Humanitarian Logistics : TYPHOON HAIYAN ~ LOGISTICS LIFELINE FROM MALAYSIA

In the business world today, an organization is measured based on their monetary strength and performance. Being drawn in to the ‘rat race’, every profit oriented business adopts their mission and vision directed towards being a leading organization with greater market share, making handsome profits, with superior quality workforce and operate with the most innovative technology. The scenario is exactly the same when it comes to the industry of logistics. The logistics industry is so wide and competitive, that the business organizations providing logistics services focuses on success and to maintain or increase their market share. Hence, they have minimal time and resources to look into how they can render help to those who are in need. Of course, large multi-national corporations are able to contribute to the society in need under the umbrella known as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). How about our local logistics service providers? Are they also involved in carrying out CSR?

We would say yes! There are many but the one that is very consistent on CSR efforts is Infinity Logistics & Transport Sdn Bhd. In the most recent natural disaster, Typhoon Haiyan, the world’s strongest typhoon that struck the central islands of Philippines last Friday (9/11/2013) affected 11 million people and about 673,000 were displaced. Death tolls are still on the rise. While the whole world is cheerless with the catastrophe, people and profit as well non-profit organizations all around the globe initiated various efforts to support and provide aid to the victims. Infinity Logistics & Transport, a homegrown logistics company established since 2003, is one of the profit oriented organization that embarked by activating their Humanitarian Logistics Division to offer free shipping services to donors who are interested in sending aid to the places affected by Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, specifically to the hardest hit areas, Tacloban, Ormoc and Leyte.

 

Infinity Logistics & Transport, in this disaster relief project, will be partnering with 4 other organizations, Westports Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Goldstar i/o Newstar, 2Go Group Inc. from the Philippines, and Crisis Relief Services & Training Bhd (CREST) Malaysia, to deliver the relief supplies free of service right until the affected areas. Infinity will be responsible to coordinate this project while offering 10 units of 20-footer containers and the land logistics free of charge to Port Klang. Westports Malaysia will provide free lifting at the Port Klang terminal, Goldstar will provide free freight from Port Klang, Malaysia to Cebu, Philippines, and 2GO will be providing feedering services from Cebu, Philippines to the affected areas in Philippines. Besides that Crisis Relief Services & Training Bhd (CREST) Malaysia in collaboration with IDRN, Operation Blessings and local Filipino NGOs will coordinate the distribution of relief goods to the affected communities. They have also just activated a ground team to Tacloban with medication, soap, dehydrated food to bring emergency relief to the casualties in the devastating storm.

To the companies and individuals who may be interested to donate may contact Infinity Logistics & Transport’s Corporate Communication Manager, Ms. Joanne Teh directly at +6016-2152926 end_of_the_skype_highlightingor email her at corpcom@infinity.com.my . The freight space will be available on a first-come-first-served basis. For easy custom declaration for the relief items, homogenous items such as the 3 most immediate needs – mineral water, dry foods, or tents are encouraged. Therefore, all interested companies or individuals are encouraged to act immediately without hesitation.

We are pleased with the fact that such good deeds are being carried out by logistics companies like Infinity Logistics & Transport especially when they are Malaysian based. This is a remarkable example of an organization which is established in Malaysia for just about 10 years and is able to respond to disasters in the world swiftly. This is however, not the first case where Infinity Logistics & Transport involved in the Humanitarian Logistics aid. It all began during the Japan’s Tsunami incident in 2011 where a joint effort between Sin Chew, CREST and Infinity Logistics & Transport led to the establishment of their Humanitarian Logistics division and launch their first CSR project called “Infinity Cares”. As a conclusion, a business should not just be measured based on their monetary forte or performance or accomplishments but also on their endeavour towards the society. Although CSR is also seen as a mode of advertising a business but it is also crucial to evaluate how many are willing invest the time and efforts to take up the challenge like Infinity Logistics & Transport. That explains the commitment level of the company for the industry and their nobility towards the world.



Thank you for your time.

Best regards,

Mahinder Singh Malhi