Malaysians demonstrate solidarity with Sabahans via donations

 

As Sabah continues to record the highest daily number of Covid-19 cases in the country, fellow Malaysians are showing solidarity by donating in cash and kind.

Sabah currently has 16 districts that have been classified as red zones, nine yellow zones, and just one – Tongod – maintaining its green zone classification.

Bernama observed an example of this solidarity in Semporna where several individuals and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) handed donations to the general public and frontliners.

Semporna Heroes team leader, Jamilah Ang Kher Lern, said everyone - whether they are from the peninsula or Sarawak - is feeling anxious about the Covid-19 situation.

“Contributions from Kuala Lumpur, Kuching, Shah Alam, Seremban, and Putrajaya which were flown into Tawau today with the help of the Royal Malaysian Air Force is confirmation of this,” she said.

The donations, she said, included dry goods from Kembara Kitchen, as well as face masks and shields, boot covers, and isolation gown sets.

She said she also received cash donations which were used to buy essential items for distribution to the Semporna people, including to the Palau community (sea gypsies).

She said the solidarity shown has prevented a humanitarian crisis from happening.

“The endless support has allowed Semporna Heroes to continue with its efforts to distribute food packs to affected groups,” said Ang, while adding that partnering with government agencies like the Marine Police Force has made the delivery of aid much easier.

She said Semporna Heroes is grateful for the unending contributions and has vowed to keep going, while making sure to wear personal protective equipment (PPE), as long as people keep giving.

Doing their part to help, Kembara Kitchen co-founder, William Cheah, mentioned in a Facebook post that their next mission is to send aid to Sandakan and Kota Kinabalu.

Meanwhile, within a week of being launched, a Pertubuhan Rejuvenasi Pendidikan-Semporna Heroes fundraising campaign managed to collect RM52,365.

In a Facebook post yesterday, former education minister Maszlee Malik said that “a portion of donations was used to buy 10kg bags of rice and other food essentials for 1,000 (Semporna residents) impacted by the pandemic”.

He said he was overwhelmed by the dedication of the Semporna Heroes volunteers who were willing to enter high-risk areas to distribute the aid.

- Bernama