(Background, from left) Ong, Yong, Tian Hock, Noordin and former Temiang assemblyman Datuk Lee Yuen Fong look on as two state basketball players donate blood.
CAGERS from the Negri Sembilan Agong’s Cup team joined other Malaysians to donate blood at a campaign held at the Tuanku Ja’afar Hospital (TJH) in Seremban.
Forty players from the state’s men and women’s teams participated in the campaign.
The event, jointly organised by Matrix Concepts Foundation (MCF), Buddha’s Light International Association, Fo Guang Seremban Association and Mawar Medical Centre (MMC), received overwhelming response with 321 blood bags collected against the targeted 300.
BLIA central Malaysia chapter president Datin Seri Yong Chou Lian said the organisation notified all members of the event.
“We actually set a higher target but were told by TJH there was sufficient supply of the AB blood type.
“The organisers then decided to lower the target and we managed to collect 321 bags,” she said.
Also present at the event were Matrix Concepts group executive deputy chairman Datuk Lee Tian Hock, MCF chairman Datuk Noordin Yatib and MMC chief executive officer Dr Ong Chiew Ping.
Yong said the programme was last carried out in June 2020 and 442 bags of blood were collected.
The campaign was also in support of the World Blood Donor Day.
Lee, who is also the Malaysia Basketball Association president, commended the organisers for the effort.
“It is my hope that more people will donate blood so we can help save more lives,” he said, thanking TJH for supporting the campaign.
Dr Ong said those who contracted Covid-19 had to wait 10 days after they were fully recovered before they were allowed to donate blood.
“Those who come into close contact (with infected individuals) will only be eligible after seven days,” she said.
Dr Ong said the donated blood could be used to treat patients involved in road accidents and those who were down with dengue.
Nordin said MCF would continue with the campaign.
