KOTA KINABALU: A coalition of government-linked companies (GLCs) and Government-Linked Investment Companies (GLICs) has mobilised approximately RM1.5mil to support disaster victims in Sabah, while ongoing plans are in progress to ensure continued assistance.
The coalition, GLC Demi Rakyat dan Negara (GDRN), stated that following the floods and landslides in mid-September, it has dispatched essentials such as cash aid, food packs, hygiene kits, and cleaning supplies to those affected.
Banking group members also provide loan moratoria and disaster financing for struggling micro, small, and medium enterprises during that period.
“In moments like this, it is our collective duty as Malaysians to respond with empathy and to restore dignity to those affected,” said Trustee and Managing Director of Yayasan Hasanah, a foundation of Khazanah Nasional and co-chair of the GDRN Secretariat, Siti Kamariah Ahmad Subki.
“The GDRN’s strength lies in uniting these responses - and we will always stand in solidarity with the government and local agencies to uplift communities affected by disasters," said the director of Yayasan TM and another co-chair of the GDRN Secretariat, Ainol Shaharina Sahar.
GDRN is a philanthropic network of GLCs and GLICs that has complemented the government's efforts in major disasters since 2013.
On Sept 9, heavy and persistent rainfall in Sabah caused significant flooding and landslides across multiple districts, including Penampang, Membakut, Putatan, Beaufort, Papar, and Sipitang.
The disasters have displaced over 3,000 evacuees from more than 960 families, with 14 deaths reported.
Since then, 12 GDRN members have reported providing assistance in Sabah by working with government agencies, including the Finance Ministry, National Disaster Management Agency and Social Welfare Department.
Members like CIMB Foundation, Kumpulan Wang Persaraan (Diperbadankan) [KWAP], Maybank, Permodalan Nasional Berhad, Pharmaniaga, Yayasan Hasanah, Yayasan PETRONAS (YP), Yayasan Sime Darby, and Yayasan TM have pledged or distributed essential goods, including hygiene kits, food packs and cleaning supplies.
YP had pledged cashless assistance to the victims, and Lembaga Tabung Angkatan Tentera (LTAT) and its Group of Companies have contributed to the Tabung Kecemasan Bencana Alam ATM for Armed Forces communities affected.
Banking institutions such as Bank Islam, CIMB, and Maybank had rolled out financial relief measures, including moratoria on loan payments and disaster-relief financing options for MSMEs.
Meanwhile, Sabah Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, said their generosity and care in helping to ease the burdens of victims also helped share the burden with the state government.
“We want to especially thank PETRONAS and Yayasan PETRONAS for their commitment in helping to make sure that the welfare of the people is taken care of, more so in times of suffering and disaster,” he said.
He said this after witnessing the handing over of disaster aid contributions from Petronas at Menara Kinabalu, here, Wednesday (Oct 1).
The contributions, which include essential goods, were handed over by the PETRONAS Sabah and Labuan office General Manager Siti Ayu Abdul Wahab to State Secretary Datuk Seri Safar Untong, who was also the state disaster management committee chairman.
These contributions were also to prepare for the coming monsoon season, she said.
Siti said Petronas had contributed items such as mattresses, canopies, fans and bottled water for this purpose, food packets to the Malaysia Civil Defence Department and RM10,000 worth of fuel gift cards to purchase fuel during rescue operations, among other things.
PETRONAS and Yayasan PETRONAS had contributed RM980,000 for disaster preparedness initiatives and assistance to Sabah so far, she added.
