KUALA LUMPUR: A few more large contributions have been pledged to The Edge Covid-19 Equipment Fund and The Edge Covid-19 Health Care Workers Support Fund, bringing the total donations from Corporate Malaysia to RM23.775 million.

The equipment fund has RM13.775 million pledged, while the health care workers’ fund has reached RM10 million.

Among the new contributors were Lee Foundation (States of Malaya) with RM1.3 million — RM500,000 to buy equipment and RM800,000 to support frontline healthcare workers who fall sick.

Syarikat Takaful Malaysia Keluarga Bhd split its RM500,000 aid between the two funds, while Hiap Teck Venture Bhd pledged RM500,000 for the equipment fund.

Takaful Malaysia Keluarga group chief executive officer Datuk Seri Mohamed Hassan Kamil said: “As an insurance company, we truly understand how devastating the impact can be in delivering the medical services needed by the communities as there would definitely be a direct financial impact in battling against the Covid-19 outbreak, which has caused disruptions worldwide. Despite the challenging business environment caused by the outbreak, we are privileged and honoured to step forward by making the donation to both funds administered by The Edge Media Group. This is the least we could do in providing financial assistance to our healthcare workers.

Another big contribution of RM315,000 to the equipment fund came from a group of present and past partners of PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC).

PWC spokesman Raja Tan Sri Arshad Raja Tun Uda said: “Our frontline healthcare workers have done so much for our country, and we want to help ensure they are well protected and equipped by contributing to The Edge Covid-19 Equipment Fund.”

The Edge has since March 30 started delivering one million face masks and 35.000 personal protection suits in stages to more than 30 hospitals throughout the country.

The Edge Media Group publisher and group CEO Datuk Ho Kay Tat said orders were made a week ago for 140 ventilators and 100 oxygen concentrators and they are expected to be sent to hospitals from early next week.

“We have just ordered 5,000 face shields from a local manufacturer who has promised they will be ready in two weeks,” said Ho. “Once again I want to thank Corporate Malaysia for their generosity during these trying times.”