On March 17, 2021, Chinese Consul General in Penang Mr. Lu Shiwei met with Mr. Tan Teik Cheng, the Chairman of the Penang Port Commission (PPC) especially for the coordination of the disembarkation of Chinese crew stranded on the ship in the consular district and exchanged views.
Consul General Lu Shiwei stated that protecting the legitimate rights and interests of overseas Chinese citizens is the basic duty and mission of Chinese diplomats. The Chinese Consulate General in Penang attaches great importance to the physical and mental health of stranded Chinese crew members and has been providing necessary assistance to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of these Chinese citizens. There are some positive progress regarding the matter. We would like to thank the PPC and other relevant authorities for providing epidemic prevention measures and ensuring safety and the daily necessities for the Chinese crew members. And we also appreciate the assistance provided to the nearly 80 Chinese crew members who already left the ship earlier. We hope that the PPC will facilitate and accelerate the orderly implementation of the plan for disembarkation of the Chinese crew members who are still on board.
Mr. Tan Teik Cheng expressed that after the meeting, he would hold a discussion with the Marine Department Malaysia, Northern Region as soon as possible, and tried to solve the problem satisfactorily.