Petron dealers throughout the country joined hands to raise funds and contribute to protecting the safety of medical frontliners in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In a show of support and solidarity, 103 Petron station dealers contributed PPE and food items worth over RM120,000 including rice, cooking oil, faces masks, headscarves, gloves, thermal guns, and hand sanitizers. These were distributed to their communities, hospitals, and members of the army and the police.
Mohamad Darwis bin Ab Majid, a Petron dealer from Petron Jalan Sultan Ibrahim, Kelantan said, “As an active member of the community, we are called upon to help and support the frontliners in dealing with the spread of the Covid-19 outbreak. We want to help protect the medical teams who are risking their health to help us.”
24 dealers in Kelantan donated PPE items to Hospital Raja Perempuan Zainab II, Kelantan which were distributed to other quarantine centres in the area.
Targetting the hardest-hit communities, Petron dealers from Tawau and Sabah West Coast Interior, meanwhile, handed out food items to 130 underprivileged families at Pusat Bimbingan Batu 5.5 Jalan Apas and Kg Sentosa Hilltop.
“There are many families who are severely affected during the MCO period. We hope our contributions will help alleviate their burdens. This also gives us a chance to give back to the communities who have been supporting our business throughout the years,” said Lucy Yapp, dealer of Petron KM6 Jln Utara.
Petron Setia Alam started a ‘free food counter’ community food table. The station’s manager, William Tsang said rice, sardines, flour, salt, sugar, and milk were initially placed on the counter for free for anyone who may need these basic food items. This has helped boost the station’s collection of in-kind donations.
“We are by no means a solution, we are just a day-to-day stop-gap. We just do our best with what has been provided by everyone,” said William, thanking the community and his staff for helping.
Inspired by William’s initiative, customers came to the station with dry food to add more stocks to the food counter. More stations such as Petron Bandar Ainsdale, Petron Bandar Dungun SB, and 10 other stations soon followed the initiative by starting their free food counters.
Learning about the plight of NGOs and charity homes affected by the pandemic, 3 LPG dealers donated 72 cylinders to help them continue their food preparation for the needy.
The donated LPG cylinders helped Food Aid Foundation and Pertiwi Soup Kitchen, as well as NGOs in the vicinity prepare food for frontliners and the homeless. The initiative supported the NGOs by easing some of their financial burdens and enabled them to focus their efforts to care for the communities.
In support of the food delivery runners, 48 cartons of Petron Rider 4T Monograde SAE 40 and Multigrade 20W40 lubricants were distributed to delivery riders to help keep their motorcycles well-maintained during the MCO period. The engine oils was distributed to delivery riders through 24 Petron stations in Klang Valley.
Lubricant distributor, Prolube Asia donated essential foods to Bangladeshi families in Klang area. “We hope our small contribution will help them cope during this trying time,” said Mr Por.
From the start of the outbreak, Petron station dealers and LPG and lubricant distributors have come forward to extend a helping hand to their neighbourhoods, customers, and the public.
“We are very proud and we appreciate the efforts and generosity of our dealers and distributors who have donated food, mineral water, PPE, clothing, and even cash. Their contributions have certainly made an impact on the communities that they serve,” said Petron General Manager, Faridah Ali.