GEORGE TOWN: Several hotels in Batu Ferringhi have teamed up to raise RM185,000 within less than four months to purchase an ambulance that is very crucial for the community in the area.
When announcing the collection last night, state Public Works, Utilities and Flood Mitigation Committee
chairman Zairil Khir Johari said the Hard Rock Hotel Penang raised the highest amount at RM70,000 with HTC Motorcycle Club followed closely by collecting RM60,000.
Meanwhile, the Malaysia Association of Hoteliers (MAH) Penang Chapter, Shangri-la Rasa Sayang Resort and Spa, Golden Sands Resort, Bayview Beach Hotel and Angsana Hotel, contributed RM10,000 each, while the Holiday Inn Resort donated RM5,000.
“The funds collected have been used to purchase a new ambulance that will greatly benefit the local community, tourists and hotel guests in Batu Ferringhi and Teluk Bahang. The ambulance will be permanently stationed at the Angsana Hotel, Teluk Bahang and will be managed by the Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM),” he said.
Zairil said this before the signing of a memorandum of understanding on the operations of the ambulance, which he signed together with MAH Penang chairman Khoo Boo Lim, APM deputy chief commissioner Norhafifi Ismail and deputy director Mohd Huzaimi Raup.
The fund raising efforts, dubbed as ‘Ambulance for Life’ project, kicked off in June this year and spearheaded by Hard Rock Hotel Penang, which dedicated its biannual Rock to Rock Run event towards the project.
The project was mooted due to the fact that it would take about 45 minutes for an ambulance from the Penang Hospital to reach Batu Ferringhi but with an ambulance stationed in the area, it would cut down time to send those in need of urgent medical treatment. − Bernama
