A DONATION drive by the Subang Jaya community to aid victims affected by the earthquake in Turkiye and Syria has closed after meeting its target.
The community project was a collaboration between Subang Jaya assemblyman Michelle Ng’s office and two mosques in Subang Jaya - Masjid Al-Falah USJ 9 and Masjid Al-Irsyad USJ 1 - with the support of local warehouse and logistics partners.
“We managed to collect over 20 tonnes of winter clothing, blankets, children’s diapers and food aid within three days,” said Ng.
“We are closing the drive as we have met the target (of what the logistics partner can send). Members of the public who still want to donate can send their items to Red Shields Industries (a social enterprise that accepts preloved items such as clothing),” said Ng on Saturday (Feb 11).
She said the response to the donative drive was overwhelming, despite the short notice and initial plan to end it on Feb 15. She added that donors even came from outside Selangor.
“Our volunteers stationed at the two mosques will help to sort the donated items to lessen the burden of those at the Turkish Embassy. Clothing deemed unsuitable (such as short-sleeved shirts) will be donated to Red Shields Industries,” she said.
Ng was speaking after handing over some of the contributions to Turkiye's Ambassador to Malaysia Emir Salim Yuksel at a warehouse in Taman Perindustrian Subang Jaya.
Yuksel thanked both the Subang Jaya community and Malaysians at large for their contributions, which he said included Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART) personnel to locate earthquake victims and a military field hospital.
“Malaysia was one of the first countries to respond to Turkiye’s call for aid and we are grateful for that. We expect the donations by the Subang Jaya community to be sent within a week.
“What is more urgently needed right now are blankets, winter tents, heaters and generators,” he said.
Yuksel added that the impact of the incident was massive, as it affected 10 regions and two earthquakes of the same magnitude struck within five hours early Monday (Feb 6).
