September 21, 2014 @ 1:09am
LONDON: Fifteen years after its establishment in Malaysia, Mercy Malaysia has spread its wings to the United Kingdom to continue its upward journey towards becoming a truly world-class international humanitarian organisation.
Mercy Malaysia UK (MMUK) was launched at the Malaysian High Commission office by Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah on Thursday, after gaining its legal status as a charity entity with its main objectives to generate funds and recruit volunteers for humanitarian efforts in places affected by crises and disasters.
The sultan was accompanied by his sister, Datuk Seri Raja Eleena Sultan Azlan Shah, trustee of Mercy Malaysia, Toh Puan Dr Aishah Ong and Orang Kaya-Kaya Imam Paduka Tuan Perak, Shaykh Datuk Dr Afifi Al-Akiti, at a lunchtime event hosted by the Malaysian High Commissioner in Belgrave Square.
Nazrin graced the occasion by putting his signature on the MMUK plaque, witnessed by the Malaysian High Commissioner to the UK and Eire, Datuk Ahmad Rasidi Hazizi, and guests, which included representatives from voluntary and humanitarian organisations in the UK.
With its establishment in the UK, the non-profit organisation hoped to be fully functional and operational within seven years and, at the same time, benefit from being in the midst of a community which is also familiar and matured in the field of fundraising and volunteerism.
Rasidi, in welcoming MMUK here said: “The existence of Mercy Malaysia in the UK will be a good platform in building a strong brand identity which strengthens relationships with various stakeholders, for example, donors, partner organisations, government officials, university students and other potential circles, Malaysian and British.”
Mercy Malaysia president Datuk Dr Ahmad Faizal Mohd Perdaus, who said the establishment came after four years of hard work and continuous efforts, told the Malaysian media that the immediate task was to set up a permanent office here with a skeleton staff before embarking on recruiting and sending volunteers to disaster areas.
“We have a two-pronged approach; time-based and strategic focused area. In the first few years, we hope to raise awareness within the Malaysian community in the UK to help with the fundraising and raising awareness of the functions of MMUK. We will also focus on Malaysian corporate bodies in the UK, as well as British companies with interests in Malaysia.
“We will take small but certain steps,” he said, adding that with networking and support, MMUK would move forward to generate funds from British companies and individuals before spreading its wings to the European Union and the Scandinavian countries known for their humanitarian efforts.
MMUK also hoped to share the essence of what the charity does and the values it represents with stakeholders and people of UK, and benefit its parent body, Mercy Malaysia, from its experience here.
Faizal said from the first day of the launch, he had received a lot of support from the locals.
Celebrity Chef Norman Musa, who was appointed MMUK ambassador, said he managed to recruit 10 volunteers for his Adventure Challenge for victims of the Haiyan Typhoon in the Philippines.
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