MALAYSIA will donate 18 million pieces of medical rubber gloves to China for it to fight the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak.

“While Malaysians are concerned about the spread of the virus here, we are also sympathetic towards China,” said Primary Industries Minister Teresa Kok in Putrajaya today.

“Presently, hospitals in Wuhan, the epicentre of the nCoV outbreak, are calling for much needed protective medical supplies such as masks, suits and gloves, which are running low.”

The donation pledge was presented to China’s ambassador to Malaysia, Bai Tian by representatives of the various glove manufacturers. 

Among the companies that have pledged or have sent the medical gloves Smart Glove Corporation Sdn Bhd (5.8 million pieces), Top Glove Corporation Bhd (3 million), Hartalega Holdings Bhd (2.58 million), Malaysian Rubber Export Promotion Council (2.12 million), Supermax Corporation Bhd (2 million), Kossan Rubber Industries Bhd (1 million), YTY (1 million), Brightway (300,000), Koon Seng (100,000) and Careplus (100,000).

China is Malaysia’s largest trading partner, accounting for 8.1% or RM313.8 billion in 2018.

In 2014, Malaysia had also sent more than 20 million medical rubber gloves to Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Nigeria and Congo during the Ebola virus outbreak in Africa.

Malaysia is the world’s leader in medical gloves, exporting 180 billion pieces a year. In 2018, Malaysia’s glove exports contributed RM17.7 billion and last year, exports hit RM18 billion. – January 31, 2020.