Mingalabar from Yangon
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Mingalabar from Yangon e-Newsletter | Vol.1/2020 No. 82, Pyidaungsu Yeiktha Road, 09-452980608 (Consular Section) [email protected] Dagon Township, Yangon 09-772220230 (Duty Officer) Special Issue With the end of 2020 approaching, it is best that we reminisce on our journey and achievements throughout the year, particularly in dealing with the novel coronavirus pandemic and its impacts. Ever since COVID-19 began taking a toll in mid-March, the 18 March 2020 Embassy has been working First COVID-19 Task Force Meeting at the round the clock to ensure Embassy’s Ops Room none of its fellow Malaysians are left in the dark. Meetings were held with different stakeholders, senior officials of the host Government and airlines representatives. Regular updates on measures by host Government as well as current developments in Malaysia were also disseminated 22 March 2020 H.E. Datuk Zahairi Baharim headed the through the Embassy’s social meeting on COVID-19 preparedness with media platform. Task Force and ERT at the Embassy Subsequently, the Embassy established its own Task Force and Emergency Response Team for COVID-19 preparedness and became part of the special joint team with the ASEAN Missions in Yangon, known as ASEAN COVID-19 Joint Team to collectively share relevant information relating to the pandemic. 23 March 2020 ASEAN COVID-19 Joint Team Meeting 1 CONNECTIVITY CONUNDRUM The following weeks saw the With a view to prevent the Embassy’s able team working importation and spread of COVID- tirelessly to obtain regulatory 19, the host Government on approvals for subsequent Relief March 19 announced the Flights as well as assisting suspension of entry of foreign Malaysians who were stranded in nationals through all border check other Regions and States. The Ambassador also apprised the points between Myanmar and neighbouring countries. Few days public of the current situation of later, the host Government COVID-19 in the country, via several 30 March 2020 announced the suspension of Discussion with Myanmar Airways interview sessions with Malaysian issuance of all types of visa to all International (MAI) for alternative flights media. foreign nationals, except from Yangon to Kuala Lumpur diplomats, UN officials and crew of ships and aircrafts operating to Under the remarkable stewardship and from Myanmar. of H.E. Datuk Zahairi Baharim, the Embassy managed to obtain a special On March 29, the local authority regulatory approval from the host announced the temporary Government for Malaysia Airlines suspension of international (MAS) to launch the 1st Relief Flight commercial flights, including all from Yangon to Kuala Lumpur on landing permissions which were March 31. 144 Malaysians reached previously granted, with effect 1 April 2020 home safely via the said flight. Meeting with representatives from MAI from March 30 at 2359hrs. Short- and MAS to discuss the arrangement of term visitors and expatriates 2nd Relief Flight to Malaysia began to worry of what would happen in the next few days, as travelling via air is no longer possible with such measures in place. 7 April 2020 Ambassador of Malaysia live on Astro Awani - discussing Embassy’s roles, preparation and measures by the local Government on COVID-19, as well assisting Malaysians in the country 29 March 2020 Emergency Meeting at 8.00 pm to discuss all possible avenues to support fellow Malaysians for a relief flight back to Kuala Lumpur 8 April 2020 31 March 2020 144 Malaysians boarded the 1st Relief Apprising fellow Malaysians on the Flight (MH741) from Yangon to Kuala development of #stayathome order by Myanmar Government especially in Lumpur Yangon from 10-19 April 2020 2 The Embassy’s friendly relations with the host Government and local authorities had facilitated the coordination for citizens from Malaysia and Myanmar to return home. Since late March, more than 30 Relief Flights from Yangon to Kuala Lumpur have been 9 April 2020 launched, of which 93% were nd 8 May 2020 The 2 Relief Flight to Kuala Lumpur operated by a local air carrier, rd was launched by MAI, carrying 78 MAI launched the 3 Relief Flight to Kuala Myanmar Airways International Lumpur, carrying 77 Malaysians and 21 Malaysians and 27 foreign nationals with connecting flights to Singapore, (MAI). Thanks to these Relief foreign nationals with connecting flights Jakarta, Sydney and Auckland to Doha, Hong Kong, Jakarta and London. Flights, more than 800 Malaysians The same flight also brought 93 Myanmar and 2000 Myanmar nationals nationals home from Kuala Lumpur were able to reunite with their loved ones. The synergy between the Embassy and the airline providers had also enabled more than 60 stranded tourists and expatriates of various 13 April 2020 nationalities in Myanmar to return Ambassador of Malaysia live on TV Al- to different continents around the Hijrah - discussing the situation of world, via transit in KLIA. 27 