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Promoting the Malay Musical Arts and
Cultural Heritage for a Noble Cause
For the first time ever, the Malaysian AIDS Foundation is going to bring closer a fascinating intersection between HIV/AIDS awareness and the Malay musical arts and cultural heritage for our signature fundraiser, the Red Ribbon Gala and Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Award.
Doing the honours of interpreting this novel idea is one of Malaysia’s most celebrated singers, Dayang Nurfaizah, who is also a passionate spokesperson for HIV/AIDS cause – a role that she assumed in her 10-year involvement as the Red Ribbon Celebrity Supporter of MAF.
During the Gala evening, Dayang Nurfaizah will bring to life an exquisite repertoire of traditional Malay songs from her Belagu album under the arrangement of musical maestro Aubrey Suwito. Lull away to the timeless melody of Tudung Periuk and dance to the Joget tempo of Tari Tualang Tiga – the Gala will cast positive light on efforts by a newer generation of artistes and musicians to make the Malay Classical Musical genre sexy again.
AIDS Solidarity Fund
The impact of COVID-19 on the fundraising income of the Malaysian AIDS Foundation was brutal. During the crisis year, our year-on-year income was reduced by more than 50 % as many donors were understandably cautious and unable to give as generously. For a large part of 2020 and well into 2021, huge resources that were previously available for civil societies like MAF were diverted towards efforts to fight COVID19.
The AIDS Solidarity Fund was introduced by the Malaysian AIDS Foundation in 2020 in response to the urgent need for HIV treatment and care services during COVID-19. It works to sustain that the significant progress that we have achieved in halving new HIV infections and mitigating the negative impact of HIV/AIDS in society, against the backdrop of an escalating global pandemic that would undo those achievements if we did not accelerate our efforts.
Responding to the Needs of HIV Community During the Covid-19 Crisis
The COVID-19 crisis in the past year has left a far-reaching impact on Malaysian lives, including the community of People Living with HIV (PLHIV).
One of our earliest efforts during the COVID-19 crisis was to provide humanitarian relief to PLHIV who have become impoverished by the economic fallout – a condition made worst by stigma and discrimination against the community. Food aid programmes, donation of basic household items and even cash handouts were dispensed to our community members to alleviate their burden during these extremely challenging times.
We also stepped up our effort to improve access to HIV treatment mainly because people who are immuno-compromised are at increased risk to develop serious illness from COVID-19 – a very real threat against people with HIV with a low CD4 cell count or not yet engaged in HIV treatment. Our range of Treatment Access Programmes include the Medicine Assistance Scheme that provides subsidised Antiretroviral (ARV) for low-income patients; travel subsidy to enable HIV patients in rural Sabah and Sarawak to access treatment at government hospitals in town; and also widening ARV coverage through networks of Private Clinics and General Practitioners across Malaysia.
Medicine Assistance Scheme
Medicine Assistance Scheme is critical to Malaysia’s ending AIDS by 2030 goals as continued access to HIV treatment and adherence will ensure better viral suppression outcomes, which further reduces onward transmission of HIV and improves the quality of life for PLHIV.
Conversely, poor treatment adherence is associated not only with less effective viral suppression but also with drug resistance and reduced survival.
With more than 45 % of PLHIV in Malaysia not receiving treatment, we are set to channel proceeds from the Red Ribbon Gala and Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Award to support the expansion of our Medicine Assistance Scheme.
The Scheme provides subsidy for second-line antiretroviral (ARV) medicine to low-income patients in Malaysia who are not yet covered by our national healthcare budget.
Initiated in 1998, this life-saving scheme has provided thousands of Malaysians living with HIV a second shot at life by procuring medication that they critically need but can’t afford due to high costs. The Scheme is also officially recognised by the Ministry of Health for its pivotal role in bridging the gap in ARV treatment in Malaysia. MAF and all HIV/AIDS stakeholders in Malaysia are deeply concerned that only about 50% of PLHIV in Malaysia are receiving ARV treatment – well below the global average of 73%.
The Red Ribbon Gala and Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Award
MAF wishes to announce the return of our flagship benefit, the Red Ribbon Gala and Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Award, on 10 December 2021 at Hilton Kuala Lumpur.
As we strive to increase our resources for the AIDS Solidarity Fund, MAF plans to bring back our flagship fundraiser, the Red Ribbon Gala and the Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Award on 10 December 2021 at Hilton Kuala Lumpur. The Gala will be a celebration of partnership between MAF and our donors to the AIDS Solidarity Fund. We are truly honoured and overwhelmed by the continued support given by Hilton Kuala Lumpur despite being impacted by the pandemic economic crisis.
