KUALA LUMPUR: The first consignment of personal protection equipment (PPE) designated for Sabah and Sarawak by The Edge Covid-19 Equipment Fund was flown out yesterday by a Royal Malaysian Air Force (TUDM) plane.

The Edge Media Group publisher and group chief executive officer Datuk Ho Kay Tat said Sabah will get 114,000 face masks and 3,340 protective suits, while Sarawak will get 98,000 masks and 3,550 protective suits.

In Sarawak, the equipment will be sent to Unit Keselamatan dan Penguatkuasaan Negeri (UKPN) and in Sabah to Jabatan Bencana Negeri. They will distribute to hospitals in the states.

“We would like to thank TUDM for the help as sending things to Sabah and Sarawak is a challenge because most flights have been cancelled,” said Ho.

The Edge Covid-19 Equipment Fund has to date raised around RM14 million from Corporate Malaysia, delivered 200,000 faces masks and 4,000 protective suits to over 20 general hospitals in various states in Peninsular Malaysia last week. This week, PPE will also be sent to district clinics.

In total, the fund has bought one million face masks and 35,000 protective suits. It has also ordered oxygen concentrators, face shields and ventilators.

Yesterday, the fund also received a pledge to supply 500,000 pieces of nitrile medical gloves from Supermax Corp Bhd.

Aside from the equipment fund, RM10 million has also been raised for The Edge Covid-19 Health Care Workers Support Fund to assist those who fall sick in the line of duty treating patients of the deadly virus.

The Edge is working with partners MR DIY, KPMG Malaysia and Rexit Bhd as well as non-governmental organisations (NGOs) like Mercy Malaysia, the Malaysian Relief Agency and the Islamic Medical Association of Malaysia in the effort to help frontline healthcare workers.