KUCHING: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg has launched the Malaysian Red Crescent (MRC) Kuching District flag day sales.
Abang Johari, who is MRC Kuching District patron, also purchased the first paper flag with a personal donation when a delegation led by its district chairman Datuk Dr Abang Abdul Rauf Abang Zain recently called on him at Wisma Bapa Malaysia here.
Also present were the MRC Kuching District deputy chairman Dr Chou Chii Ming and vice-chairman Titus Chuo.
According to Chuo, MRC youth and link members from secondary and primary schools will help to sell the paper flags to members of the public from April 15 to May 15.
He also appealed to Sarawakians to generously support the sales as the money collected would be utilised for the district’s humanitarian, community services and training programmes.
The district has an outstanding record in helping to recruit voluntary blood donors for the past over four decades, providing training for the MRC youth and link members, first-aid training to government agencies, companies and the general public, ambulance services as well as aiding victims of natural disasters like floods.
As incentives, the district would channel between 10 and 20 per cent of the money collected from the paper flag sales to participating schools to finance their Red Crescent activities. The percentage would be based on the amount collected during the month-long sales.
“We hope to collect about RM20,000 from the flag day sales,” added Chuo.
Meanwhile, MRC Kuching District will organise the “Run To Save Lives” on Oct 27 in aid of its blood donors’ recruitment campaign.
Dr Chou said the district helped to collect about 22,000 pints of blood yearly for the Sarawak General Hospital, Normah Medical Specialist Centre and other private hospitals. Last year’s collection was 22,911 pints.
The district has a pool of some 63,000 blood donors; about 70 per cent of them are active donors who give at least one pint a year.
“According to our statistics, there has been an increase in the number of female blood donors over the years, and a total of 6,356 women donated blood last year compared to 16,555 men.
“However, we need about RM100,000 to fund the blood donors’ recruitment campaign yearly,” said Chou, adding as a recognition for the blood donors, the district hosted the annual Blood Donors’ Awards presentation.
At the same time, he also urged more corporate and private companies to support the campaign by becoming corporate sponsors for the noble cause.
