logo
RM270k raised for palliative care

RM270k raised for palliative care

Daily Express2 days ago
Published on: Monday, August 11, 2025
Published on: Mon, Aug 11, 2025
By: Wu Vui Tek Text Size: Dr Joachim, Dr Jaswant and Margaret (10th, 11th and 8th from left) with the generous sponsors. Kota Kinabalu: Kind-hearted souls showed their true hearts of gold by successfully raising RM270,000 during the Palliative Care Association Kota Kinabalu (PCAKK) charity concert dinner. Organising Chairperson Datuk Margaret Lim said the amount came from donations by the State Government, private companies, individuals, and proceeds from the charity dinner.
Advertisement 'I am deeply touched by the overwhelming support we have received. The generosity of sponsors, donors, and diners has made our palliative care mission sustainable,' she said. Since its formation in 1995, PCAKK has cared for over 5,200 patients, Lim added. The 26th PCAKK annual charity dinner and concert at the Sabah International Convention Centre on Friday drew 1,500 attendees, including Deputy Chief Ministers II and III, Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam and Datuk Shahelmey Yahya, as well as Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Christina Liew. The star of the show was Irish singer Rebecca O'Connor, an internationally acclaimed Tina Turner tribute artiste.
Advertisement She is the only artiste personally endorsed by Tina Turner, who once remarked: 'Rebecca is so good, it's scary.' The tribute show saw Rebecca ignite the stage with an electrifying performance backed by a live band and dancers. She belted out most of Tina's greatest hits, including the anthem Simply the Best, which got the audience on their feet dancing. 'I love it here in KK. And what an amazing charity to be here for. PCA is an amazing charity,' said Rebecca, who thanked everyone involved for bringing her to perform. 'To all you volunteers, you are incredible. What you do and what I saw yesterday (during a visit to the PCAKK Home) was absolutely mind-blowing. 'You're just so beautiful. What you have in your hands, giving to everybody else, is awesome. 'It was actually quite moving to see how happy the children were to be around you all yesterday. It was amazing, so fantastic. 'I want to say thank you to PCA tonight for making this charity event such a success. You guys are super…you're super the best,' said Rebecca. The concert also featured local talents-saxophonist Zara Flintoft, violinist The String Trio, and Rene Barrow. PCAKK President Dato' Dr Jaswant Singh said their mission is simple yet profound, to provide free, compassionate palliative care to individuals and families in and around Kota Kinabalu. 'For the past 25 years, we have walked beside patients in their final journeys, offering medical relief, emotional support, and human dignity in the comfort of their homes,' he said. 'Globally, over 56 million people need palliative care each year. In Malaysia, that number is around 150,000, yet less than 10 per cent receive it. 'The Lancet Commission estimated in 2014 that Malaysia had about 100,034 adults in need of palliative care, an increase of 40 per cent from 71,675 in 2004,' said Dr Jaswant. By 2030, he said, the need is projected to rise to about 240,000 cases, a 240 per cent increase from 2014, especially among those aged 80 years and above. 'Malaysia has 223,800 people yearly experiencing serious health-related suffering requiring palliative care. Pain affects 50 to 70 per cent of palliative patients, and non-cancer conditions account for nearly 60 per cent of palliative cases globally,' he said. 'And that's why PCAKK exists, to bring free home-based palliative care to those in and around Kota Kinabalu who would otherwise go without,' he added. PCAKK Patron Meng Tan paid tribute to the incredible volunteers of PCAKK, saying words could not fully express the depth of their gratitude. 'Your time, your energy, your unwavering commitment lie at the very core of this organisation. Your compassion has brought light into the lives of the most vulnerable at their most difficult moments. 'Without you, we would not have been able to touch so many lives,' she said. 'It is not just about easing pain. It is about dignity. It means treating people with kindness and respect, even when they are ill. 'That is why our organisation plays such a vital role in the community. But our ability to grow, to reach more families, and to continue providing compassionate care throughout Sabah depends on you,' she said. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Madonna urges Pope Leo to visit Gaza: 'There's no more time'
Madonna urges Pope Leo to visit Gaza: 'There's no more time'

New Straits Times

timean hour ago

  • New Straits Times

Madonna urges Pope Leo to visit Gaza: 'There's no more time'

NEW YORK: Pop icon Madonna has made an appeal to Pope Leo XIV, urging him to visit the blockaded Gaza Strip amid a starvation crisis that has sparked international outrage, reported German press agency (dpa). "You are the only one of us that cannot be denied entry," the US singer wrote on social media platform X late on Monday. "We need the humanitarian gates to be fully opened to save these innocent children. There is no more time," she added. Marking the 25th birthday of her son Rocco Ritchie on Monday, Madonna also announced plans to donate to humanitarian organisations working in Gaza. "I feel the best gift I can give to him as a Mother - is to ask everyone to do what they can to help save the innocent children caught in the crossfire in Gaza," she wrote. A United Nations agency said late last week that "acute malnutrition among children in Gaza has reached the highest levels to date." In July alone, nearly 12,000 children under 5 were identified as acutely malnourished, with another 2,500 found to suffer from severe acute malnutrition, the most life-threatening form, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Israel controls access roads to Gaza and has sealed off the coastal area. Very little aid got into Gaza from March through May, when Israel began allowing in deliveries using a controversial private system that bypasses traditional UN agencies. Under pressure from allies, Israel recently began permitting larger convoys into the territory, as aid airdrops take place overhead. On Sunday, Irish rock band U2 issued a stinging critique of the Israeli government's actions. – Bernama-dpa

