PETALING JAYA: In a recent 11-day campaign, Sime Darby Auto ConneXion-Ford positively impacted 600 Malaysian beneficiaries from underserved communities in Klang Valley, Penang, Ipoh, and Kuantan.
The company had provided crucial food aid and basic healthcare services with the support of 55 Ford volunteers.
In a statement, the company said, "This spirit is at the heart of the global corporate social responsibility initiative ‘Ford Building Together’."
Auto ConneXion, the sole distributor of Ford vehicles in the country, selected a diverse cross-section of vulnerable groups, including B40 families, persons with disabilities (OKU), single mothers, Asnaf Fakir and Miskin, and the Orang Asli who would benefit most from the impact-driven aid.
The campaign’s state-by-state support comprised:
• Klang Valley: 200 beneficiaries (B40, Asnaf, and OKU communities at Pangsapuri Putra Ria & Abdullah Hukum).
• Penang: 100 beneficiaries (B40 and Asnaf communities in George Town & Jalan Patani).
• Ipoh: 150 beneficiaries (Single mothers, B40, and Asnaf communities in Sungai Rokam).
• Kuantan: 150 beneficiaries (The indigenous Orang Asli community in Kampung Paya Bungor, Gambang).
Ford Philanthropy, International Markets Group senior manager Jane Holloway said, “At Ford, our mission goes beyond building high-quality vehicles. We are committed to empowering communities worldwide and driving positive change. Ford Building Together reflects our belief that when we unite with partners, volunteers, and communities, we can make a lasting difference.”
A cornerstone of the local campaign was the deployment of the Ford Mobile Clinic launched in February this year.
The Ford Mobile Clinic, a collaborative effort involving Auto ConneXion-Ford, Yayasan Sime Darby, Ford Philanthropy, and MyFundAction, mobilised healthcare professionals to all four locations to provide essential healthcareservices in rural areas.
Auto ConneXion-Ford managing director Turse Zuhair Nahason Affan said, "We are dedicated to combining the passion of our employees and the strength of our dealer network to address the needs of local communities in Malaysia. By working together, we not only provide necessary aid where it matters most but we also foster genuine, lasting relationships as we work towards building a sustainable future for all.”
The successful Malaysian initiative reflects the dedication of passionate volunteers from Auto ConneXion-Ford’s management and staff, its nationwide network of authorised Ford dealers, and strategic partnership with non-profit MyFundAction, which was instrumental in planning the on-ground execution.
The Malaysian activity was a key part of Ford’s annual Global Caring Month, a worldwide volunteer programme under Ford Philanthropy.
This local effort contributed to what became the World's Largest Auto Dealer Food Drive, held under the Ford Building Together initiative.which saw over 1,600 Ford dealers across 31 countries collect more than two million pounds (over 907,000kg) of food, far surpassing the initial target of distributing 500,000kg of food aid.
The recent effort builds upon Auto ConneXion-Ford’s established legacy of community support in Malaysia, which includes past projects like the Clean Water Project in Gerik and Operation Better World in Kuala Lumpur.
