Malaysian Association raises record K1mil for charity

The Malaysian Association of PNG (MAPNG) has raised more than K1 million for charity, according to the association’s fundraising committee chairman, Ivan Lu.
Lu said the association raised the money through a charity golf tournament, raffle tickets, dinner tickets, donations and an auction at the charity dinner on Saturday at Stanley Hotel and Suites in Port Moresby.
“All the money raised in this year’s charity event will be allocated to 20 charity organisations that we entrust to provide services and support to those in need of assistance and primary health care,” he said.
These organisations include Life PNG, Women Cancer Foundation, Salvation Army and Port Moresby General Hospital.
Lu said that this year saw the highest amount of money raised since the association started the charity fundraising drive 18 years ago.
Last year the association raised K932,000.
Lu said the association has also put aside K54,000 into its special projects fund.
He said that in 2016, the association allocated K100,000 to the special projects fund, which helped fund recovery efforts in the Hanuabada fires in Port Moresby, the Kadovar volcano eruption in East Sepik and the Highlands earthquake in February.
Lu said the association would continue to support worthy causes.
Association president Chew Pang Heng thanked those who contributed and donated towards charity events. “Many of our current projects with our non-government organisation partners such as education, health, clean water, cooking and feeding programmes are able to improve the living standards of disadvantaged womenfolk and children, especially those in settlements,” he said.
Heng cited the water sanitation project at Rigo, in Central, in partnership with Foursquare Church where five water pumps were set up for about 18,000 people.
The Malaysian Association has raised K9.2 million and helped more than 30 charities in Papua New Guinea in the past 18 years.