June 2020 COVID-19 in Myanmar and measures 71 passengers of various nationalities th by the local Government to curb the returned home safely via the 6 Relief spread of the virus Flight to Kuala Lumpur operated by MAI 28 August 2020 24 April 2020 Discussion with Posco International to The Embassy, in collaboration with facilitate the mobilisation/demobilisation various government agencies in of oilfield workers into and out of Malaysia and Myanmar facilitated the Myanmar vide Kuala Lumpur International return of 254 Malaysian oilfield Airport (KLIA), for the offshore project in workers in Tanintharyi to Kuala Kyauk Pyu, Rakhine Lumpur via sea 27 April 2020 Another live session with BERNAMA TV 17 June 2020 - discussing the current situation of th COVID-19 in Myanmar, the local New Norms of Repatriation: The 5 Relief Flight was launched by Malindo Air, enabling 60 Malaysians and 134 Myanmar nationals to return home. It was made G overnment's initiatives to tackle the pandemic and efforts to assist possible through multiple collaboration between both Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Malaysians in the country Embassies and a private entity (ENRA Group Berhad) 3 11 May 2020 Similarly, the Embassy had News excerpt on UN Humanitarian facilitated the entry of passenger Aid Services to to cargo (P2C) services from Myanmar (under Malaysia, to support the World Food Programme) continuity of socio-economic using Malaysian development in Myanmar and air carrier, promoting KLIA’s role as a transit AirAsia hub. Several UN Humanitarian Assistance Services flights using Malaysia’s air carrier (AirAsia) were also launched by the World Food Programme since early May to provide humanitarian aids to Myanmar. RISING TOGETHER AS ONE Undeniably, with the current trend IN-KIND of COVID-19 cases across the High grade Malaysia-made PPE globe, more challenges and 1) and face masks to support constraints could be expected in ) temporary field hospitals at the months to come. In the spirit Thuwanna Stadium and Rakhine of ASEAN and heeding YAB Prime State (MMBC-led initiative) Minister’s call for everyone to support the authority in 25,000 units of surgical masks; combatting COVID-19, the 2) 5,000 pairs of surgical gloves; Embassy has supported the PPEs and 100 bottles of hand donation drives and initiatives sanitizers valued at USD 15,000 undertaken by the Malaysia- to support the Ministry of Health Myanmar Business Chamber and Sports (coordinated by (MMBC) and MERCY Malaysia MERCY Malaysia) throughout the year. 25 units of 1.5HP air- From March to November, the 3) conditioners and 50 units of following contributions were made stand fan for the temporary to support the authorities and 1,000-bedded hospital to treat frontliners in both Malaysia and COVID-19 patients in Hlegu Myanmar in their fight against Township, Yangon (initiated by COVID-19: the Embassy of Malaysia, MMBC, DIGAY, MERCY Malaysia and CASH various entities) 1) USD7,700 to support the Myanmar authorities (MMBC- 4) Essential supplies such as PPEs, ) led initiative) face masks and medicines valued at MMK13,038,500 for Phaung Gyi Rehabilitation Center 2) USD11,750 to support the 16 March 2020 frontliners in Myanmar (MMBC- (initiated by MMBC in Handing over of the first batch of essential items (Surgical Masks - 25,000 led initiative) collaboration with 89 pieces, Surgical Gloves - 100 boxes and contributors from Buddhist Hand Sanitizers - 100 bottles) to support Group in Malaysia) the Ministry of Health and Sports’ frontliners in handling COVID-19 4 23 April 2020 Contribution of 25 units of 1.5 HP Air- Conditioner and 50 units of stand fan for the Paung Gyi Temporary Hospital to treat COVID-19 patients in Hlegu Newspaper clipping on the contribution coordinated by the Embassy of Malaysia for the Dedicated Center to treat COVID- 19 patients in Paung Gyi With regard to helping the local communities impacted by the pandemic, the MMBC and Singapore Association Myanmar (SAM) jointly initiated a CSR program on November 21 during which both entities distributed essential food packs to 700 Families in Dala Township, Yangon. H.E. Datuk Zahairi Baharim is confident that this meaningful collaboration would herald a new chapter for more CSR efforts by both entities for mutual benefit of all. In addition to the cash and in-kind contributions, the Embassy is proud to share that a Malaysian company, ES 9 April 2020 Signature with its local partner, Fortune Contribution of medical items Plaza, is converting the Myanmar Expo from MERCY exhibition centre located in Thaketa Malaysia to township to a 1,000 bedded temporary Yangon Region Government hospital with the required medical facilities. The Embassy is certain that the temporary hospital will provide the much needed support to treat COVID-19 patients. Moving ahead, the Embassy will continue to provide its support towards the good 27 October 2020 cause and efforts to curb COVID-19 in the MMBC CSR Drive in Golden Land.