Northport (Malaysia) Bhd (Northport), a member of MMC Group, and Shin Yang Shipping Corporation Berhad (Shin Yang), a member of Shin Yang Group, collaborated to support the Malaysian Relief Agency (MRA relief)’s mission to assist frontline healthcare workers and communities affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
MRA successfully gathered over 10 tonnes of goods worth RM1.24 million, including medical equipment and food packs. The assistance goods were packaged in three (3) containers and sent to Kuching, Sibu, Kota Kinabalu, and Tawau via Northport, which assisted with the handling of the aid items at MRA’s warehouse in Petaling Jaya and at the destinations, as well as storage and port services. Shin Yang, one of the primary shipping lines operating between Port Klang and East Malaysian ports, contributed three (3) containers as well as special slots to the expedition.
To mark the occasion, a simple flag-off ceremony was held at Northport on the 21st of August and present during the ceremony were Northport’s Chief Executive Officer, Dato’ Azman Shah Mohd Yusof and MRA’s President, Dr Mohd Daud Bin Sulaiman.
“This collaboration is a platform and an opportunity for Northport to stand together with our business partners to help those in need during this crisis. We are very pleased to offer our expertise and facilities to help organisations such as MRA in ensuring the success of this noble initiative,” commented Dato’ Azman.
“Shin Yang is very delighted to be part of this mission and to be able to go beyond our day-to-day business operations. We have been facilitating the trade between West and East Malaysia for many years now and we are grateful to offer our shipping services to move these relief supplies to help the frontliners and the communities impacted by COVID-19 in Sabah and Sarawak,” said Captain Ting Hien Liong, Chief Executive Officer of Shin Yang.
Medical products and equipment donated by MRA donors for this expedition include ICU beds and mattresses, ECG systems, ventilators, infusion pumps, syringe pumps, laryngoscopes, face masks, personal protective equipment (PPE), and 500 meal packs.
“As a non-profit humanitarian organisation, MRA has limited capability and capacity to ship out relief assistance from our central base in Kuala Lumpur. Therefore, collaboration with Northport and Shin Yang is necessary to ensure safe and timely delivery of the humanitarian aid supplies especially to destinations which require special logistics arrangements”, said Dr Mohd Daud.
According to the press statement by Northport, Sabah and Sarawak are facing inadequate resources to contain the impact of the recent resurgence of COVID-19 cases, stressing that logistics support is very crucial in ensuring efficient delivery of aid to affected people.
“Northport has always been very supportive towards humanitarian assistance initiatives as part of our continued commitment to helping the society in need. As a responsible corporate organisation, we will continue to play our part through our CSR programmes as well as collaborative efforts with our business partners to support the people and the country as we battle this crisis. Let us pray for our frontliners and the affected communities to stay strong during this challenging time,” concluded Dato’ Azman.
