An aid agency and a multinational food-and-beverage company have teamed up to again mobilise flood aid nutrition supplies to support up to 7,000 families in communities at risk from the monsoon.
Malaysian Red Crescent (MRC) and Nestle Malaysia’s joint efforts are seeing donations already en-route to Kedah, Kelantan, Pahang and Terengganu as preparations intensify to face potential flooding.
In Sabah, local preparedness efforts are underway, with 40 volunteers from Nestle’s Sabah operations, Harrisons Sabah and MRC Sabah coming together to prepare 1,000 flood aid bags.
The efforts form part of Nestle Malaysia’s annual Nationwide Flood Aid Relief initiative, marking its fourth consecutive year of collaboration with MRC.
Since 2023, the partnership has brought relief to more than 30,000 flood-affected families, while supporting MRC’s emergency response capabilities including through funding for its latest ambulance unit.
Nestle Malaysia’s contribution of products in-kind and financial support for this year’s effort is valued at approximately RM1.8mil, and is part of “Nestle Sayang Komuniti” which mobilises employees to contribute to community and humanitarian causes across Malaysia.
Its chief executive officer Juan Aranols said, “When communities are facing the threat of floods, being prepared can make an important difference.
“Our priority is to ensure essential supplies are ready to reach affected communities quickly when the need arises.
“Working alongside MRC allows us to turn that readiness into action, drawing on their humanitarian reach and experience on the ground.”
Aranols said he was especially grateful to Nestle employees and volunteers who had come together to prepare the 7,000 nutrition aid packs for communities across Malaysia.
MRC national chairman Tan Sri Tunku Puteri Intan Safinaz Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah who was present at the packing event said, “Flood response begins well before floodwaters rise.
“Having essential supplies prepared and positioned in advance enables humanitarian assistance to be mobilised more effectively when communities need it.
“Our continued collaboration with Nestle Malaysia strengthens this preparedness, combining the commitment of volunteers with MRC’s humanitarian network.
“The additional packing effort in Sabah this year further strengthens our ability to support communities there when the need arises.”
The Kuala Lumpur packing effort brought together Nestle employees and MRC volunteers, alongside representatives from Universiti Malaya, Universiti Malaya-Wales and Yayasan Wakaf.
The initiative also involves National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) and its agencies, and complements Nestle’s collaboration with Food Bank Malaysia Foundation in preparing aid packs for families in remote areas of Tumpat and Jeli, Kelantan.
