KUALA LUMPUR: It has been a year since the Covid-19 pandemic spread across the world.
Since then, various parties such as the government, non-governmental organisations, corporate and private sector companies as well as individuals have stepped up to provide assistance during this pandemic.
Among one of the first companies to do so is national utility company, Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB).
Supported by the Energy and Natural Resources Ministry, these efforts are aimed at helping to ease the impact of the pandemic beginning from the first Movement Control Order (MCO) on March 18, 2020.
"TNB's concern in helping efforts to deal with the Covid-19 epidemic is driven by the company's sense of responsibility.
"TNB has thousands of employees at the forefront during the MCO. They continue to carry out their responsibilities with full dedication to ensure continuous and stable electricity supply services, especially in hospitals," said Energy and Natural Resources Minister Datuk Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah.
TNB's efforts include various forms of assistance and support including finance, equipment, facilities, discounts, rebates and energy supply to those affected. Meanwhile, TNB employees continue to provide services to ensure that the electricity supply to all parts of Peninsular Malaysia remains stable.
From the largest financial allocation to the smallest contribution by TNB employees in each state and station through the various associations, groups or individual initiatives in the company, these contributions are a sign of concern for the welfare of the people especially in these times when all sectors of the economy are affected.
Forms of assistance via programmes such as scholarships, education loans as well as housing will also continue to be implemented by the company to ease the burden faced by the people.
Contributions to each state
TNB was one of the first government-linked companies (GLCs) to donate RM10 million to the Health Ministry for the purchase of protective gear including aprons, face shields and face masks from China in response to the 'Malaysian Corporate Action Coalition Against Covid-19' initiative.
A total of RM17.5 million was donated to state governments in Peninsular Malaysia to curb the spread of Covid-19, including the delivery of 10 ventilator machines to hospitals in Melaka, Perak, Johor, Pahang and Negri Sembilan to treat Covid-19 patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
The company also donated 20,400 pieces of waterproof aprons as personal protective equipment (PPE) for frontline personnel.
TNB staff in 13 states in 15 stations distributed a total of RM4.325 wakalah zakat money in the form of food and pocket money to more than 21,000 people, including the poor, senior citizens, the disabled, orphans and those from the B40 category who lost their source of income, during the month of Ramadan.
The company's housing programme for urban poor and the B40 via Projek Baiti Jannati and Projek Mesra Rakyat, valued at RM50,000 for each recipient will continue to be implemented.
For students, scholarships were granted to 120 students to further their studies, while MyBrighter Future (MyBF) financial aid was given to 2,500 students from the B40 category who are pursuing undergraduate, diploma and certificate studies.
Providing facilities to those in need
TNB has provided electricity supply and lighting at more than 120 temporary control post locations in Peninsular Malaysia for the comfort of the frontline security personnel who are enforcing MCO compliance.
To ensure electricity supply in rural hospitals and health clinics will not be disrupted, 79 sets of mobile generators were distributed, with a further 425 sets available in the event of an urgent demand for support supplies.
TNB women's association collected more than RM1 million in donations to be distributed to the B40 group, orphanages, care centres for the elderly and students who were stranded in higher education institutions.
TNB Research Sdn. Bhd. (TNBR) produced user-friendly aerosol boxes that are able to reduce the risk of Covid-19 infection during the intubation process.
Reducing the burden on the people
A discount of between 15 and 50 per cent for six months from April 1 to September 30, was implemented last year for domestic consumers in Peninsular Malaysia under the Prihatin Rakyat Economic Stimulus Package.
TNB also provided free electricity consumption of up to RM77 each month under Bantuan Prihatin Elektrik.
Besides that, the company also postponed its late payment surcharge and deferred supply cuts to 7.5 million domestic customers from March to December 2020.
Consumers were allowed to pay their bills in instalments until December 2020. TNB also waived supply cuts to domestic consumers with less than six months in arrears during the period of January-March 2021, allowing consumers to pay in instalments until June 30.