Over the last couple of weeks, Sabah has become the epicentre of the Covid-19 pandemic in Malaysia.
While there is no undermining those whose livelihoods have been affected by this global crisis, indigenous tribes and villagers in rural communities are alarmingly deprived of necessities such as food and medical supplies.
Not only are their homes much harder to reach due to inaccessible roads, but their only means of living have been halted until the situation improves, and that may take a while.
As the country pools its resources to help Sabahans, other non-governmental bodies have also taken the initiative to help their fellow countrymen in their own way.
You, too, can play a part in getting Sabah and its people the help they desperately need by contributing and donating to any one of these initiatives.
Here are some to consider:
1. Bantuan Kilat Semporna
Six NGOs comprising HUGS Project Management, Semporna Local Diver Club (SLDC), Jalinan Qaseh Sabah, Kelab Belia Perdana Sempora and IReach Kasih Sabah have come together for this campaign to supply food baskets to those affected in Semporna.
Each food basket will last a family for a week, and contains a 5 kg bag of rice, sugar, flour, cooking oil, biscuits, basic medication and more.
Apart from the food basket, the campaign also welcomes donations for their team of volunteers, who have also lost their jobs due to the pandemic.
Click here to donate.
2. PPE Kit for Frontliners by HanaFundMe
Angie Chin-Tan of HanaFundMe, a crowdfunding ecosystem designed to support women and deserving causes, is now raising funds to supply PPE equipment to frontliners in Sabah.
Sabah is the current hotspot for the pandemic and hospitals in rural areas are facing extreme shortages of equipment.
Frontliners go through large quantities of isolation gowns, N95 masks, shoe covers, face shields and hand sanitisers daily. Hence, a steady supply of equipment is necessary to keep the fight going.
Click here to support this campaign.
3. The Dua Ringgit Project
If you have RM2 lying around somewhere, so why not donate it to a good cause such as the Dua Ringgit Project?
By donating at least RM2, which is equivalent to the price of a sundae cone, you can contribute to feeding an entire family in Sabah.
As most hard-hit communities rely on as little as RM7 to feed their families until their savings run dry, the Dua Ringgit Project aims to supply them with essentials such as rice, fruits and more.
Click here to donate, or visit their Instagram page for more information.
4. Food Banks
On a much smaller scale, there are several individuals who, out of the goodness of their hearts, have set up food banks within their communities in Tawau, Beaufort and Kota Kinabalu.
The donations received are used to purchase essentials such as rice, noodles, canned food, eggs and more.
Those in great need are encouraged to take what they need, and those who can give are encouraged to donate as much as they want.
Donate to Food Bank Beaufort, Food Bank Tawau or Food Bank Inanam.
5. Tamu Kita Benefit Bag
Tamu Kita, a local social enterprise by Hopes Malaysia, seeks to help underprivileged communities through small-scale farming projects.
Given the worsening pandemic, they have set up their own ‘Donate Veges’ campaign to sell Tamu Kita Benefit Bags.
These bags, priced at RM48 contain six to eight different types of fresh produce, and will benefit both rural village farmers and urban families.
This practical solution will ease the financial burden of farmers and help ensure healthier and safer food for those who have purchased the bags.
To order a Tamu Kita Benefit Bag, visit this website (only for those stationed in Kota Kinabalu).
6. Misi Bantuan Masyarakat Terpinggir Di Sabah
A group of Borneo Komrad activists, youths and students have set up a mission to help the marginalised communities throughout Sabah.
Donations as low as RM40 will be able to provide at least 150 packs of goods containing rice, eggs, cooking oil, sugar, salt, noodles, tea and other essentials.
These goods will be distributed to the affected areas by volunteers, who have said that recipients wait in line for hours despite hot or rainy weather as they are in desperate need of the necessities to feed their large families.
For more information on where to donate, visit their Instagram page here.
7. Kita Jaga Sabah
The Kita Jaga Sabah campaign is a team effort by former education minister Dr Maszlee Malik, education consultant Rejuvenasi Pendidikan and volunteer group Semporna Heroes.
Apart from collecting funds and donations to supply families with food and medical supplies, they also offer sanitisation services to ambulances.
Donate as little as RM5 and make a difference here.
8. Projek Bantuan Kebajikan Sandakan
Sandakan Prihatin has set up a project to aid families who have lost their jobs by providing them with basic grocery items.
With money and living supplies running dangerously low, the affected families have sold their furniture and other home items to purchase food and formula milk for their young children.
Some have even started scouring for empty tins to sell or begun begging others for help.
Although this project recommends donating RM35, which will cover an essential pack for a family, they will readily accept any amount.
Donate to the project here.
9. Happy Bank Crew
A number of selfless and talented youths have come together to form Happy Bank, a non-profit volunteer-based organisation that helps the underprivileged and socially-neglected communities in Malaysia such as those in Tawau, Semporna, Kota Marudu and especially areas where no help has been given.
They have been hard at work to supply Sabahans with necessary resources such as food, diapers, formula milk and others, with the help of generous donors and through donations.
Donate to the project here.
10. Tabung Prihatin Sabah
The Family Empowerment Society (FAME) has put together several packs for women and children, and these include nutritional foods for families (RM100), personal hygiene and baby products (RM50), as well as nutritional snacks for volunteers (RM50).
On top of that, the organisation has a free hotline for psychosocial support.
Lend a helping hand to families and children in need here.
There isn’t a right or wrong organisation to donate to, and a little goes a long way. Let’s do our part to help our fellow Malaysians. Together, we can get through this.
For a list of other options of other NGOs in Sabah, visit this page.
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