This Merdeka, Make A Difference With Maxis’ Endangered Malaysians Project

For many Malaysians, the wildlife of Malaysia, such as orangutans, tapirs and tigers (better known to us as our national symbol, Harimau Malaya) have been a significant part of our culture, especially in our local folkore. However, in recent years, these animals are reducing in numbers and in danger of extinction, which means the need for their conservation is now more important than ever.

This Merdeka, Maxis has collaborated with the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN) to celebrate ALL Malaysians by supporting the conservation of endangered animals in Malaysia through its Endangered Malaysians project. As part of this month-long initiative, Maxis has teamed up with Huawei and leading Malaysian photographers to immortalise and celebrate these animals - as fellow Malaysians - through the power of technology and photography.

The photos will be made available on Maxis’ website and Facebook page as part of the #KitaRakyatMalaysia pledge to encourage more Malaysians to play a role in protecting these endangered animals.

Here’s how the pledge works:

1. Visit www.maxis.com.my/KitaRakyatMalaysia
2. Click on the “Make A Pledge” button on the website
   
3. Wait for a pop-up to appear with the option to share the photo and pledge on their Facebook profile
   
4. The pledges will include the official hashtag, #KitaRakyatMalaysia
   
5. For each pledge made, Maxis will donate RM1 to PERHILITAN to aid their conservation efforts
   

“This Merdeka, we’re redefining what it means to be Malaysian. Because these endangered animals are just as Malaysian as we are and should be protected, we wanted to celebrate them by using technology and photography in meaningful ways to make an impact,” said Tai Kam Leong, Maxis’ Head of Brand and Partnerships.

“There has been a rapid reduction of these animals in the wild, which is why it’s important to take action now and support their conservation. Maxis is pleased to be working with PERHILITAN and Huawei to create more awareness on this cause, and involve Malaysians through our pledge drive,” added Tai.

Taking this project further, Maxis will also be creating awareness on animal conservation amongst the younger generation. Through its eKelas programme, Maxis is conducting art workshops for eKelas students as well as producing related content for the eKelas portal. Maxis eKelas is the Company’s flagship social responsibility programme which aims to improve the academic performance of students in rural areas. eKelas offers a combination of live tutorials, group learning and interactive digital content which is in line with the Malaysian School Syllabus.

Maxis has been a consistent innovator in using technology to support meaningful causes. In 2016, Maxis partnered with EPIC Homes and leading online retailers on the Kongsi Home project, to transform e-commerce into e-charity. As part of the project, Malaysians were encouraged to purchase parts of a house online, which then went into building homes for communities in need. The same year, Maxis helped flood victims stay connected with S.O.S Power Pot, a portable device that converts thermal energy to electricity. This allowed users to charge their phones while boiling water by just connecting it to the pot’s USB cable.

For more information on the Endangered Malaysians project, watch this video or visit www.maxis.com.my/KitaRakyatMalaysia. You can also join us for an exclusive event at IPC Shopping Centre, from 24 August to 2 September, 10 am to 10 pm. There will be a visual showcase of the endangered animals and park rangers from PERHILITAN will also be giving talks to the public.