KUCHING: Corporate bodies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are called upon to take on initiatives to help the needy through various charity programmes during the festive season.
The Minister of Women, Early Childhood, and Community Wellbeing Development Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said that such noble efforts are important to ensure that the less fortunate are not left behind.
“Therefore, we also really hope that more companies, private individuals, and NGOs will come forward to help and continue to care for these needy people,” she said at the Plaza Merdeka Celebration X Lebaran Fashion Show here last night (April 15).
According to her, NGOs founded by non-Muslims have also come forward to help those in need in conjunction with Ramadan, apart from organising breaking of fast events and giving ‘duit raya’.
“This is the beauty and privilege of Sarawak; such activities will also encourage the community to respect the religious and cultural differences in the state, which make us live in harmony,” she said.
The minister also praised the good efforts of Plaza Merdeka Management, which has implemented various corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes, including giving donations in conjunction with this Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration.
She said the shopping centre has also collaborated with Parkson to provide donations and Hari Raya necessities such as songkoks, hijabs, clothes, and shoes to 50 children from the Nur Murni Care Centre this year.
“Besides that, they also held a breaking of fast event together with the children at the care centre,” she added.
Among other CSR programmes that have been implemented by Plaza Merdeka, she said, is the Moon Cake Festival 2022, where they collaborated with the Talent Development and Welfare Association of People with Special Needs Kuching (KATSN), providing a platform for children with special needs to exhibit their arts and sell goods.
“Throughout Christmas 2022, they have also brought cheers to the Sarawak Children’s Cancer Society (SCCS) with a shopping spree for the children and families, with spending reaching RM10,000.
“They also donated to the Green Ribbon Old Folks Home to cover their needs, amounting to RM5,000 to RM10,000, and provided a free Kuching Marathon running slot for Special Olympics children at every Kuching Marathon event (100 pax),” she said, adding that she believed many other efforts have been carried out by the management.
Meanwhile, the purpose of the event was to support and celebrate Sarawak’s cultural diversity that celebrates all festivals and inculcate the importance of culture and religion to the younger generation by celebrating Hari Raya, as it is one of the main festivals.
At the same time, it is also to hone young talent as part of the Hari Raya celebration, and Plaza Merdeka has partnered with Gene Martino for the fashion show, where 40 per cent of the models are children aged 12 and under.
After the fashion show, Fatimah broke fast with the children from Nur Murni Care Centre at the shopping centre.
Also present were the executive director of Plaza Merdeka Holding Sdn Bhd, who is also Plaza Merdeka Sdn Bhd and Waterfront Hotel Management chief, Datin Anriza Wong Cordero, Small and Medium Entreprise Association of Sarawak advisor and Miss International Malaysia Sarawak director Datuk Raymond Jolly.
Sarawak Tourism Federation president and board member of the Sarawak Tourism Board Audry Wan Ullok, permanent secretary of the Women, Early Childhood, and Community Wellbeing Development Ministry Noriah Ahmad, Nur Murni Care Centre manager Raziman Anngas, and assistant general manager of Plaza Merdeka Management Sylvester Soh were also present.
