Malaysian Red Crescent Society
Encyclopedia
The Malaysian Red Crescent (MRC) is a voluntary humanitarian organisation that seeks to promote humanitarian values, as well as provide service and public education in disaster management, and health and care in the community. It is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
.
Organised in 15 branches and 94 chapters nationwide, the Malaysian Red Crescent is headquartered in Kuala Lumpur
. The Malaysian Red Crescent also has a very active presence among youths and young adults through a well organised network of youth and adult volunteer units in schools and institutions of higher learning.
) and Sarawak
. In 1950, the British Red Cross Society established the first branch in Penang
in the Federation of Malaya
from which it rapidly expanded its presence in the other states.
Upon the independence
of the Federation of Malaya on August 31, 1957, the branches in Malaya were reorganized as the Federation of Malaya Red Cross Society and the society was officially incorporated by statute with the passing of the Federation of Malaya Red Cross Society (Incorporation) Act 1962 by Parliament
. On July 4, 1963, the Federation of Malaya Red Cross Society received official recognition as an independent national society by the International Committee of the Red Cross
and subsequently admitted as a member of the League of Red Cross Societies
on August 24, 1963.
With the formation of the larger federation of Malaysia on September 16, 1963, the Malaysian Red Cross Society (Incorporation) Act 1965 to incorporate the Federation of Malaya Red Cross Society and the branches of the Red Cross Society in Sabah and Sarawak under the name of the Malaysian Red Cross Society was passed by Parliament and gazetted on July 1, 1965. On September 5, 1975, the Malaysian Red Cross Society was renamed the Malaysian Red Crescent Society by the passing of the Malaysian Red Cross Society (Change of Name) Act 1975 by Parliament.
. In pursuing these duties, it shall be the duty of the Malaysian Red Crescent Society to :
International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is an international humanitarian movement with approximately 97 million volunteers, members and staff worldwide which was founded to protect human life and health, to ensure respect for all human beings, and to prevent and alleviate human...
.
Organised in 15 branches and 94 chapters nationwide, the Malaysian Red Crescent is headquartered in Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
. The Malaysian Red Crescent also has a very active presence among youths and young adults through a well organised network of youth and adult volunteer units in schools and institutions of higher learning.
History
The Malaysian Red Crescent has its beginnings in 1948 as branches of the British Red Cross Society in the former British North Borneo (now the Malaysian state of SabahSabah
Sabah is one of 13 member states of Malaysia. It is located on the northern portion of the island of Borneo. It is the second largest state in the country after Sarawak, which it borders on its southwest. It also shares a border with the province of East Kalimantan of Indonesia in the south...
) and Sarawak
Sarawak
Sarawak is one of two Malaysian states on the island of Borneo. Known as Bumi Kenyalang , Sarawak is situated on the north-west of the island. It is the largest state in Malaysia followed by Sabah, the second largest state located to the North- East.The administrative capital is Kuching, which...
. In 1950, the British Red Cross Society established the first branch in Penang
Penang
Penang is a state in Malaysia and the name of its constituent island, located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia by the Strait of Malacca. It is bordered by Kedah in the north and east, and Perak in the south. Penang is the second smallest Malaysian state in area after Perlis, and the...
in the Federation of Malaya
Federation of Malaya
The Federation of Malaya is the name given to a federation of 11 states that existed from 31 January 1948 until 16 September 1963. The Federation became independent on 31 August 1957...
from which it rapidly expanded its presence in the other states.
Upon the independence
Hari Merdeka
Hari Merdeka is a national day of Malaysia commemorating the independence of the Federation of Malaya from British colonial rule in 1957, celebrated on August 31 each year. It is not to be confused with the formation of Malaysia...
of the Federation of Malaya on August 31, 1957, the branches in Malaya were reorganized as the Federation of Malaya Red Cross Society and the society was officially incorporated by statute with the passing of the Federation of Malaya Red Cross Society (Incorporation) Act 1962 by Parliament
Parliament of Malaysia
The Parliament of Malaysia is the national legislature of Malaysia, based on the Westminster system. The bicameral parliament consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The King as the Head of State is the third component of Parliament....
