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POLLY the Parrot paid a surprise visit to the children at the Paediatric Ward of the Penang Hospital and it really put everyone in a celebratory mood. Laughter and giggles could be heard throughout the ward as children were overjoyed to see Polly the Parrot, who brought goodie bags containing cakes, sweets, snacks and noodles for the young patients.

Each of the children was given a present from Polly, a mascot brought by Golden Sands Resort Adventure Zone entertainment centre in conjunction with the Malaysian Red Cresent (MRC) Penang Island chapter’s Toy Project.

The project is an effort to give ill children an opportunity to celebrate and enjoy the New Year through the distribution of toys.

Siblings Cheah Wei Shin, five, and her brother Woon Lim, three, who were down with fever and asthma, were grinning from ear to ear with the soft toys in their hands. Their mother Ooi Lay Ean, 31 said that she was very happy that her children got the opportunity to receive the toys. “This move helps cheer them up a bit after being in the hospital for a few days,” she said.

Another happy face at the ward was asthma patient Pangeran Al-Aamin Hiezran Ibayan, two, who was seen happily interacting with Polly. His mother Poh Ai Chu @ Nurain Poh Abdullah, 32, said that it was good of the MRC and the resort to bring cheer to ill children who had missed out on the fun because of their illness.

“This is a good way to do charity and also to make the children happy so that they can recover faster,” said the Sabahan, who is currently on holiday in Penang.

MRC Penang Island chapter Health and Community sub-committee chairman and volunteer Ho Nee Shen, 32, said the toys were donations from the public and well-wishers. “We received a very good response from the public since we called for donations for our Toy project in late October last year.

“We would like to thank the public, our MRC Penang Island chapter volunteers and Golden Sands Resort for spending all the time and energy to donate and distribute the toys and goodie bags,” he said.

Ho added that the response was so overwhelming that they had to distribute the toys to other places as well besides the Penang Hospital including orphanages on the island.

Golden Sands Resort corporate social responsibility executive Amelia Lim said it was a tradition for the mascot to visit the paediatric ward every year to distribute the toys from the MRC Penang Island chapter. “We also distributed chocolates to the children on behalf of Golden Sands Resort,” she added.

The event, which involved the participation of about 25 MRC volunteers, was led by MRC Penang Island chapter chairman Nancy Cheah. Also present were Golden Sands Resort human resource manager Wong Kuok Loong and service manager Khaisom Abu Bakar.

Malaysian Red Crescent Penang Branch has a new ambulance — thanks to the Kuwait Finance House.

The ambulance was among three donated by Kuwait Finance to the society, with the other two going to the MRCS Sabah and Kuala Lumpur branches. A ceremony was held to mark the handover of the ambulance at the Penang MRC headquarters on Grove Road.

Branch chairman Datuk B.J. Yeang said some of their ambulances were quite old.  “Having a new ambulance that is fully equipped with medical equipment will help us tremendously in carrying out our duties,” she said.  The branch now has 10 ambulances, including the new one.

The ceremony coincided with the launch of a two-day ‘Pre-hospital Care’ course for MRCS members.

Having served the Red Crescent Society for 16 years, the Penang assistant director of training Ong Seng Suan has put in much time and effort for the cause.  He has lead several fundraising projects such as heritage walks and charity food fairs.

It is no wonder that he has been presented with an excellence service medal at the Malaysian Red Crescent Society award ceremony held at the Penang RCS headquarters.  “I am thankful and honoured to receive this award. I was just performing my duties in serving the public,” Ong said.

A total of 88 members received various awards and certificates during the recent ceremony.  MRC Penang branch chairman Datuk B. J. Yeang said that these awards should inspire all of her comrades to serve the community better in the future.  “As RCS members, we have to carry out the legacy of the society as disciplined and trained members,” said Yeang.

Other awards presented included the meritorious service medal to Dr Tan Sock Hooi and the distinguished service medal to Yew Poh Siew.

An award for the school with the most funds collected for the Heritage Walk went to SMJK Chung Ling Butterworth.

SMK St Xavier’s Institution was honoured for raising the most money for Flag Day 2011.

It was double joy for couple Ridzuan Hassan and Suharna Hamidon who were gifted with a baby boy on Mother’s Day which also coincided with the World Red Crescent Day (WRCD). Ridzuan said he and his wife, both 29, were happy that the latest addition to their family was born on a such a meaningful and significant day.

The couple, who already have a daughter aged five and another two-year-old boy, received a pleasant surprise when they were visited by the Malaysian Red Crescent (MRC) Penang Island chapter members at the Penang Maternity Hospital. The members presented the couple with a hamper filled with baby clothing and other essential items for a newborn on Sunday.

Ridzuan, who was touched by the gesture, said he hoped to enrol his newborn son as a MRC member when he grows up in remembrance of the special day he was born. The baby boy, which has yet to be named by the couple, was the first to be delivered in the hospital at 12.14am that day.

For someone special: Ridzuan giving a card to his wife Suharna, thanking her for delivering him a healthy baby boy at the Penang Maternity Hospital

Another delighted father Lim Yu Eng, 25, brought his wife Liew Mei San, 24, a stalk of carnation to thank her for delivering the couple’s first child. “I just cannot describe the happiness I’m feeling with the arrival of my baby boy,” said Lim, a salesman. Lim’s mother Tang Kam Leong, 58, who was also at the hospital, said she was happy to receive her first grandson in the family. “I’m really thankful and feel blessed as both my daughter-in-law and grandson are fine and healthy. “It is also a memorable day for all of us as my grandson arrived on a very special day,” she said. The couple also received a hamper from the MRC.

MRC Penang Island Chapter Chairman Nancy Cheah said WRCD was celebrated worldwide to honour International Red Cross Society founder Henry Dunant, who was born on May 8, 1828, in Geneva. She said MRC has been celebrating the day since the early 1990s. The MRC Penang Island chapter presented hampers to 10 couples whose babies were born in the hospital that day.

THE Penang branch of the Malaysian Red Crescent (MRC) is holding a charity food fair on May 15 in Prai in a bid to raise RM120,000 to fund its 12-hour ambulance service in Permatang Tinggi.  The fair will be held from 10am to 2pm at the Chai Leng Park multipurpose hall.

State executive councillor Law Choo Kiang said the ambulance service had benefitted residents in central and south Seberang Prai. “The volunteers respond to calls from the police and hospitals to assist during emergencies including road accident victims,” he told a press conference on Sunday.  He added that part of the funds would be used for the training of members in first aid, pre-hospital care and rescue work.

Event organising committee chairman Datuk Lee Hean Guan said visitors to the fair can expect home-cooked food prepared by MRC members and their families. “Among others, food items donated by well-wishers and corporate bodies will also be on sale,” he said. He added the committee would implement the state government’s ‘No Plastic Bag Campaign’ at the event. “We appeal to those coming to the fair to bring their own bags and containers,” he said.

Coupons for the fair are being sold at the MRC chapters on Penang island and mainland at RM20 per booklet.  For details, call the Penang branch at 04-8275678.