Lee (standing, right) and Ting (left) present certificates of appreciation to the blood donors, as Karambir (standing, second left) and several members of the organising committee look on.
MIRI: Malaysian Red Crescent (MRC) Miri District strives to continue with its excellent record of 100 per cent voluntary blood donation since1989.
Assistant Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Lee Kim Shin, who is also deputy chairman of MRC Miri, said this after presenting certificates of appreciation to successful donors at Miri Community mass blood donation drive in Emart Riam yesterday.
Lee pointed out that in the early days, it was tough to conduct blood donation drives as parents, particularly among the Chinese, would discourage their children from donating blood – believing that the practice was harmful to the donors’ health.
However after having consistently running the campaign over the years, MRC Miri managed to overcome the problem in 1989 when many people began to come forward voluntarily to support this good cause.
“The district has been actively involved in blood donation campaigns for more than 50 years. I’m happy to see our successful blood donation drives, in particularly new donors among the youths, compared with those seen in the olden days, when people had to buy blood as there were not enough donors.
“The support from MRC Miri, non-governmental organisations (NGO), associations and others helps to ensure sufficient supply in the blood bank.”
Lee also expressed his thanks, on behalf of MRC Miri, to all blood donors.
“The Miri community has been very supportive in public blood donation campaigns. Our mobile team will continue to ensure the implementation of such drives at shopping complexes.”
Meanwhile organising chairman Councillor Karambir Singh said the mass blood donation drive was jointly run by MRC Miri, Rotary Club of Miri Oil Town, Miri Melanau Association, Miri Malay Association, Miri Indian Association, Berawan Association of Sarawak, Sarawak Kayan Association of Miri branch, Miri Thai Poo Association and Miri Bahai Centre.
Karambir, who is also MRC Miri publicity officer cum chairman of the membership recruitment unit, pointed out that a total of 134 people registered yesterday.
“Out of this number, 109 were successful including 22 new donors.”
Piasau assemblyman Datuk Sebastian Ting was also present.