KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians from all walks of life came together today to contribute to the Charity Drive organised by National Union of Journalist – New Straits Times Press (NUJ NSTP) to assist Utusan Melayu (M) Bhd employees.
The Charity Drive, which was initiated on Monday, went viral after members of the public, netizens and artists began sharing the post on their various social media platforms.
The donation drive was organised after news broke that both Utusan Melayu and Kosmo! might cease their print operations.
NUJ NSTP chairman Farah Marshita Abdul Patah said the response from the public was overwhelming with Malaysians coming as far as Kajang and Puchong to Bangsar to handover their contributions.
She said even organisations such as Econsave, Ramly Burger and various Anugerah Bintang Popular Berita Harian (ABPBH) artists also passed their contribution for the donation drive.
“It was very overwhelming to see the support from people of walks of life coming to support our friends in Utusan Melayu and Kosmo!
“Our main intention here is to show solidarity to our friends that we have their back. Even though we may be ‘rivals’ but we understand their struggles.
“We never know, we might be in the same situation someday,” said Farah Marshita.
She said as of now, cash contributions has come up to RM10,000 and counting.
In terms of daily necessities, Farah Marshita said the donation drive managed to collect items like rice packets, cooking oil, pampers, milk powder, eggs and sugar.
“Even yesterday we received 300 rice packets and we have already passed some of it to Utusan Melayu’s office.
“We will be sending all the items collected today later in the evening,” she said.
Farah Marshita also thanked all individuals, artists and organisations who contributed generously to the donation drive.
Interested parties who would still like to contribute to the charity drive may bank in to NUJ Malaysia account 8000822560 (CIMB Current Acc).