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MALAYSIAN Red Crescent Society (MRCS) members will hit the streets of Penang this weekend to seek donations in conjunction with the society’s annual Flag Day.

MRCS Penang branch chairman Saw Ewe Yong said the branch had targeted a collection of RM100,000 this year to cover its expenses. Last year, the expenditure for our activities and operations amounted to RM600,000 and we expect the figure to rise to RM700,000 this year.

“One-third of the expenditure each goes to members’ training, administrative cost and maintenance of our premises and vehicles respectively,” he said at the event’s launching by state executive councillor Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan at the Penang MRCS headquarters recently.

Leading by example: Dr Teng(second left)contributing some money after launching the Flag Day.

Saw said as a voluntary body, the society did not get any grant from the government and was solely depended on public donations. He said 5,000 members in their white uniforms would go around the streets and shopping complexes with their collection tins.

Organising chairman Chan Hon Kwong said among the activities carried out by the branch was the 24-hour ambulance standby service during festive seasons. “It is through our various fundraising projects that we are able to carry out our humanitarian work to the highest caliber,” he added.

In his speech, Dr Teng lauded the society for organising this mass effort, which reflected the spirit of cooperation. “I strongly appeal to the public to donate generously when approached by the members,” he added.

THE organisers of Penang Buildex 2006 Exhibition, a building industry showcase which was held at the Penang International Sports Arena recently, have donated RM6,500 to two charitable organisations.

Expo organising chairman Lim Hun Swee said the money was part of the revenue from the sale of booths during the three-day event.

The recipients were the Malaysian Red Crescent Society (MRCS) Penang branch and Sima Handicapped Centre which received RM4,000 and RM2,500 respectively.

Lim handed mock cheques to MRCS Island chapter deputy chairman Nancy Cheah and Sima’s founder William Ch’ng at a simple ceremony recently at the Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce (PCCC) at the Penang Chinese Town Hall building.

Penang Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Committee Chairman YB. Lau Chiek Tuan, PCCC president Datuk Khor Teng Tong and Penang Master Builders and Building Materials Dealers Association (PMBBMDA) president Finn Choong Khuat Seng witnessed the presentation.

THE Malaysian Red Crescent Society Penang branch has been designated the northern region hub catering to Penang, Kedah and Perlis.

MRCS Penang branch chairman Saw Ewe Yong said the recognition was given by the national headquarters recently. Saw said the Penang branch had good facilities and equipment to cater to the northern region states. “We are grateful for the support given by the public all these years,” he said.

More than 600 people attended the dinner that was held recently at Equatorial Hotel in Penang.  The guest of honour was Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas. Also present was Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon.

Among the highlights were a charity drive, lucky draw and entertainment show.  The guests were also entertained to a batik fashion show, Malay cultural dance and cha-cha dance performance.

MALAYSIAN Red Crescent Society (MRCS) members in their white uniforms will be a familiar sight in Penang this weekend. This is because about 2,000 MRCS members from the Penang branch will be out in force on the streets in the state tomorrow and on Sunday to collect donations in conjunction with their society’s annual Flag Day.

MRCS Penang branch chairman Saw Ewe Yong said the branch had targeted a collection of RM100,000 this year. Besides, organising chairman Chan Hon Kwong said that other than manpower, the society was also in need of financial resources to continue carrying out its humanitarian work.

MRCS members will hit the streets of Penang this weekend to raise funds.

“I appeal to the public to show their support to enable us to carry out our activities,” he said before the launching of the Flag Day by state executive councillor Datuk Koay Kar Huah at the Penang MRCS headquarters on Wednesday.

Chan, who is also MRCS Penang branch vice-chairman, said that among the activities carried out by the branch was the 24-hour ambulance standby service during festive seasons. He said the branch also provided ambulance service to transport the aged and sick from their homes to hospitals.

Thanking the MRCS members for their contributions, Koay urged the public to donate generously to the Flag Day collection to make it possible for the society to continue its noble activities.

UPON learning that the Malaysian Red Crescent Society (MRCS) Penang branch was seeking funds to buy a four-wheel drive (4WD) for disaster response operations, one company decided to give them such a vehicle.

The Boeing Company promptly donated a Ford Ranger worth RM100,000.

The regional vice-president of South-East Asia Paul Walters said the vehicle would be used to carry rescue personnel and equipment to disaster sites.

“The funding for the vehicle comes at a time when the Malaysian government and the MRCS are upgrading disaster response services,” he said, adding that Boeing shared the sentiment of the countries affected by the tsunami in December last year.

Walters handed the mock key for the vehicle to Penang Governor Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas, patron of the MRCS Penang branch, during the Annual Dinner recently.

The branch chairman Ir. Saw Ewe Yong said as a voluntary organisation which depended totally on fundraising to carry out its activities and projects, the branch required a minimum annual funding of RM500,000 for various training programmes.

MRCS national chairman Tunku Tan Sri Shahriman Tunku Sulaiman also commended the Penang branch for its active role during the tsunami disaster.

“The branch was actively involved in search and rescue, counselling, health care, mass cooking and other relief operations,” he said.

The event raised a gross sum of RM155,000 for the society.

MALAYSIAN Red Crescent Society (MRCS) Penang branch’s membership drive over the years to attract adult volunteers has not been encouraging.  Chairman Saw Ewe Yong said the response had been poor.

“This is sad because the public does not realise the benefits of becoming a member or a volunteer.

“They will be able to learn something good for themselves.

“At the same time, they will also be able to help others,” he told a press conference on Monday in Penang to announce the society’s annual walkathon to be held on June 26.

Saw said the society hoped to see its membership grow to 120,000.

The 3km walkathon will be held at the Esplanade grounds beginning 8.30am.

It will be flagged off by state executive councillor Datuk Koay Kar Huah.

Donors who had given RM300 and above will take part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Saw said the event was to raise funds for the society’s annual activities costing more than RM400,000.

“Most of our activities are concentrated on training staff for public duties and maintenance of our ambu-lance and disaster teams and our vehicles,” he said.

He added some 500 participants, mainly youth members, would be taking part in the event.

“The public can also join in the walk by coming to the Esplanade before 8am on that day and donating RM10 to enable them to take part in a lucky draw,” he said.