Inspired by their company’s recent contribution of RM100,000 to MERCY Malaysia and its customer flood relief assistance programme, staff of OCBC Bank (Malaysia) Berhad (OCBC Bank) and OCBC Al-Amin Bank Berhad (OCBC Al-Amin) got together to match the effort.

Five staff, representing each of the OCBC Bank divisions and OCBC Al-Amin that chipped in to raise the RM220,000 for flood victims, share the good news at the entrance to the Bank’s headquarters, Menara OCBC.

Taking the cue, they rallied together to raise a further RM220,000 for the flood victims by passing the hat around among themselves.

The effort was spearheaded by the Global Treasury, Operations & Technology, Corporate & Commercial and Emerging Business divisions and OCBC Al-Amin.

The funds will be directed to aid agencies MERCY Malaysia (RM100,000), Good Shepherd Services (RM40,000), Kechara Soup Kitchen (RM60,000) and Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (ABIM) (RM20,000) to support their ongoing efforts to help those affected by the floods in Terengganu, Johor, Pahang, Perak, Kelantan and Sabah.

OCBC Bank Chief Executive Officer Dato’ Ong Eng Bin said the floods had brought extreme suffering to thousands and could easily be passed off as less devastating than it really is by those living far away from the affected areas.

“The devastation caused by the floods is real and has both immediate and long-term ramifications on the very lives and livelihoods of the people living in the affected areas. So those who are not affected must come forward quickly to do our part.

“The efforts by my own colleagues represent an exemplary voluntary response to what is going on around the country and I am extremely proud of what they managed to achieve in a matter of days,” said Dato’ Ong, who topped up Ringgit-for-Ringgit the RM110,000 initially raised by his staff to reach the final total.