Reflecting on a Year of Humanitarian Efforts in East Malaysia

(For Non-Muslim Use Only)

Over the years, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Malaysia has partnered with local NGOs to serve hundreds of citizens. In 2024, they supported numerous humanitarian efforts in East Malaysia, funding and aiding various local causes.

Gift of Sight
One major collaboration of this type has been dubbed “The Gift of Sight”. This initiative has served hundreds of Malaysian citizens in the states of Sabah and Sarawak.

Many Malaysians in outlying areas are unable or reluctant to travel to hospitals or clinics to receive vision checkups. Yet, Sabah has been identified as having one of the highest cataract incidents in the Asia region. The collaboration between NGOs and the Church provides these citizens with a non-threatening and affordable way to receive vision screening, and even free cataract surgery, if necessary.

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Early in 2024, the Church, in conjunction with nine Rotary Clubs in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, embarked on a campaign to provide improved vision to rural communities through vision screening camps. Those attending these camps are often referred to a specialist and are then provided with free cataract surgery to restore or improve their vision. Coordination of these screening events, and subsequent medical visits and surgeries, requires tremendous effort by the Rotary Club volunteers. They collaborate with willing hospitals, doctors, and staff to make necessary arrangements to serve rural communities.

A senior Church volunteer, Sister Marsha Douglas, relates, “The vision screening events in rural communities give hope to the most marginalized, including many of the elderly who desperately need to have their vision restored. It was heartwarming to be surrounded by families who showed sincere and humble gratitude for the gift they’d received.”

A recipient of one of the donated surgeries and new lenses stated, “For the first time in many years, I can look at and see my grandchildren.” 

Philip Chong, a past president of Rotary Club Likas Bay, explained, “Our nine Clubs came together with the Church to allow rural Sabahans the chance to test their vision…receive free cataract surgery or reading glasses to improve their quality of life. This is a life changing gift.”

In the state of Sarawak, the Church’s humanitarian volunteers have been collaborating with the Rotary Club of Kuching Central. They travel to rural hospitals and clinics to identify qualifying patients.  A team of surgeons and the needed lenses arrive on site in time for the screening process and surgeries. This effort provides sight restoration that would not otherwise be available to them. From September 6-8, 2024, the team arrived at the Simunjan Hospital, where 47 patients underwent cataract operations. The Sarawak General Hospital Ophthalmology department provided the doctors to perform the surgeries.

As part of the humanitarian effort in Sabah, the Church donated 350 cataract lenses and 2000 sets of reading glasses to 10 rural communities. The most recent excursion in Sarawak brings the total of cataract Gift of Sight patients to a total of 559. 

To date, communities where vision screening camps have taken place include: Kota Belud, Kota Marudu, Pitas, Kudat, Kota Kinabalu and Beaufort. Additional camps and follow-on surgeries will continue to be conducted and completed on into the early months of 2025.

Mobile Medical Mission
Another related humanitarian project included a mobile medical excursion to the remote island of Tigabu in the Kudat region. Church humanitarian volunteers worked with the Sabah chapter of the NGO MERCY Malaysia to provide medical support to the underserved. The collaboration provided over half the village community with free treatment, medication, and awareness education. The three-day help mission included over 20 volunteers providing dental, medical, pharmaceutical and personal hygiene support, and supplies to an island with just over 500 inhabitants. The Church donation included all travel-related costs: food and water for volunteers, medical supplies for doctors and dentists, hygiene kits, medications, and all awareness campaign expenses.

Gravity Water Systems – Water is Life
In collaboration with the Rotary Club Kota Kinabalu Pearl, the Church helped enable nine rural villages to simultaneously receive clean water directly to their homes. Over a seven-month period, in conjunction with the Rotary’s WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) Committee they organized work committees, acquired materials and completed construction of the gravity water delivery systems. The villages served were: Pahu Pinawatai, Kinaratuan, Muruk, Tudangan, Lipoi, Tangkol, Nasapu, Kubulu, and Layung, in the districts of Ranau, Marudu and Pitas. 

Of this experience, Rosie Chong, former president of the Club expressed, “Our Club appreciates the collaboration with the Church and their valuable contribution that allows us to reach so many rural Malaysian villages that so desperately need clean water for everyday living. Together we help impact many lives for good.”

Red Crescent – Ambulance and Defibrillators
Back in Sarawak, the Church’s humanitarian volunteers have worked with the Red Crescent organization to provide 15 automated external defibrillators (AED) in small villages like Tapah. In August 2024, they presented MRC Serian Red Crescent branch chief, Lai Chau Liong, with the keys to a brand-new ambulance. In his remarks, Lai expressed his gratitude to the Church for their kindness and support for their chapter. He further added “We are committed to honoring the dedication and compassion given to us and continuing our mission of providing aid and support to those in need.” (Source: The Borneo Post – Online, 2 August 2024)

Flood Relief Effort
In Penampang, Sabah, the Church again worked with the Rotary Club Kota Kinabalu Pearl to provide the community with relief supplies due to a recent flood. On July 11, 2024, the Church’s humanitarian volunteers joined by Club President Chendra Sinteh and other members, personally visited Pagansakan, Inobong to deliver 53 sets of mattresses, pillows, bedsheets, pillowcases, and blankets to the flood victims.

Vehicle Bridge and Parking Lot
This past year, the Church humanitarian donations have even included the construction of a vehicle bridge for the Sungai Buloh School in the Selangua District of Sarawak. This project replaced an old unstable bridge for the benefit of a small community in the Sibu area. A vehicle parking lot for the school teachers and the staff, was also constructed as part of the project.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints first began its presence in Malaysia in 1974 and has actively engaged in a wide range of humanitarian efforts ever since. These include projects that assisted with emergency response, education, health, vision care, clean water and sanitation. Members of the Church are followers of Jesus Christ. They champion family values and love serving their fellowmen.