RedCrescentPenang.org.my

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.

THE Malaysian Red Crescent Society (MRCS) Penang branch has assumed a role as the society’s Northern Logistics Hub for Disaster Response.

The branch chairman Ir. Saw Ewe Yong said the decision was made following the branch’s involvement in helping Kedah and Perlis during the recent floods and fire.  “For this role, the headquarters has provided the branch with two rescue boats,” he said.

He was at the presentation of service awards to 73 members in conjunction with World Red Crescent Day recently.

Saw said in the past, MRCS only provided ambulance and non-emergency services.  “We are now seriously looking into providing 24-hour emergency services,” he said.

NON-governmental organisations have made it more convenient for people to donate blood by holding campaigns at public places, said Penang Tourism Development and Environment Committee chairman Teng Chang Yeow.

“Although hospitals have their own blood bank units, phobias have hampered the government’s efforts to encourage more people to go to the hospital to donate blood,” he said recently.

He was speaking at the campaign held at Prangin Mall organised by the MRCS Island Chapter’s Voluntary Aid Detachment 24.  Organising chairman Fong Kwok Khuen said people started coming as early as 9.30am although the event proper only began at 11.30am.

The Star – 30 May, BLOOD APPEAL: The Malaysian Red Crescent Society (MRCS) has urged the public, especially those aged 18 to 25, to donate blood to mark International Blood Donation Day on June 4. MRCS national vice-chairman Datuk Dr Bahari Abu Mansor said that apart from helping to fill up the blood bank, donors will become healthier as the zinc content in their body would be reduced and new red blood cells would be generated. For further information, contact organiser Md Adnan Md Hashim at 019-558 4474 or visit www.redcrescent.org.my

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.

During the last Deeparaya celebrations, the Penang branch of Malaysian Red Crescent Society (MRCS) treated an accident victim suffering from head injuries and a spinal fracture.

“We administered first aid and rushed him to the Penang Hospital. The victim survived,” said MRCS training officer G Karuna.  Now he and the other 300 members and 30 officers of MRCS are again gearing up for action during Chinese New Year.

There were also two cases where CPR (cardio pulmonary resuscitation) was given for cardiac arrest.  However, the victims were pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital, said Karuna, who is a small trader by profession.

The squad’s festive mobilisation exercise was launched Thursday by state Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Committee chairman Lau Chiek Tuan at his MCA Berapit service centre.

”Qualified first aid personnel will be on duty 24 hours a day from now until Feb 1, working in three shifts. “Four fully equipped ambulances are at our disposal and backed up by two four-wheel drive units,” said Lau, who is also the state MRCS branch secretary.

“Our vehicles are connected to all the government hospitals via the Penang Emergency Ambulance Radio Link (PEARL) system.”

“Two MRCS ambulances are on standby to serve Penang island, one for North Seberang Prai and one for Central and South Seberang Prai.”

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.