Page 45 - Berita Sunway - Issue 74

Interviews

A HELPING HAND FOR THE NEEDY Societies dedicated to humanitarian services.
Established as a branch of the British Red Cross in 1948, the Malaysian “As a humanitarian organisation, MRCS is constantly in dire need of
Red Crescent Society was accepted as an affiliate member of the resources to implement programmes that maximises value for its aid
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) recipients. Sunway has similar objectives in the form of its CSR
programmes. Combining resources and expertise in that field would create
Striving a non-profit humanitarian organisation, dedicated to voluntary service vast opportunities to achieve objectives and successes together for the
in 1963.
Incorporated under an Act of Parliament in 1965, MRCS functions as
benefit of the community,” said MRCS National Committee for
Community Services & Health’s deputy chairman, YB Dato' Hj. Mohd
providing care and relief assistance to the needy and vulnerable
Rashidi bin Hj Mohd Nor.
communities. MRCS also has an auxiliary role to support the government
Having collaborated with Sunway, Rashidi said the conglomerate’s
in times of peace and crisis situations.
MRCS provides a wide range of services, such as disaster response and commitment towards caring for the less fortunate and vulnerable in society
relief, 24-hour emergency ambulance service, community, health and is undisputed, as Sunway is ever ready to get involved, providing resources
as and when the need arises.
welfare services, first-aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation training
for programmes. eliminating hardships in the community wherever and whenever they

“ is is in conformity with MRCS’ principle and objective of
Based in Kuala Lumpur, MRCS has 16 state branches, 151 district

occur. Achieving those objectives in these initiatives has been the biggest
chapters, 20,000 volunteers and 51 ambulances supporting its operations
satisfaction for both MRCS and Sunway,” he said.
Rashidi said that Sunway’s commitment towards fulfilling the United
e organisation works closely with the International Committee of
nationwide. Nations Sustainable Development Goals aligns closely with MRCS’
the Red Cross and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red seven fundamental principles – Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality,
Crescent Societies as one of the 192 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Independence, Voluntary service, Unity and Universality.
H e “Working with Sunway
has indeed been very
inspirational to MRCS
especially when the Sunway
team shows total commitment
in the procurement and delivery
aspect. Attention to detail and the
d team at MRCS to work equally hard,
follow through by Sunway has inspired our
knowing that our partner is giving their best.”

YB Dato' Hj. Mohd Rashidi bin Hj Mohd Nor
MRCS National Committee for Community Services
& Health’s deputy chairman
Hum y TOWARDS AN INCLUSIVE SOCIETY Sunway’s Festive Cheer events in 2020 brought hope

Ensuring no one gets left behind in educational
events held at orphanages in Johor Bahru benefitted
attainment, Sunway partnered with MRCS for its and merriment in an otherwise bleak year. e Raya Cheer
Back-to-School Programme, sponsoring school bags for 90 around 400 recipients while Deepavali Cheer celebrations
students at Sekolah Kebangsaan Ladang Pendas in Johor included grocery distributions across different locations in
A warm bowl of aromatic bubur lambuk may seem like simple fare amid the abundance of food Bahru in 2019. As a result of the programme, student Johor and Perak during the Festival of Light.
choices in Malaysia. However, for the destitute, the spiced porridge may well be the only decent meal attendance improved at the primary school, which caters to Grocery distributions aided 39 families in the Orang
they can savour for a moment. children of the Orang Asli Community at Simpang Arang Asli villages in the Klang Valley, charity homes, police
Synonymous with Ramadhan, bubur lambuk is often made communally at local mosques and in Gelang Patah, Johor. stations, B40 families, as well as flood-hit communities in
distributed to the poor, homeless and underprivileged during the Muslim fasting month. Malaysians from all walks of life have been adversely Kelantan and Pahang.
e distribution of bubur lambuk also marked the beginning of Sunway’s strategic partnership with impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic but it is the “Since its first involvement with MRCS programmes,
the Malaysian Red Crescent Society (MRCS), when the former donated ingredients for the porridge marginalised of society – orphans, the Orang Asli, the Sunway’s contribution has been on the increase – a growth
under the bubur lambuk Programme in the month of Ramadhan, 2018. hardcore poor and homeless – that has suffered the most. made possible thanks to the mutual trust between us.
e bubur lambuk Programme has since become an annual activity of MRCS in collaboration with Besides COVID-19, natural disasters such as floods Sunway goes out of its way where charity is concerned, and
Sunway throughout various locations in the Klang Valley and in the districts of Johor. further ravaged the livelihoods of Malaysians residing in this has greatly benefitted the community. Sunway’s
During Ramadhan 2020, Sunway City Iskandar Puteri partnered with MRCS’ National flood-hit areas such as Pahang and Kelantan. commitment is not only in terms of material contribution
Committee for Community Services and Health to distribute bubur lambuk and buka puasa dishes to As such, the Sunway-MRCS partnership persisted but the readiness of its staff to work with MRCS volunteers
900 homeless Malaysians at Kem Wawasan Negara Gunung Pulai, as well as the needy in Kampung throughout the pandemic with the aim of improving the as a team – this is commendable. Preserving and promoting
Seri Gunung Pulai in Johor. plight of those who needed help the most. a caring culture is not commonplace in society so Sunway
is an outstanding example,” said Rashidi.
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