot of people in mental health first aid. It took us a lot of resources to start this program. We prepare people to help or coach others before the situation gets worse. We licensed this program from Australia and we have trained more than 120 people, which takes a lot of time and resources. Each training session takes 2 days. We have also invested in getting a trainer license.

Q: What has been the most difficult thing the organization has had to deal with in helping people in Penang?

Ngoo: Firstly, the issue is funding. As you are aware, PgCare Society is a non-governmental organization. Therefore most of the time and energy we spend are all self-funded, as we do not get paid for our work. However, we do get some funding from the state government. The initial stage was the most difficult as we needed cash to pay our costs such as licensing and operations, not to mention the purchase of every piece of equipment needed for said operations.

Chong: Even right now, we do offer training to a lot of needy people which is also a cost to us. Any NGO faces the same challenge. We do appreciate all our committees and members for their generous support. They give their time to support our work.

Q: In what ways do you think the organization can play a larger role in the local community in the future?

Chong: We always get requests from a lot of NGOs to join our platform. This is how we are going to expand our network. Right now we cover food, mental health and jobs. Next, we plan to target how we can reach out and help people with special needs.

Reflections

Based on the collaboration with the Indonesian group from University of Surubaya, we found that the Common Seas Organization there is a non-profit organization whose mission is to drastically reduce the quantity of plastic polluting the rivers and seas. Common Seas get their funds from philanthropic donations and consulting work for governments and corporations. Any profits from investments are also reinvested in circular economy solutions. This organization operates by running programs such as government partnerships, business partnerships, Clean Blue Alliance, and education-related programs etc.

Firstly, what distinguishes PgCare Society with Common Seas is that the former helps the local community regardless of gender, etc., while Common Seas has been helping targeted groups such as women and people with disabilities by hiring these groups to work for them. PgCare Society works as a medium to help people who lost their jobs during the pandemic to gain a new or temporary job and they also provide physical help such as food, clothes and other essential needs to those who were greatly affected by the pandemic.

PgCare Society also provides training to help the locals gain new skills to boost their employment chances, in addition to a start-up fund that can serve as a model for those who would want to venture into business. Meanwhile, Common Seas is currently hiring women and disabled people to work in their organization; disabled people are defined as those who have physical, mental, intellectual, and/or sensory limitations but still have the same ability to work as able-bodied employees. Individuals with physical disabilities, affecting the legs, back, hands, fingers, neck, as well as visual and aural impairments, speech defects, sensory and other birth defects, can still be considered for recruitment. What distinguishes Common Seas is its dedication to community development. Instead of outsourcing the production of reusable diapers, they hire local women and individuals with disabilities and provide them with training and decent salaries. Over 200 people from marginalized groups are expected to be employed as part of the project.

The current focus of the PgCare Society is mental health in post-pandemic Malaysia. As mentioned earlier, it is likely that the COVID-19 pandemic has damaged mental health and quality of life in Malaysia. These findings are important for timely interventions to prevent mental illness. Mental health issues, especially among young people, have surged in the wake of the pandemic. According to the National Library of Medicine, individuals aged 21-24 account for 43.4% of the overall statistics (source: “Depression and Anxiety in the Malaysian Population During the Third Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic,” 2021). In response, the PgCare Society has trained numerous individuals in mental first aid and is pursuing a trainer license to assist those grappling with mental health challenges. Additionally, the PgCare Society has developed the Plus Vibe app to provide support. This app, accessible to anyone with a smartphone, monitors users’ moods and connects them with experts from various mental health organizations for guidance and assistance.

Conversely, the Common Seas Organization, while also focusing on employing women and individuals with special needs, primarily addresses the pressing issue of water pollution. This international effort involves collaboration with multiple countries and encompasses a variety of programs. In Indonesia, the Common Seas Organization runs “Clean Blue Indonesia,” dedicated to cleaning up the Brantas River, a vital source of drinking water in East Java. The organization has identified single-use diapers as a significant contributor to river pollution and is tackling the problem by manufacturing reusable diapers and raising public awareness about the hazards of disposable ones.

Despite their differences, both PgCare and Common Seas share a common goal: aiding the local community in finding employment. These organizations’ initiatives underscore their unwavering dedication and commitment to supporting the local community in distinctive ways.

References

Addressing digital, social challenges of the pandemic. (2023, March 9). Buletin Mutiara. Retrieved from: https://www.buletinmutiara.com/addressing-digital-social-challenges-of-the-pandemic/

Akmal, R. (2022, October 17). Community heroes in Penang announced. Buletin Mutiara. Retrieved from: https://www.buletinmutiara.com/community-heroes-in-penang-announced/

Marzo, R.R., Vinay, V., Bahari, R., Chauhan, S., Ming, D.A.F., Nelson Fernandez, S.F.A., Johnson, C.C.P., Thivakaran, A.Q.A., Rahman, M.M., & Goel, S. (2021). Depression and anxiety in Malaysian population during third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Clinical epidemiology and global health, 12, 100868. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cegh.2021.100868

Penang honours seven outstanding individuals with ❤️ Penang Community Awards. (2023, February 20). Buletin Mutiara. Retrieved from: https://www.buletinmutiara.com/penang-honours-seven-outstanding-individuals-with-%E2%9D%A4%EF%B8%8F-penang-community-awards/

Tan, C. (2021, September 1). PgCare Alliance formed to accelerate help to the needy. Buletin Mutiara. Retrieved from: https://www.buletinmutiara.com/pgcare-alliance-formed-to-accelerate-help-to-the-needy/

Tan, C. (2022, March 3). PgCare Society provides more support to aid the needy. Buletin Mutiara. Retrieved from: https://www.buletinmutiara.com/pgcare-society-provides-more-support-to-aid-the-needy/

Researchers

Hello everyone! My name is Nur Athirah Binti Khairul Ferdaus. I am from Perak, Malaysia, and I am 22 years old. I study at Universiti Sains Malaysia and am currently in my third year of studies. I’m working towards a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Science, and my major is Political Science, and my minor is Psychology. I am a person who enjoys meeting new people and I love to express my opinions whenever I get the chance.

Hi guys! I am Rayner Mu Lay Chin. I was born in W.P Labuan, a small yet beautiful and tranquil island located near Borneo. I am 21 years of age and currently studying at Universiti Sains Malaysia. I am a Bachelor’s Degree student in the Social Sciences faculty, majoring in Sociology and Anthropology, minoring in Archeology. I am an extrovert who loves socializing and a person who is passionate about languages. Not to mention that I am an adrenaline junkie who loves outdoor activities