(From left) Rev Lee, Abbess Jue and Dr Chin take part in the signing ceremony.
KUCHING: The Academy for Silent Mentor (AFSM) recently launched the ‘i.Silent Mentor’ programme – a project that encourages donors (referred to as ‘Silent Mentors’) to donate their bodies or organs voluntarily after death.
The AFSM Education Institute was set up as a body donation centre in Malaysia, providing care and support to body donors regardless of race and religion for the advancement of medical education, research and training.
The i.Silent Mentor signing ceremony took place in Kuala Lumpur and was officially declared by Chief Abbess of Fo Guang Shan (Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia) Venerable Jue Cheng, Rev Lee Sai Yew of City Light Church, Damansara Perdana and Prof Dr Chin Kin Fah.
In his speech, Dr Chin who is founder and chairman of AFSM said: “A Silent Mentor is a tree of love, giving hope to many students and providing shelter for people in need. Regardless of the religious beliefs of our Silent Mentors, the teachers, the students and the academy will pay the utmost gratitude, respect and love. Not only do they pledge to donate their bodies, they also prepare to share their life stories as a teaching tool for liberal arts and humanity education.”
Meanwhile in his speech, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) chancellor Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik said: “I am very grateful that there is an i.Silent Mentor programme in Malaysia. The programme is the alternative way to teach us to become a good doctor, not only with good skills but also one who learns about humanity, caring and empathy. This programme provides a good environment for them to understand peoples’ suffering, their history and wishes.
“Lastly, on behalf of UTAR, which has incorporated the ‘Silent Mentor’ programme into its medical school core curriculum, and also others medical schools and professional bodies, I would like to say thank you to the founding directors and committee members of AFSM for upholding a different kind of learning.”
Educational programmes were also featured during the launch, including a video presentation about the i.Silent Mentor project, performance by UTAR and INTI College medical students, as well as a simple introduction of one of the Silent Mentors named Kaw Ah Moi.
Those present to support the launch were Xiao En Group chairwoman Datin Choo Lein Sei Keng, Xiao En Group managing director Dato Frank Choo Chuo Siong, Taylor’s Education Group chief executive officer Dato’ Loy Teik Ngan and Taiwan’s Tzu Chi University professor of anatomy Prof Tseng Guo-Fang.
To show its support for AFSM, Xiao En Group applies a rental fee of only RM1 for the non-profit charitable academy to run its i.Silent Mentor workshop at the Xiao En Centre.
The Silent Mentor programme was introduced in Malaysia by Dr Chin on March 23, 2012, whereby the idea was initiated by Tzu Chi University.
The programme has been in effect for five years. AFSM launched its very own i.Silent Mentor project as part of the academy’s workshop in order to extend its values to reach more medical professionals.
Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) recently signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with AFSM to set up a Silent Mentor Centre at its Kota Samarahan campus.
The Silent Mentor Centre, which is located next to the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, will serve as a complementary training centre for medical and nursing programmes
For more information about i.Silent Mentor, go to Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/Academy-For-Silent-Mentor-1882921491985026/ or contact AFSM operation manager Jia Bao at 010-2478617.