BUKIT RAJA: Sime Darby Industrial Sdn Bhd (SDISB) has raised RM127,000 via fundraising campaign for cancer causes in Malaysia.
The campaign which was launched in October last year involved two 320GC Caterpillar excavator models, painted in pink and rented out to key customers in East and Peninsular Malaysia.
A total of RM60,000 was handed over to Cancer Research Malaysia (CRM) by Iswarabena Sdn Bhd, Advancecon Holdings Bhd and Crestbuilder Holdings Bhd during an award ceremony here today.
Each of the company donated RM20,000 through the rental of the pink excavator for a duration of two weeks.
SDISB managing director CK Teoh said the companies who have rented the pink excavators had created awareness by positioning the machines at prominent locations within their respective projects.
“We are proud to collaborate with like-minded business partners who are ever wiling to contribute towards a worthy cause.
“We hope to maintain the momentum this year to create much needed awareness on cancer,” he said.
Quoting statistics from the Ministry of Health, he said cancer was the second highest cause of death among Malaysians after heart disease.
“Of most of the cancer cases in the country, about 69 per cent are detected during the late stages, mostly due to lack of awareness on the importance of screening and early detection among Malaysians.
“It is our hope that through this campaign like the Pink Excavator, we can help to raise the level of awareness among Malaysians,” he said.
CRM is an independent and non-profit organisation based in Malaysia that conducts research in cancers often found in the Asian population.
Additionally, RM17,000 was raised for the organisation in October and another RM50,000 was similarly raised in East Malaysia in October and donated to the Sarawak Children’s Cancer Society.