Taiwan donates 200 oxygen concentrators to COVID-plagued Malaysia

ROC Central News Agency

09/04/2021 01:14 PM

Taipei, Sept. 4 (CNA) Taiwan donated 200 oxygen concentrators to Malaysia on Friday to help the nation cope with the current crisis its healthcare system is facing amidst a surge in COVID-19 cases.

Since the recent wave of community infections, Malaysia is seeing an average of 20,000 new cases daily, despite the government imposing controls on movement.

According to Malaysia's Ministry of Health, the number of infections reported nationwide on Friday totaled 19,378 cases.

As of Friday, the total number of cases discovered in Malaysia since the pandemic began had been calculated at 1,805,382, with 17,521 deaths.

In a statement, Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said that the donation to Malaysia was made in the spirit of the "people-centered approach" outlined in Taiwan's New Southbound Policy of strengthening ties with Southeast Asian and South Asian nations.

Previously, Taiwan had gifted 200 oxygen concentrators to Indonesia in mid-July, followed by 300 to Vietnam in late July and 200 to the Philippines in late August.

At the donation ceremony on Friday, Deputy Foreign Minister Tien Chung-kwang (田中光) represented the ministry to present the medical equipment to Sharon Ho Swee Peng (何瑞萍), president of the Malaysian Friendship and Trade Centre (MFTC), the de facto Malaysian embassy in Taiwan.

"We all know that there are no borders in pandemics," Tien said. "Until everyone is safe, no one truly is. When our friends in Malaysia are threatened by the pandemic, our government decided to provide support immediately, so that Taiwan and Malaysia could combat the pandemic hand in hand."

Tien also stated that the Taiwanese government hopes to continue solidifying cordial bilateral relations with Malaysia upon established foundations to further advance the well-being of the people in both nations.

In her speech, the MFTC head thanked Taiwan for the timely assistance.

Ho also added that Malaysians are touched by the helping hand extended by Taiwan in the midst of a severe rise in COVID-19 cases globally, and that the donation would prove beneficial to further collaborations and exchanges between the two nations.

(By Chung Yu-chen and James Lo)

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