KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Aids Foundation (MAF) has entered a new partnership with Shopee Malaysia to continue advocating the members of the public on HIV/AIDS in the country.
The MAFxShopee campaign, which was launched today, was also aiming to raise funds for the foundation, through online donation and profit made from selling their exclusive merchandise available on the e-commerce platform.
MAF chairman Professor Datuk Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman said the partnership was designed as a collaborative platform, which is open to any other partners who wished to participate.
"The Covid-19 pandemic has put us on a new challenge in adapting to new innovations in fundraisings.
"We are at risk of losing all our hard-earned success in our fight against AIDS if civil society movements are incapacitated due to lack of resources," she said in a statement, today.
Adeeba said the e-commerce has provided a microsite of the foundation on their website to serve as the focal point and a one-stop online destination for the public to learn about the disease or donate funds.
"Through this collaboration, we provide variety of exclusive merchandise items, such as limited-edition crystal lapel pins, T-shirts and tote bags under Red Ribbon brands, which were designed by our homegrown local designers".
Exclusively available just for the campaign is the limited edition MAFxShopee condom that comes in the instantly-recognisable orange packaging developed in partnership with Karex, a proud home-grown brand that is also the world's largest condom manufacturer.
"We decided to go with the condom as it is in line with our foundation's continuous call to young people everywhere to observe safe sex behaviours that can protect them from HIV.
"Apart from all these exclusive merchandise, we also sell a range of active lifestyle products such as dry-fit sports jerseys and waterproof duffel bags," she said.
Apart from exclusive merchandise, Shopee's patron can also purchase Hilton hotel stay vouchers on the website.
"We are grateful to have Hilton Hotel Group supporting this efforts, in which they have donated hotel stay vouchers to Hilton properties across Malaysia that Shopee patrons can bid for.
"This is a two-pronged effort by the hotel to raise funds for MAF and boost domestic tourism at the same time" Adeeba said.
Meanwhile, Shopee Malaysia's regional managing director Ian Ho had hoped that the campaign will light more awareness on HIV/AIDS disease and ultimately lighten the burden and worries of HIV patients and their family members.
"We hoped to fully utilise our technology in building a sustainable platform for MAF to continue raising funds, which will enable them to run their programmes, including providing treatment to HIV patients.
"We are humbled to be part of this meaningful cause as this partnership further reaffirms our continuous focus to strengthen our support for local communities and help them navigate these uncertain times to emerge stronger.
"We look forward to a fruitful partnership as we stand united in fighting for a good cause," he said.