Jamit (front, fifth right), Mabong District Officer Douglas Pungga (front, sixth right) and Kapit Resident Joseph Belayong (front, third right) launch the sale of MRC stickers.
KAPIT: The Malaysian Red Crescent (MRC) Kapit Chapter has been commended for being well-organised and very active in providing immediate relief and assistance to victims of natural disasters.
Owing to this, many people have greatly benefitted from its services.
Bukit Goram assemblyman Jefferson Jamit Unyat said this in officiating at a ceremony to mark World Red Cross/Red Crescent Day themed ‘Everywhere For Everyone’ at Meligai Hotel here on Sunday evening.
Pledging his support to MRC Kapit, he said the chapter had also been running regular mass blood donation campaigns and ‘First Aid’ training, towards the aim of having a ‘First Aider in every home’.
“The World Red Crescent Day is celebrated every year to pay tribute and also to recognise the work of volunteers who go all out in saving lives during times of emergency. I commend MRC members for displaying high spirit of volunteerism to serve without any material reward,” he said.
However, Jamit lamented that the spirit of volunteerism had diminished among the younger generation.
“I’d like to appeal for more people to join the MRC Kapit to strengthen the chapter in terms of manpower and resources,” he said.
Later, the assemblyman pledged RM10,000 for MRC Kapit to carry out its activities.
MRC Kapit chairman Dr Sia Tih Kong said being a small chapter they were constrained financially — both in manpower and logistics.
However, he said the chapter remained the first team to send assistance in the form of clothes, blankets and food to the victims of a recent fire at a Penan resettlement scheme in Belaga District.
“As usual, we had to seek funds for our activities. We do receive some funds but it is never enough,” Dr Sia said.
On the recruitment of Volunteer Aid Detachment (VAD) members, Dr Sia expressed his pleasure of seeing some 30 members of the civil service and other personnel from Kapit Hospital sign up as members.
The highlight of the Sunday night event were the sale launch of MRC stickers, aimed at raising funds for MRC Kapit to plan for more activities going forward.
Moreover, the chapter also presented letters of appreciation to about 60 regular local blood donors.
Ari Maniam from Song was awarded with the ‘Diamond Certificate’ for having donated blood since 1979. So far, the army pensioner has contributed a total of 97 pints.
Other top donors were Matjeli Jani who donated 76 pints, Ling Hang Chen (59 pints), Wong Ting Ing (53 pints) and Bobby Kenyang (47 pints) — all of whom also received the ‘Diamond Certificates’.
Other associations were also honoured with certificates of appreciation — among them Methodist Hock Ing Church, Youth Wing of Chiang Chuan Association, Youth Wing of Foochow Association, Youth Wing of Kwang Tung Association, Kapit Police Families Association (Perkep), Lions Club of Kapit, SIB Mandarin Church, Tropical Rainforest Hash Club—Kapit Chapter, Kapit Coffee Shop and Restaurant Owners Association, Song District Volunteer Firefightng Unit, Kapit People’s Volunteers Corps (Rela) and SMK Kapit.