McDonald’s Malaysia Hosts 140 Homes During 10th Anniversary Of Mekdi Community Month

SHAH ALAM, Oct 14 (Bernama) -- Laughter and joyful cheers from hundreds of underprivileged children marked the 10th anniversary of McDonald’s Malaysia’s Komuniti Mekdi Month as over 100 McDonald’s restaurants nationwide stepped up to join the noble mission of celebrating their birthdays.

McDonald's Malaysia managing director and local operating partner Datuk Azmir Jaafar said the annual initiative, through a strategic collaboration with the Department of Social Welfare (JKM), involved 140 welfare homes, thereby translating the company's ongoing commitment to making a positive impact on the community.

"Throughout the 10 years of Komuniti Mekdi Month, our restaurant team has spent time with children and caregivers and built relationships with welfare homes around them. We want to continue being a caring neighbour and present for the community.

"It also provides an opportunity to celebrate children who may have never experienced a birthday celebration. We want them to feel remembered and appreciated, and to have the opportunity to have fun with their friends," he said at the summit of the 10th Komuniti Mekdi Month celebration at the McDonald's Drive-Thru Section 3 restaurant here today.

Also present to celebrate with more than 100 participants who are residents of Rumah Kasih Harmoni Paya Jaras, Persatuan Kanak-Kanak Trinity Selangor and Yayasan Sunbeams Home, was McDonald's Malaysia senior vice-president and chief impact officer Melati Abdul Hai.

Since its introduction in 2017, Azmir said Komuniti Mekdi Month has had a positive impact on hundreds of thousands of Malaysians through various corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes nationwide.

Meanwhile, Melati said that Komuniti Mekdi Month can strengthen the company's noble efforts consistently carried out for the past 10 years by organising various activities involving welfare homes managed by JKM.

"Every year, we hold over 10,000 community programmes or McDonald's community programmes, including activities with welfare homes, and one of them is celebrating these children's birthdays in October.

"Close cooperation with JKM allows us to identify welfare homes that deserve to be treated well and to understand the various specific needs of their diverse residents, especially those with special needs," she said.

According to Melati, the uniqueness of this year's celebration is further enhanced by the organisation of video and craft workshops to give children the opportunity to hone their skills in designing gifts and messages for their friends.

She said that the creative activities indirectly cultivate new skills while also strengthening the bonds of friendship among the residents in their respective care facilities.

Meanwhile, the principal of Rumah Kasih Harmoni Paya Jaras, Jamaludin Wahab praised McDonald's Malaysia for their good efforts and concern, especially towards underprivileged children.

"For children, when someone comes to spend time and celebrate their birthdays, they feel very touched. The opportunity to try new activities and have fun with friends makes their celebration more meaningful," he said.

Earlier, McDonald's Malaysia, through the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) Malaysia, donated RM5,000 to three welfare homes to help cover expenses and repair the physical facilities of their premises.

-- BERNAMA