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SOME 370 students took part in a mass enrolment ceremony by the Malaysian Red Crescent Society (MRCS) Island Chapter, which was held at the Penang Free School (PFS). The annual ceremony was organised for Form One students who have registered to be MRCS members in their respective schools at the beginning of the semester.

Organised by the youth unit led by organising chairman Lim Win Sern, 17, from Penang Free School, the event saw the enrolment of students from 11 schools namely PFS, Convent Datuk Keramat, Methodist Girls’ School, Convent Green Lane, Saint Xavier’s Institution, St George’s Girls School, SMK Hamid Khan, Hutching School, Convent Light Street, SMK Bukit Gambier and SMK Tanjung Bungah.

After the students had taken their oath as new members, they were briefed on conduct as part of the international organisation.

“Many times, people misconceive that the Red Crescent only does first aid. Actually, we also carry out other activities such as camping, marching, and social visits,” said MRCS officer-in-charge of youth Daniel Lim in his speech to the members at the school hall. “As members, we are encouraged to carry out first aid for those in need. The more we perform, the more we can sharpen up our skills,” he added.

Also present at the event was the chairman of the MRCS Island Chapter, Nancy Cheah. In her speech, she welcomed the new members into the society.

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.

1. All Chapters must form an Awards Committee chaired by the Chapter Chairman for the selection of nominees. All Awards Committee meeting minutes must be sent to the Branch.

2. All recommendations from Chapters’ Sub-Committee Chairman, VAD Commandants or Youth Officers must go through the Chapter Chairman.

3. In accordance to the Nomination Form, the age must be counted based on 1^st January of the Year of Birth.

4. All photographs must be pasted at the designated box on the top right hand corner of the Nomination Form.

5. All nominees’ position stated must be accordance with the Handbook and Constitution.

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