KUALA LUMPUR (April 23): Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) staff have donated RM6.4 million through a voluntary salary contribution initiative to be channelled into Tabung Covid-19 under the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma). 

In a statement today, Petronas said the week-long donation drive enables staff to specify any amount of contribution via an automatic deduction from their monthly salary. 

"Starting with Petronas' senior management donating 10% of their April and May 2020 salaries, the initiative garnered strong support from 9,500 participating staff with a total of RM6.4 million successfully raised," it said. 

According to Petronas, the salary contribution by its staff in addition to the company's various contributions already made via its business operating units and subsidiaries in Malaysia, as well as throughout the world, amounted to RM31.4 million as at April 17. 

The donations bring Petronas' total contribution to Covid-19 efforts to RM37.8 million.

It said the total contribution includes RM20 million worth of critical medical equipment and supplies to aid efforts of hospitals and healthcare front-liners, donated by Yayasan Petronas, the company's corporate social responsibility arm, on March 23. 

Other than that, contributions by various subsidiaries of the group were also made in the form of equipment and supplies as well as raw materials for the production of personal protective equipment. 

"Several of our facilities, including our research centre in Bangi, have also produced sanitising liquid. In addition, essential food items and Petronas gift cards are being distributed to deserving households," it added.  

Petronas president and group chief executive officer Tan Sri Wan Zulkiflee Wan Ariffin said success in overcoming the pandemic requires all, including those not on the front line battling the disease, to show courage, compassion and generosity to others. 

"It is my hope that our modest gesture will assist the less fortunate in hour of need and provide our front-liners with support in fighting Covid-19," he said. 

Petronas employees have also backed donation drives by the company's affliated organisations, such as the Association for Wives and Women Staff of Petronas (Petronita), Badan Kebajikan Islam Petronas (Bakip), Dana Asy-Syakirin Petronas and Kelab Sukan dan Rekreasi Petronas (KSRP).

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