Class Acts

Several personalities familiar to the pages of Tatler Asia have taken up the cause with contributions that go far beyond financial support

VIVY YUSOF & FADZA ANUAR

After Malaysians were ordered to stay home to stem the spread of COVID-19, businesswoman Vivy Yusof knew she would not be content to sit around doing nothing. So she and her husband, Fadza Anuar, started looking for a way they could give back.

“It all started on social media when I saw the chairman of Universiti Teknologi Mara, Dato Sri Syed Zainal, donating portable air conditioners to hospitals. So I contacted him to ask for hospital contacts. From there, I got in touch with some volunteers and donated air conditioners, laptops, cash, and food to sustain them through their work,” she says.

The chief creative officer of FashionValet and dUCK has become a vocal advocate for the welfare of frontliners, using her influence to highlight their plight and what can be done to assist them.

“At first I wanted to do this discreetly, because I didn’t want people to think I was showing off. But then I realised I should tell others about this to inspire them to help and keep the momentum going. After all, that’s what made me help in the first place: I saw someone else doing it,” she says.

When requests started flooding her inbox, she decided to take a more active role and galvanised her supporters into action. Together with the Islamic Medical Association of Malaysia’s Response and Relief Team, Fadza and Vivy put together a crowdfunding site to help the frontliners.

In just a week, her FV COVID-19 Support Fund raised over RM1 milion. The money has been used to purchase whatever the frontliners need, most recently fabrics for Malaysia’s fashion designers under MODA to sew PPE for the doctors and nurses.

Vivy says that she has been touched by the spirit of unity that brought together Malaysians in this time of need.

“I saw so much kindness from friends, local brands, followers, and acquaintances—we got over 25,000 donors to the fund. It doesn’t matter whether it is a big sum or a small sum, everyone did what they could to help. So many celebrities helped, amazing people like Scha Alyahya and Marion Caunter even attached our fund page on their bio links. It humbled me to know how kind Malaysians can be,” she says.

SIREETHORN LEEARAMWAT

As a girl, Sireethorn Leearamwat dreamt of becoming a beauty queen because she saw the role as a way of helping others. After graduating in 2018, she went to work as a pharmaceutical sales representative, but at the age of 25 she entered and won the Miss Thailand 2019 beauty pageant and has taken on the role of a cultural and tourism ambassador with aplomb.

To alleviate pressing face mask shortages, particularly for healthcare workers, Sireethorn, together with Prangphisut Daengdej, has established Mask Bank. One of the growing concerns in Thailand is that face masks had become wildly overpriced.

With a goal of raising THB100 million, Mask Bank aims to present a long-term solution by building factories to make them for THB2.50 per piece. Her Kickstarter campaign has a minimum purchase of THB1,000 for 400 masks, with 200 for personal use and the other half to be donated to the buyer’s choice of medical institution or organisation. The project has already raised over THB20 million and Sireethorn hopes to be able to start producing masks soon.

ZATASHAH IDRIS

Zatashah Idris is renowned for her many social initiatives, from #saynotoplastic and #zerofoodwastage campaigns to her work feeding the needy through Kechara Soup Kitchen. She’s also on the board of trustees of the Food Bank Malaysia Foundation.

When the lockdown took effect, she heard from many daily-wage earners that they could not afford to put food on the table when they’re not able to go to work.

“Our main concern was to continue getting supplies to vulnerable communities,” says Zatashah. “It has proven tough, as the restrictions meant putting a halt on distributing food and supplies for a period of time.” Kechara Soup Kitchen revised its procedures to incorporate minimum distancing and protective masks, gloves, and sanitisers.

“I’ve been helping from a distance by helping gain funding as well as getting approvals from the relevant parties,” Zatashah says.

“Despite the challenges, there is a silver lining,” she adds. “I was touched when several corporate sponsors and individuals reached out to me to ask how they can help out.”