MAF will maintain the legacy of prestige and exclusivity for the Red Ribbon Gala. The Black-Tie Affair will feature the first ever Stage Performance of Malaysia’s Queen of R&B, Dayang Nurfaizah, since the pandemic, with musical arrangement by Aubrey Suwito of songs from Belagu, her Malay Classic Revival Album launched earlier this year. In featuring Belagu, MAF is also playing our part to promote the legacy of our musical and cultural heritage.
Presentation of the Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Award
On the same evening, MAF will present the Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Award to the unsung HIV community heroes who have demonstrated tremendous leadership and resilience in carrying out their work to support the HIV/AIDS community.
This Award will be presented by YABhg Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali herself, who we plan to invite as our Guest of Honour.
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Media and Publicity Plan
Official Media Partnership
Through partnership with major print and online media partners, we can guarantee that the Gala will enjoy a huge coverage. At present, MAF’s Official Media Partners are:
Potential PR Exposure
Using our previous Galas as a performance benchmark, the PR value and media impression for the Red Ribbon Gala is expected to hit RM1.5 – RM2 million.
Commitment to Safety
MAF is 100% committed to protect the safety and well-being of our guests. Our COVID-19 safety measures are designed by our Chairman, Professor Dato’ Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman, who is also the World Health Organisation (WHO) Science Council Member.
As a safety precaution, all guests, contractors and hotel banquet staff must show:
■ Proof of full COVID-19 vaccination in MySejahtera
■ Proof of negative RTK Antigen Test (48 hours before event)
MAF is partnering with a leading medical laboratory service provider to offer complimentary COVID-19 screening to all the related parties.
On our part, MAF and our hotel partner – Hilton Kuala Lumpur – will put up the following measures:
■ Temperature check at all hotel access points
■ Keeping 1 m distance between guests at the Grand Ballroom
■ Sanitation
Our Journey to Sustainability Begins with You
As COVID-19 continues to spread, MAF needs your help to ensure the sustainability of our HIV treatment programme for thousands of Malaysians living with HIV still struggling to cope with the high costs of treatment.
Our community is deeply vulnerable to the impact of the pandemic and treatment is especially crucial to improve their chances of survival.
Our aim is to raise as much funds as possible to support the expansion of our Medicine Assistance Scheme and we are offering our signature fundraiser – the Red Ribbon Gala and Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Award – as a highly visible and prestigious platform for your esteemed organisation to show your support to this sustainability endeavour by MAF.
Creating Partnership for Sustainability
Table Sales
You can also support our expansion plan for the Medicine Assistance Scheme by purchasing a dinner table at the Red Ribbon Gala and Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Award.
Summary of Recognition at The Red Ribbon Gala and Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Award
Agility in The Face of Adversity
As we approach the Red Ribbon Gala and Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Award with cautious optimism, MAF is also fully aware of the ever-changing conditions of the COVID pandemic and how it may affect our ability to continue to host the Gala as planned.
In the event that it is not feasible for us to proceed with the Gala on 10th of December 2021, MAF will bear the responsibility to:
1/ Postpone the Gala to a new date in 2022 with all the sponsor’s entitlement fully intact
There will be no changes in the Gala format, the entertainment and the event rundown that have been planned. We will also carry forward the presentation of the Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Award to this new date.
2/ Host a fully virtual PARTNERS Appreciation Programme with local Media
The objective of the programme is to give credit recognition to all the partners who have contributed toRed Ribbon Gala and Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Award. The event will be held in December 2021 (actual date TBC).
Every Single Donation Counts
If the option to become a partner for the Medicine Assistance Scheme at the Red Ribbon Gala and the Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Award is untenable at this moment, MAF also welcomes donation of any amount from your esteemed organisation.
Every contribution and support given is of great value to us and to the vulnerable communities whose lives are not only burdened by the pandemic but also marginalised due to stigma and discrimination.
Account Information
Your donation can be made by crossed cheque, made payable to Malaysian AIDS Foundation. You may also directly transfer your donation to our account:
Bank : Maybank Berhad
Bank account name : Malaysian AIDS Foundation
Account number : 5141-0542-1257
Branch : Kompleks Dayabumi Kuala Lumpur
SWIFT Code : MBB-MBBEMYKL
Contact
For further information about the MAF Red Ribbon Gala 2021, kindly contact:
Jasmin Jalil
Executive Director
T 03-4047 4311 | 012-3200 686
E jasmin@mac.org.my
Azahemy Abdullah
Project Lead
T 016-6465 874
E azahemy@mac.org.my