. On July 4, 1963, the Federation of Malaya Red Cross Society received official recognition as an independent national society by the International Committee of the Red Cross
International Committee of the Red Cross
The International Committee of the Red Cross is a private humanitarian institution based in Geneva, Switzerland. States parties to the four Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their Additional Protocols of 1977 and 2005, have given the ICRC a mandate to protect the victims of international and...
and subsequently admitted as a member of the League of Red Cross Societies
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is a humanitarian institution that is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement along with the ICRC and 186 distinct National Societies...
on August 24, 1963.
With the formation of the larger federation of Malaysia on September 16, 1963, the Malaysian Red Cross Society (Incorporation) Act 1965 to incorporate the Federation of Malaya Red Cross Society and the branches of the Red Cross Society in Sabah and Sarawak under the name of the Malaysian Red Cross Society was passed by Parliament and gazetted on July 1, 1965. On September 5, 1975, the Malaysian Red Cross Society was renamed the Malaysian Red Crescent Society by the passing of the Malaysian Red Cross Society (Change of Name) Act 1975 by Parliament.
Principles & Purpose
The aim of the Malaysian Red Crescent Society is to provide services, comfort and help where needed, first in our country Malaysia and secondly, manpower and finances permitting, to neighbouring countries. All volunteers and staff must abide by the seven fundamental principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.Fundamental Principles
- HumanityCompassionCompassion is a virtue — one in which the emotional capacities of empathy and sympathy are regarded as a part of love itself, and a cornerstone of greater social interconnection and humanism — foundational to the highest principles in philosophy, society, and personhood.There is an aspect of...
- It seeks to prevent and alleviate suffering wherever it may be found, to protect life and health and ensure respect for the human being. It promotes understanding, cooperation and peace among people.
- ImpartialityImpartialityImpartiality is a principle of justice holding that decisions should be based on objective criteria, rather than on the basis of bias, prejudice, or preferring the benefit to one person over another for improper reasons.-Philosophical concepts of impartiality:According to Bernard Gert, "A is...
- Impartiality
- It makes no distinction of nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinions.
- NeutralityNeutrality (philosophy)Neutrality is the absence of declared bias. In an argument, a neutral person will not choose a side.A Neutral country maintains political neutrality, a related but distinct concept.-What neutrality is not:...
- Neutrality
- To safeguard its position of trust, it does not take aides in hostilities or join in controversies of a political, racial, religious or ideological nature.
- IndependenceIndependenceIndependence is a condition of a nation, country, or state in which its residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory....
- Independence
- Although an auxiliary to the public authorities it maintains complete autonomy in all its action.
- Voluntary Service
- It is a voluntary organisation not prompted in any manner by desire for gain.
- UnityCooperationCooperation or co-operation is the process of working or acting together. In its simplest form it involves things working in harmony, side by side, while in its more complicated forms, it can involve something as complex as the inner workings of a human being or even the social patterns of a...
- Unity
- There is only one Red Cross/Red Crescent Society in any country. It is open to all and extends its action in the entire country.
- UniversalityUniversality (philosophy)In philosophy, universalism is a doctrine or school claiming universal facts can be discovered and is therefore understood as being in opposition to relativism. In certain religions, universality is the quality ascribed to an entity whose existence is consistent throughout the universe...
- Universality
- The Red Cross/Red Crescent is a world-wide institution. National Societies have equal status and equal responsibilities.
Purpose
The Malaysian Red Crescent Society has all the rights and duties of a National Red Crescent Society as a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and shall be prepared to act as an authorized Voluntary Aid Society subject to the provisions of the Geneva ConventionsGeneva Conventions
The Geneva Conventions comprise four treaties, and three additional protocols, that establish the standards of international law for the humanitarian treatment of the victims of war...
. In pursuing these duties, it shall be the duty of the Malaysian Red Crescent Society to :
- In time of peace or war, to carry on and assist in work for the improvement of health, the prevention of disease and the mitigation of suffering throughout the world;
- In time of war, to furnish voluntary aid to the sick and wounded both of armies and non-belligerents, to prisoners of war and to civilian sufferers from the effects of war, in accordance with the spirit and covenants of the Geneva Conventions for the amelioration of the conditions of the wounded and sick in armed forces in the field, signed at Geneva on 12 August 1949;
- To perform all the duties devolved upon a national society by each nation which has acceded to the said Conventions.