Madonna urges Pope Leo to visit Gaza: 'There is no more time'
Madonna urges Pope Leo to visit Gaza: 'There is no more time'

Sinar Daily

time3 hours ago

  • Sinar Daily

Madonna urges Pope Leo to visit Gaza: 'There is no more time'

Marking the 25th birthday of her son Rocco Ritchie on Monday, Madonna also announced plans to donate to humanitarian organisations working in Gaza. 12 Aug 2025 09:43pm Pop icon Madonna. - Photo by AFP NEW YORK - Pop icon Madonna has made an appeal to Pope Leo XIV, urging him to visit the blockaded Gaza Strip amid a starvation crisis that has sparked international outrage, reported German press agency (dpa). "You are the only one of us that cannot be denied entry," the US singer wrote on social media platform X late on Monday. "We need the humanitarian gates to be fully opened to save these innocent children. There is no more time," she added. Marking the 25th birthday of her son Rocco Ritchie on Monday, Madonna also announced plans to donate to humanitarian organisations working in Gaza. "I feel the best gift I can give to him as a Mother - is to ask everyone to do what they can to help save the innocent children caught in the crossfire in Gaza," she wrote. A United Nations agency said late last week that "acute malnutrition among children in Gaza has reached the highest levels to date". In July alone, nearly 12,000 children under 5 were identified as acutely malnourished, with another 2,500 found to suffer from severe acute malnutrition, the most life-threatening form, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Israel controls access roads to Gaza and has sealed off the coastal area. Very little aid got into Gaza from March through May, when Israel began allowing in deliveries using a controversial private system that bypasses traditional UN agencies. Under pressure from allies, Israel recently began permitting larger convoys into the territory, as aid airdrops take place overhead. On Sunday, Irish rock band U2 issued a stinging critique of the Israeli government's actions. - BERNAMA More Like This

House husband drives home brand-new Isuzu D-Max
House husband drives home brand-new Isuzu D-Max

Borneo Post

time5 hours ago

  • Borneo Post

House husband drives home brand-new Isuzu D-Max

The winners of the the 'Jom Masak & Menang Bersama' campaign with the organisers. KOTA KINABALU (Aug 12): Forty-two-year-old Likas resident, Awang Hisham Bin Sitar @ Awang Sitar, emerged victorious in the 'Jom Masak & Menang Bersama' campaign organised by MAGGI in conjunction with the Kaamatan season. The former food stall operator turned full-time house husband took home the grand prize — a brand-new Isuzu D-Max. Awang Hisham said the win was a blessing for his family of five. 'Cooking has always been a passion, and this competition gave me a chance to share my love for Sabahan food,' he said at the prize presentation ceremony at ITCC Mall in Penampang on Sunday. The first runner-up received branded cooking appliances worth RM3,000, while the other five finalists each took home RM1,500 worth of appliances. With the theme 'Honouring the Cooks Behind the Festivities', the event was a vibrant celebration of Sabahan cuisine, featuring local ingredients, passionate home cooks and charitable contributions to uplift communities. Seven finalists, selected after a two-month search across the state, competed under the tagline 'Warisan Citarasa Sabah'. In the first round, they were tasked with creating dishes using a mystery box of local produce, including Jeruk Bambangan — a nod to Sabah's rich culinary heritage. The top three moved on to a taste test challenge, identifying five mystery ingredients. Awang Hisham answered all the five ingredients correctly. MAGGI also marked the occasion with a charitable gesture, donating RM0.10 for every MAGGI product purchased between May 1 and June 30, raising RM15,000 for PACOS Trust Sabah, an NGO empowering women and indigenous communities across the state. Sabah Rural Development Corporation (KPD) chairman Datuk Jannie Lasimbang lauded the company's commitment, saying: 'For over two decades, MAGGI has stood alongside us during Kaamatan. Beyond embracing our culture and heritage, their efforts to uplift local communities are commendable, and I look forward to continuing this meaningful partnership.' MAGGI Malaysia and Singapore Business Executive Officer Ivy Tan Link Cheh said the campaign was about more than food. 'We are honoured to be part of Sabahans' lives and celebrations each year. Through meaningful partnerships, we can help underserved communities move forward while honouring local traditions and cuisine.' This year's celebrations also featured the first-ever East Malaysian stop of the nationwide MAGGI Kari-Lah Roadshow. Visitors experienced five interactive zones inspired by taste, aroma, texture, sound and sight, alongside cooking showcases of Kerabu MAGGI Latok and MAGGI Kari Jeruk Bambangan by MAGGI chefs Sharifah Hamidah Syed Mohsin and Muhammad Hakimi Badrul Hisham. The event wrapped up with cultural performances, games, and a warm reminder of Kaamatan's essence — togetherness, tradition and sharing good food.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store