Georgetown: Pantai Jerejak State Assemblyman Sim Tze Tzin today launches an ambitious RM50,000 project to build seven or more mini libraries across his constituent. He plans to bring mini libraries directly to where community lives with good books and internet facilities. He plans to build an intellectual and cultured community where reading is the hobby of most people.
“Libraries should be nearer to where people live and work. It should be condusive and pleasurable place for people to read, surf internet and gather. It should be a place where old friends meet, new friendship made, new ideas get generated and with an intellectual environment. It should have coffee too.” He said that during a ceremony to hand over RM3,000 books to MPPP Library at Bayan Baru Market.
Today, he also announced allocating an addition RM5,000 to install computers and internet facilities to the Library and another RM1,000 to buy periodic magazines. He urges more people including old and young to read at that place. He urges Mr. Apollo and Puan Latifah who are both present there, both chairman of Bayan Baru Market Traders and hawkers, to read after their work to have fun reading and improve their lives.
“I grew up studying at Batu Lanchang Mppp library. I benefited tremendously because I got good result after studying there. I feel appreciative to be what I am now. I wanted to do something to improve the library system in Penang.” He told the fellow students who were present.
Sim will be implementing his plans in three phases. He will first set up two mini libraries, one in Bayan Baru Market and another in Kampung Sg. Nibong Kecil, Kawasan D. Last week, on April 12, he announced allocation of RM3,000 to buy books and another RM3,000 to install an air-cond in the community hall there.
In the second phase, he plans to set up mini libraries at three other locations: Kg Sg Nibong Pantai, Kg Jawa and Kg Sg Nibong Tengah. His taskforce is now identifying suitable locations. In the third phase, he plans to set up in Taman Sri Nibong and Mahsuri Area. Lion’s Club has initiated an idea to turn an abandoned foodcourt at Taman Sri Nibong into a mini library and community center. The idea is still in the process of negotiation.
YB Sim has pledged to allocate RM50,000 or more, a substantial portion of his ADUN fund, every year to make this project successful. He will also engage Multi-National Companies to perhaps adopt the mini libraries, in order to furnish, donate computers and support on-going expenses.
He also ask for book and computer donation to these mini libraries. Please contact project coordinator on mini libraries, Miss Loh Ker Chean at 012-3620530 and kerchean@gmail.com if interested.
