Tengku Amir Shah (second from right) with (from right) Sunway Group deputy chairman Tan Sri Razman M. Hashim, Cheah and Buchanan taking part in the pack-a-thon. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star
IMAGINE packing half a million meals in just one day.
That is exactly what happened at Sunway Pyramid Convention Centre in Bandar Sunway, Selangor, where 1,200 volunteers came together for one of the largest meal pack-a-thons South-East Asia has ever seen.
Organised by Sunway Group in partnership with Rise Against Hunger, the event wasn’t just about setting records – it was about providing life-saving meals to some of the most vulnerable communities across the region, from Malaysia’s Orang Asli to refugees and stateless people.
The annual corporate social responsibility (CSR) effort marked the company’s 10th year as partners with the hunger relief agency and its 50th anniversary.
Graced by Raja Muda of Selangor Tengku Amir Shah Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, the event also saw the hands-on participation of Sunway Group founder and chairman Tan Sri Jeffrey Cheah and Rise Against Hunger founder Ray Buchanan.
The meals are set to benefit over 8,300 individuals across Malaysia and Timor Leste, providing them with two meals a day for a month.
The recipients include Orang Asli communities, orphanages, senior homes, the extreme poor, refugees and stateless individuals, ensuring that these groups receive much-needed nutrition.
Cheah was grateful to all involved with the pack-a-thon.
“The partnership between Sunway and Rise Against Hunger is on track to pack two million meals by the end of this year.
“This is our ambitious target, which falls under the umbrella of Sunway for Good, our award-winning CSR initiative.
“Today’s meal-packing initiative is the largest of its kind achieved in a single day in South-East Asia,” said Cheah.
In his speech, he highlighted Unicef’s report that more than 20% of children under five in Malaysia were either stunted or undernourished.
Cheah also emphasised Sunway Group’s initiative to pack half a million nutritious meals for underprivileged communities in Malaysia, supporting the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 2 of Zero Hunger.
Buchanan expressed his gratitude in a statement to Sunway for its ongoing support over the past decade.
He noted that Sunway’s dedication and efforts of its volunteers had been instrumental in addressing food insecurity in the region, benefitting both Malaysia and its neighbouring countries.
The pack-a-thon was done in collaboration with various non-governmental organisations, including 4x4 Relief Malaysia, Sahabat Orang Asli (Ipoh), The Lost Food Project and several Rotary Clubs.
Since the start of the initiative in 2014, Sunway’s staff and volunteers have collectively packed over two million meals, clocking in more than 30,000 volunteer hours.
First-time volunteer Clariss Tan, 58, learned about the event through a friend.
“I wanted to make good use of my time after retiring, so I decided to volunteer. I feel happy to be part of something meaningful,” she said.
Sunway employee Raja Nur Ameerah Raja Mohd Khairuddin, 25, echoed her excitement.
“I signed up as soon as I received the email about the event because it’s for a good cause.
“I’ll definitely participate in future pack-a-thons,” she said.
