KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 13): Jentayu Sustainables Bhd (formerly known as Ipmuda Bhd) said that it had raised RM550,000 in collaboration with newly-established Yayasan Kebajikan Sabah (YKS) for flood victims in Sabah.

In a statement, Jentayu Sustainables said it had sponsored the entire cost of the FloodVictims Fundraising Ceremony held at the Sabah International Convention Centre in Kota Kinabalu on Monday (Jan 10), with 100% of the donations received at the event to be channelled directly to the Sabah Welfare Foundation Fund for flood relief purposes.

The fundraiser was held in conjunction with the rebranding of Ipmuda to Jentayu Sustainables, as well as the launch of its Sungai Maligan-Padas hydroelectric power plant project.

The renewable energy company said it has also made a direct contribution of RM400,000 to the newly-established flood relief fund, which had only begun collections on Jan 8.

Jentayu Sustainables said the total contribution of RM550,000 will benefit more than 2000 victims who have registered at the temporary evacuation centres within Kota Marudu, Paitan, Beluran, Telupid, Sandakan and Pitas.

The flood relief fund will be used to assist with the provision of kitchen necessities, schooling needs of children affected by the floods, and any further required necessities which had been carried out by YKS since Jan 3.

Meanwhile, Jentayu Sustainables’ executive chairman and YKS trustee Datuk Beroz Nikmal Mirdin has urged the private sector to contribute by donating and relieving the burdens of flood victims.

Beroz, a Sabah native, also called on Sabahans to return and contribute towards efforts to improve the local socio-economy.

“To all donors, we say thank you. Jentayu Sustainables takes note of the country's flood situation while still battling the pandemic, and we have decided to replace our project launch event with a fundraiser, in the hope to jointly relieve [the] burden of flood victims in Sabah.

"Next, as a sign of our commitment to Sabah's development, Jentayu Sustainables’ headquarters will move to Kota Kinabalu," Beroz added.

YKS director Rugayah Ag Besar said the foundation is proud to collaborate with Jentayu Sustainables.

“We appreciate their humble invitation for us [to] participate and host a successful fundraising ceremony for flood victims,” she said.