GEORGE TOWN, October 1 – Penang Chief Minister YAB Chow Kon Yeow, U.S. Embassy Chargé d’ Affaires Manu Bhalla, and Penang lawmakers jointly inaugurated the first art mural in Penang dedicated to promoting mental health awareness in the lead up to World Mental Health Day on October 10. Citing a 2017 report, the Chief Minister underscored that almost 30% of adults and 12.1% of children in Malaysia experienced mental health challenges, with these figures being exacerbated by the pandemic.
“This mural reminds us to extend kindness not just to others but to ourselves. It is important to understand that it’s okay not to be okay,” said Chow. The launch, which took place in an alley near Jalan Cantonment, was graced by the presence of U.S. Embassy Chargé d’affaires Mr. Manu Bhalla, which supports this initiative. After jointly unveiling the mural, Bhalla said, “I am honored to work with the distinguished leaders from the Penang State Government to raise awareness about mental health, a very important topic which has been too long neglected.”
The art mural was painted by Constance Luk, co-founder of the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) Council of Malaysia (YCOM), an alumni association that has empowered over 1,000 young Malaysians by mobilizing them through U.S. exchange programs and workshops. Conveying her aspirations, Luk said, “With this mural, I hope to inspire individuals to embrace their challenges, recognize their inner strength, and experience the support of a caring community around them.”
This art mural marks one of the community projects commemorating the 10th anniversary of YSEALI in Malaysia, with the support of the U.S. Embassy in Malaysia, reflecting a commitment to youth empowerment and community development.
