Top 10 Malaysian Personalities During Covid-19 Pandemic (Part 1)
In the face of the Covid-19 pandemic and the difficulties of the Movement Control Order (MCO), many news of Malaysians doing their part to support the frontliners as well as helping the underprivileged communities have been making rounds on social media. Here, Top 10 of Malaysia shares its list of the top 10 personalities who are considered national heroes in their efforts in helping the nation overcome this hardship and move on .
Datuk Dr Noor Hisham, Director-General of Health Malaysia
Dr Noor Hisham rose to fame ever since the outbreak of the virus. With his calm demeanour in handling the crisis, he has become the face of consistency and hope as the country battles the Covid-19 pandemic. His hard work have made him a beloved figure in the country. He has even gained the recognition of international media, who ranked him as one of the “world’s top doctors”.
Datuk Dr Noor Hisham
Dato Dr Ahmad Faizal Perdaus, President of Mercy Malaysia
In addition to deploying the emergency response team, Dato Dr Ahmad Faizal Perdaus and his team also set up mobile clinics, distribute hygiene kits, as well as providing essentials such as food, face masks, hand sanitisers, PPE suits. Mercy Malaysia has also launched its own donation drive, where the funds are used to help test high risk and vulnerable communities including rural areas where there are newly identified clusters.
Melinda Looi, President of Malaysia Official Designers Association (MODA)
Looi led an initiative to sew PPE for front-liners to meet the demand from local hospitals while also joining forces with FashionValet in a fund raising campaign to buy fabric to sew PPEs. The association also teamed up with Islamic Medical Association of Malaysia to distribute gowns to its network of hospitals.
Melissa Tan, CEO of Getha
The company worked together with MODA to produce more PPE head covers and body suits for hospital front-liners while also donating latex mattresses and pillows to quarantine centres, clinics and hospitals across the nation.
John-Hans Oei, CEO of Cultiveat
Cultiveat decided to give away some of its harvested produce to the underprivileged communities while also bringing its business online to cope with the surplus produce brought about by low demand from their F&B partners. Since the start of MCO, it has partnered with NGOs to deliver fresh vegetables to the refugees, the disabled and the poor families while also supplying food to the medical frontliners.
Tengku Zatashah Idris, Volunteer at Kechara Soup Kitchen, Board of Trustees at Food Bank Malaysia Foundation, founded #zerofoodwastage
Renowned for her social initiatives, Tengku Zatasha’s main goal was to continue to get food for the vulnerable during Movement Control Order (MCO) period. She has also assisted in getting funding as well as the approval of the Federal Territories authorities, ensuring that Kechara Kitchen is able move around to help the communities during the MCO.
Tengku Zatasha Idris
Datin Vivy Yusof & Dato Fadzarudin Anuar, Founder of FashionValet
When Datin Vivy saw the chairman of Universiti Teknologi Mara donating portable air conditioners to hospitals, she decided to follow suit. The couple donated air conditioners, laptops, cash and food. They have also put together a crowd funding site for front-liners and have managed to raised more than RM1 million.
Tan Sri Lee Kim Yew, Founder of Country Heights Conglomerate
Tan Sri Lee pulled resources from his healthcare and wellness arm and initiated a non-profit move to provide equipment for front-liners. Following his decision to bring in 30 million masks and 200,000 personal protection equipment from overseas, he chartered a private plane to China and brought back the items.
Hanna Alkaf, Malaysian author. Launched #kitajagakita initiative with a group of volunteer
Hanna was looking for a platform which can make it easier for people to donate or volunteer their services and that was when she launched #kitajagakita.com, which has garnered nationwide attention. Her effort did not go unnoticed as it has benefited organisations such as Women Aid’s Organisation, Mercy Malaysia, and Befrienders KL. Her efforts have brought much relief to some of the most vulnerable communities in the country.
Hanna Alkaf
William Cheah and YiLyn Chan, Founders of Kembara Kitchen
One the first week of MCO, they delivered supper to the doctors and nurses who were working the night shift at Hospital Sungai Buloh. They also ensured that the vulnerable communities are taken care of by providing care packages containing groceries and meals to the families affected by the MCO, the homeless as well as the disabled. However, their humanitarian works are not limited to just taking care of humans for they have also delivered frozen food to Zoo Negara for the animals, which are donated by Tesco Malaysia and Japanese Restaurant Maruki Ramen.