KUBANG KERIAN, January 2015 - Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) recently received four dialysis machines and two reverse osmosis machines worth RM250,000 from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) Foundation.

The machines were handed over by 1MDB Foundation Social Corporate Responsibility Director Dato’ Dr. Shamsul Anuar Sulaiman to USM Vice-Chancellor Profesor Dato’ Dr. Omar Osman in a simple handover ceremony at Hospital USM (HUSM).

The Vice-Chancellor expressed his appreciation and thanks to 1MDB Foundation for its generous contribution.

"The contribution of the dialysis machines will certainly help to speed up the treatment process of approximately 200 dialysis patients at the HUSM," said Omar.

USM also thanked 1MDB Foundation for donating the reverse osmosis machines that are used to supply clean drinking water for the patients.

"We are also very grateful and thankful to the Ministry of Education (MOE) and Ministry of Health (MOH) Malaysia for giving credence to HUSM to act as a centre for relief operations and treatment of flood victims in the East Coast states especially Kelantan," said Omar.

He added that USM’s cooperation with MoH is of great significance and is viewed as a smart partnership that will benefit both sides not only in critical moments like this, but also in the future.

The Vice-Chancellor, who arrived here today to have a first-hand look at the flood situation and relief efforts made by the various parties in USM Health Campus, also held discussions with all parties involved with the flood operations through the flood operations room which opened last week.

"USM is very proud of everyone involved here including the Campus Director, Hospital Director, deans, medical teams, students and volunteers, all staff who sacrificed their time and energy to help the flood victims even though their own family members and homes were also affected by the floods.

Meanwhile Shamsul Anuar said in his speech that the donation was 1MDB social corporate responsibility, and was meant to ease the suffering of dialysis patients from flood hit areas which had been transferred to HUSM.

He said the foundation decided to contribute the machines after learning that the number of dialysis patients at HUSM shot up to 200 since the flood struck.

“The Prime Minister himself as the 1MDB Chairman hoped that this contribution will help ease the burden of HUSM and the patients who are waiting for treatment," he added.

Each dialysis machine is estimated to be able to provide treatment to 4 to 6 patients in a day.

Also present at the handover ceremony were Kelantan Health Director Dato’ Dr. Hj. Ahmad Razin Dato’ Hj. Ahmad Mahir, HUSM Director Dato’ Dr. Zaidun Kamari, School of Medical Sciences Dean Profesor Dr. Ahmad Sukari Halim and heads of departments. - Translation: Tan Ewe Hoe/Text & Photo: Amyrulhan Bin Azhari/Editing: Mohamad bin Abdullah