KUANTAN, 6 MARCH 2013 – NGC Energy Sdn. Bhd., formerly known as Shell Gas LPG Sdn. Bhd., has once again demonstrated its corporate social responsibility by sponsoring 1,008 unit of 14 kg cooking gas cylinders, under their new brand name Mira Gas, to 22 shelter homes managed by the Malaysian AIDS Council (MAC). This marked the fourth consecutive year of collaboration between MAC and NGC Energy.

The collaboration was celebrated in a launching ceremony held today at the Casa Harapan DIC, Taman Teluk Cempedak here. It was jointly-officiated by YBhg Datuk Dr Raj Karim, MAC President and Puan Julianna Kamaruddin, General Manager NGC Energy Sdn Bhd and witnessed by En Abdullah, the President of DIC Pahang, representatives from local government agencies, shelter homes, NGC Energy, MAC secretariat, and members of the media. Subsequently, a Home Gas Safety Awareness demonstration was conducted to the administrators of shelter homes benefiting from this sponsorship programme as a supplementary activity to the launching event. The event was also graced by the presence of Dayang Nurfaizah, a Red Ribbon Celebrity Supporter for the Malaysian AIDS Council.

Datuk Dr Raj Karim conveyed the community’s utmost gratitude to NGC Energy for their generosity. “Malaysian AIDS Council is deeply touched by NGC’s show of solidarity with the plight of People Living With HIV. Support by NGC Energy could not have come at a more opportune time, as we now face great difficulties in mobilising resources to support the needs of our community members, particularly those who come from underprivileged and marginalised backgrounds. We highly commend NGC Energy’s effort for leading the corporate sector response in bringing about social change,” she said in her speech. Datuk Raj also described NGC Energy’s commitment as a step in the right direction in the fight against HIV associated stigma and discrimination.

“Today NGC Energy continues the journey to contribute back to the society and in particular, to the People Living with HIV. It is our commitment to be a company that enriches the lives of our customers as well as making a wider impact to the society and the environment in which we operate. The awareness level within our society about HIV and the challenges faced by those affected by it is still low. We are honoured to be working with Malaysian AIDS Council to increase the awareness on HIV and we hope our support in providing Mira Gas to the various shelter homes under MAC can help the operations of these homes,” added Puan Julianna Kamaruddin, General Manager NGC Energy Sdn. Bhd.

Shelter care by MAC provides Malaysians living with HIV, particularly those who are bereft of family care and support, with a residential setting conducive for emotional and physical well-being and development. In 2012, a total of 620 people living with or made vulnerable by HIV benefitted from services delivered through these shelters, including nursing and palliative care, medical referrals, treatment literacy and adherence programmes, as well as emotional and spiritual counseling. The day to day operation of shelter homes under MAC are fully funded by the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (KPWKM) under the 1AZAM initiative.

Malaysian AIDS Council (MAC) President Datuk Dr Raj Karim, left, receives from NGC Energy Sdn. Bhd. General Manager Puan Julianna Kamaruddin, right, a mock cooking gas cylinder symbolising the 1,008 gas cylinders contributed to 22 shelter homes for people living with HIV nationwide under MAC Treatment, Care and Support Programme, at the NGC Energy sponsorship launch event on 6 March 2013 at the Casa Harapan DIC Pahang shelter in Kuantan. MAC Red Ribbon Celebrity Supporter Dayang Nurfaizah, centre, looks on.