Mercy Malaysia Focus On Disaster Preparedness

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 17 (Bernama) -- Mercy Malaysia is now focused on the importance of disaster preparedness to prepare for floods especially in the East Coast states and reduce the effects of disaster. Its president Dr Ahmad Faizal Mohd Perdaus said Malaysians could no longer take for granted that it was protected from natural disasters, as it had experienced two disasters this year with the floods in the East Coast states and the earthquake in Sabah. "Our focus is now towards preparedness for disasters, having previously moved in to provide relief when disasters happened. "We do not just provide medical and emergency relief after a disaster, but we also help communities to effectively prepare and protect themselves and their livelihoods in the event of natural disasters," he said in his speech ahead of the 16th Mercy Malaysia Annual Dinner, here Friday night. The Sultan of Perak (Ruler of Perak state), Sultan Nazrin Shah, who is also the royal patron of Mercy Malaysia, and Raja Permaisuri Perak (Queen of Perak state) Tuanku Zara Salim attended the dinner which raised over US$83,706 (RM350,000). During the dinner, Sultan Nazrin Shah also launched Mercy Malaysia's Syrian Winter Fund as part of the organisation's Natural Disaster Preparedness Programme. Ahmad Faizal said the fund was aimed at ensuring the well-being of victims of war in Syria in the coming winter months. He also urged Malaysians to ignore political connotations and focus on aiding refugees. "We know that when it comes to Syria, some people have reservations in coming up with support, due to political and other reasons. "Let's put this aside and focus on the victims, the refugees whom we expect to be hard hit during the coming winter months," he added. Ahmad Faizal said since their Syrian relief programme was launched three years ago, the fund had received US$478,323 (RM2 million) in donations, which needed to be driven up ahead of winter in Syria which starts next month. -- BERNAMA