NGO founder lauded for virus fight contribution

BEIJING: Ng Yeen Seen (pic), the founder of non-governmental organisation Ops Harapan, has been named an outstanding youth for her contribution in the battle against Covid-19.

She was presented the Silk Road Youth Outstanding Contribution Award at the 3rd Silk Road and Young Dreams (SRYD) award presentation ceremony on Saturday.

She, however, could not attend the ceremony due to movement controls in both countries.

SRYD, which was started in 2018, aims to provide a platform for youth to share experiences, realise their potential and showcase their talent.

Over 1,000 people from some 100 nations have participated in it.

As the theme for this year is health, all the recipients were picked for their efforts in fighting Covid-19, either in raising funds for personal protective equipment (PPE) or using their knowledge and skills to lighten the burden of those affected by the outbreak.

Ng, who runs the Centre for Research, Advisory and Technology (Create), a public advisory firm in technology, was in Wuhan city in mid-January.

A week after she returned to Malaysia, the city was placed under a lockdown to control the spread of the coronavirus.

Upon seeing the frontliners fighting the virus without proper gear, Ng, through her contacts, pulled strength together to help the Chinese.

With support from Malaysian firms and individuals, she has sent some 70 tonnes of PPE to China since Feb 4.

“Then, when Malaysia was hit by the outbreak, my Chinese friends gave their help in return by sending us four shipments of PPE, ” she said.

Ng also spent some RM1mil she raised to purchase PPE items and distributed them to 25 hospitals throughout the country and continued with her efforts to support six hospitals in Sabah.