08
local heroes
The Health Xtra | march-April-may, 2020
Many hands
make light work
Lawyer, jewellery
maker, lecturer
among magnificent
seven sewing ppe for
frontliners
But what we really
need now is more
volunteers. With a
few more people,
we could form an
assembly line and
things will move
faster.”
By PEARL LEE
“We are not all cut from the same cloth, but together
we make a beautiful quilt.” – Linda Poindexter, author
T
he quote above best describes a motley crew of seven
volunteers which is doing a magnificent sewing job
by putting in long hours to suit up our frontliners at
hospitals. The team is led by renowned fashion designer
Bill Keith and includes an insurance executive, a jewel-
lery maker, a lawyer, a doctor, a lecturer and a fulltime
volunteer of a performing arts centre.
These men and women have been working hard to
sew personal protective equipment (PPE) at a workshop in Saito
University College in Petaling Jaya.
Work started two weeks ago to meet the target of 1,000 suits.
The idea to give back to frontliners was mooted following the
predicament faced by our hospitals in sourcing for PPE equip-
ment for medical personnel. Speaking to Twentytwo13, Bill said
Adopt a Healthcare Worker Malaysia, which initiated the project,
was in touch with Saito University College, and the university
put him in charge of the project.
“The university asked if I would like to lead and I told them of
course, I have nothing else to do,” said Bill, an adjunct professor
at the university. “But we couldn’t get students involved, so we
decided to get volunteers instead.”
He described those in his team at the workshop in Saito
University College as “wonderful people”.
“On the first day (Saturday), they came not knowing what to
expect. They were taken aback to learn only industrial sewing
machines were available.
“They said they would not be able to sew with these machines
which were too fast and they were not professionals at the job,”
said Bill.
“But they were determined. They went home and brought
their own sewing machines … including those portable home
sewing machines.”
Part-time jewellery-maker Kenneth Foo Sze Cheng told Twen-
tytwo13 he had never used a sewing machine but volunteered as
he wanted to help his friends who are medical frontliners.
“My friend, a doctor at Kuala Lumpur Hospital, is being tested
for Covid-19 every other day as he is either in close contact with
a patient or is exposed to a colleague who has been exposed to
a patient.
“Kesian (pity) them. I don’t know what else to do. I can’t even
buy them a drink right now,” said Foo.
He said he bought a sewing machine a few weeks ago to
assemble his jewellery.
“But the machine has been in the box ever since and I am
finally using it for the PPE garment initiative.
“I can finally say I can sew and in a straight line too,” he said
in jest.
“Practice certainly makes perfect and I have been sewing the
shoulder part of the protective garment,” said Foo.
He, however, said the workshop needs more people on board.
“We need people who can sew to join us. You don’t have to be
a professional but if you have basic knowledge in sewing, you are
most welcome to join,” he said.
C. Mankayarkarasi, 67, the vice-president of the Temple of Fine
Arts, said being part of the workshop meant she could put her
sewing skills to good use.
“I am a fulltime volunteer at the Temple of Fine Arts but since
we are closed now and as my hobby is sewing, I thought why not
be part of this initiative.
“I am glad to be doing this and have had the opportunity to
meet some really nice people. I had never heard of Bill Keith and
I thought he was a chef. I went home and Googled him only to
realise he is a big name in the fashion industry,” she said.
The entire experience has been extremely rewarding for
Mankayarkarasi despite the tedious long hours.
Another volunteer, lecturer Sharifah Mazwari Syed Mohd
Bakar, said she spends her time shuffling between online meet-
ings with her faculty and sewing at the workshop.
Generous gesture
by Namewee in
supporting frontliners
Entertainer Namewee donates medical supplies to ensure
better care for frontliners and urges Malaysians to step up the
battle against Covid-19.
Malaysia’s most vocal entertainer, Namewee, joined other
generous Malaysians in encouraging medical frontliners and
donating medical supplies for hospital involved in battling
Covid-19.
Namewee allocated some medical supplies to 10 hospitals
throughout the country. The 36-year-old entertainer said the
donation was to ensure the frontliners were well-provided, so
they can perform their duties without a single worry.
According to a Star online report, his plan to donate the
medical supplies was mentioned through his bi-lingual message
(Bahasa Malaysia and Mandarin), posted on World Health Day
(April 7) itself. It stated that he made arrangements to deliver the
medical supplies to hospitals in remote villages and rural towns.
“Thanks to the power of netizens, we bought masks, goggles,
personal protective equipment (PPE) to be distributed to 10
hospitals in rural areas and small towns,” he said.
Namewee believes the “small” donation can be a jump start
to other forms of contribution for the frontliners. He said he
hopes people are getting the drift of his message from the picture
(showing boxes labeled ‘sumbangan ikhlas dari namewee untuk
Covid-19’) as many hospitals in Malaysia are in dire need of more
Covid-19 protective materials and equipment.
“I hope more people will pay attention to this issue! I’m not
a rich person, so my small donation is not enough,” he stressed.