Malaysia Airlines and MASkargo partner MERCY Malaysia for Lahad Datu
Malaysia Airlines and its cargo subsidiary MASkargo partnered Mercy Malaysia to support the Government’s on-going ‘Operations Daulat’ to restore normalcy in the east Sabah region around Lahad Datu.
The national carrier and its subsidiary pooled efforts to airlift around 1 tonne of equipment for Mercy Malaysia, required to provide logistical support and enhance the capacity of the local rural health clinic located at Felda Sahabat in Lahad Datu.
In responding to the request by the Sabah State Health Department, Mercy Malaysia will use the equipment to mobilize its Emergency Response Unit in-patient module which can accommodate 50 patients, providing aid to internally displaced people in the area.
Malaysia Airlines’ Director of Operations, Capt Izham Ismail who was on hand in KLIA during the loading of the consignment said, ‘As a Government Linked Company it is important that we support the efforts of the government to restore the security and safety of our territories as it contributes to minimize disruptions to the daily routines of the Malaysians. We have partnered Mercy Malaysia in this initiative as we already have an on-going arrangement with the NGO to support such corporate social responsibility engagements for the benefit of our citizens and also affected communities overseas”
“At Malaysia Airlines, we have always played a significant role in such missions. Previously, we also flew back Malaysian students from Cairo who was stranded in Egypt due to the political turmoil there,” he added.
Apart from airfreight support, Malaysia Airlines also provided return flights for five volunteers of Mercy Malaysia from KLIA to Tawau in conjunction with their assignment in Lahad Datu.
In addition to the above partnership with Mercy Malaysia, the national carrier and its wholly-owned subsidiaries Firefly and MASwings have pledged to donate towards the Tabung Wira Lahad Datu Media Prima established to commemorate the services of security personnel who were injured and perished in the line of duty defending the sovereignty of Malaysia.
The donation made will be based on RM1 for every passenger uplifted by Malaysia Airlines and its subsidiaries on all Malaysian domestic sectors over four weeks commencing 0001 hours on Sunday 17 March 2013.
The national airline serves the east Sabah region with direct B737 flights between Kuala Lumpur and the towns of Sandakan and Tawau. MASwings’ ATR-72 flights link the Sabah capital of Kota Kinabalu with Lahad Datu, Sandakan and Tawau. This region has some of the world’s best eco-tourist attractions that are very popular amongst foreigners. There are also many support industries here vital for both foreign tourist arrivals and improving the livelihood of locals.