PM receives RM4m for COVID-19 fund, bringing total to RM22.6m

Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin today received contributions amounting to RM4 million from corporate companies for the COVID-19 Fund, bringing the total amount collected to date to RM22.6 million.

In a brief event held at the Perdana Putra building here, Telekom Malaysia Bhd represented by its chairman Rosli Man contributed RM2 million.

Sunway Bhd represented by Sunway Bhd Malaysia and Singapore Property Development Division managing director Sarena Cheah and Ranhill Bhd represented by Datuk Seri Kamarudin Ambok, each contributed RM1 million.

Meanwhile, Muhyiddin also received donations involving personal protective equipment (PPE) worth RM2 million from Western Digital Sdn Bhd represented by Group chairman (Malaysian Operations) Datuk Syed Hussain Aljunid.

Muhyiddin, in a post on his Facebook page, said that until yesterday RM5.68 million from the fund had been channelled to the National Welfare Foundation (YKN) for purchasing daily necessities to be donated to those affected by the outbreak.

The Prime Minister said RM195,000 was also distributed to 39 next-of-kin of COVID-19 victims as ‘Bayaran Ihsan Kematian’.

“At the same time the government is contacting the relatives of the other victims,” he said.

In addition, he said special assistance amounting to RM13,400 had been given to workers who had lost their source of income or whose wages were not paid among the COVID-19 contacts, bringing the total amount of contributions distributed to RM5.88 million.

The COVID-19 Fund was launched on March 11 as a government effort to help people affected by the outbreak.

Operated by the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma), donations can be directed to account No. 16010001138714 (Bank Muamalat - National Disaster Relief Fund).

-- BERNAMA