26/07/2025

SATURDAY | JULY 26, 2025

COMMUNITY 7

United fans celebrate unity, passion and purpose

PETALING JAYA: Nearly 400 passionate Manchester United fans recently came together for United Malaysia’s 7th Annual Dinner and Charity Gala in an annual celebration of unity, passion and purpose. This year’s event, hosted by Kuala Lumpur Mancunian Red Devils (KLMRD), took place on July 12 at Sunway Resort Hotel in Kuala Lumpur. Held under the theme “United Unites, Together We Thrive”, the event embodied the club’s vision that “United and football is above everything else.” The night saw amazing support from loyal fans, fellow supporter clubs and special guests. Among the highlights of the evening was a RM5,000 contribution to the Down Syndrome Association Malaysia. This charitable act is part of KLMRD’s ongoing commitment to giving back. “Charity is part of United’s DNA,” said Anderson Tan, KLMRD president. “We make it a point to select a different NGO every year to support, and this year we were

honoured to stand with PSDM. “As long as there’s a need, we’ll be there – volunteering, contributing and standing with our community.” Another highlight of the evening was of seven deserving members being announced as recipients of an all-expenses-paid trip to Old Trafford, the iconic home of Manchester United. Four were chosen from a raffle draw, while the remaining three ardent members were chosen by the respective clubs. For some, this marks their first ever visit to the Theatre of Dreams – a lifelong dream finally fulfilled. The KLMRD Gala Dinner continues to be more than just a fan event as it is a powerful display of how football can create lasting friendships, elevate communities and inspire change. Looking ahead, KLMRD is also working towards establishing a dedicated Club House, to serve as a permanent space for fans to gather, celebrate, and give back through regular activities and charitable initiatives.

When club musicians fall, Danny Sandhu is there to catch them Danny (left) handing over cash to cancer-stricken Chong after the fundraiser last week. – PIC COURTESY OF ICE

o He has become a headliner in stories of survival across the local club scene

PETALING JAYA: Danny Sandhu has never played an instrument on stage, nor belted out a ballad beneath the glow of bar lights. But ask any seasoned musician from Malaysia’s club circuit, and his name brings immediate warmth and gratitude. For the past four years, Danny, 65, has quietly taken on a role most wouldn’t expect: a relentless fundraiser and friend to musicians and deejays in crisis. From health emergencies to financial ruin, Danny, an events specialist by trade, has made it his personal mission to be there when the music stops, and the silence of hardship sets in. “I just can’t stand by when people who’ve given us joy are struggling in the shadows,” Danny said, his voice measured but resolute. “They’ve played through the years for us, through heartbreaks, celebrations, quiet nights and loud ones. When they fall, we have to lift them.” Danny’s partner, Ice, is a singer in the local club scene, a window into the unseen struggles that many musicians endure. Gigs are inconsistent. Pay is low. There’s little to no social safety net. Behind every soulful tune is often a story of sacrifice and resilience. Danny’s proximity to this world spurred him into action. Over the past four years, Danny has helped raise close to RM300,000 for various causes, thanks largely to the generosity of financial institution ICAP Sdn Bhd, which has strongly supported his mission of compassion. Of that total, ICAP contributed over RM220,000 specifically to assist club artistes, while Danny’s friend, Justin Cheng, personally donated an

ICAP’s RM30,000 contribution at the time was a pivotal moment — a corporate gesture of humanity that, Danny hopes, will inspire others. “I urge companies and captains of industry who love music, who’ve had great nights made better by great performers, to lend a helping hand,” Danny said. “It makes all the difference.” For decades, Malaysian club artistes have lived in precarity. Gigs are scarce, fees are stagnant, and there’s no formal retirement or healthcare safety net. Many have slipped through the cracks. The pandemic nearly broke the circuit altogether. Though music associations such as Musicians for Musicians and Karyawan have held benefit events, the reality remains: support is often temporary, while need is constant. Danny sees the gaps. He fills them, one fundraiser at a time. “I’m not a musician. But I’ve seen their hearts. And when the gigs are gone, when the lights go dim, someone needs to stand in that space,” he said. “That’s why I’m here.” He doesn’t do it for thanks. But if you ask those who’ve benefited, from guitarists sidelined by stroke to singers silenced by surgery, they’ll say Danny is a rare person: a man who doesn’t just love music, but truly honours the people who make it. In a scene too often defined by hustle and heartbreak, Danny’s presence is a reminder that compassion is its own kind of headline act. - Frankie D’Cruz, FMT

additional RM50,000. Danny’s collaboration with ICAP also extended beyond the music scene. A kindergarten run by the Canossian Sisters in Jinjang, Kuala Lumpur, received RM36,000, while ACTS (A Call to Serve) was given RM10,000 to support sick refugees and asylum seekers. His most recent initiative hit close to home: veteran keyboardist Johan Chong Mohamad Chong, who formed a duo with Ice, was diagnosed with stage three cancer. Recently, the Saints Bar in Taman Sri Hartamas filled with fellow musicians, patrons, and strangers turned-friends. The night raised over RM15,000, a lifeline for Johan’s ongoing treatment, and the total now stands at about RM21,000. “This isn’t charity. It’s responsibility,” Danny added. “These musicians and deejays are part of our cultural soul. They deserve dignity, not just applause.” It was in January 2021 that Danny helped launch “Lend a Helping Hand” in collaboration with the Club Artistes’ division of the Malaysian Artistes’ Association (Karyawan). The initiative was born from one simple belief: “Musicians, especially those who have little, must care for one another, and so must we.” Danny recalled the early days of the campaign with quiet pride. “It was a unique show of caring,” he said. “Helpless musicians, still finding strength to support one another during the pandemic.”

Glory, glory Man United... jubilant members looking forward to visit the Theatre of Dreams. Junior scouts turn eco-warriors to protect environment

Ű BY JOSHUA CHANG newsdesk@thesundaily.com

Enthusiast Badge. The event received strong support from the Sabah Environmental Education Network (SEEN) and several environmental organisations based in Sepilok, including Rainforest Discovery Centre (RDC), Tropical Rainforest Conservation and Research Centre (TRCRC), Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC) and Orangutan Appeal UK (a UK-based charity supporting Bornean orangutan conservation). The event was officiated by Said Saidi, headmaster of SK Muhibbah Sandakan and assisted by 12 Sandakan district rover scouts and 10 scout advisor teachers. The programme successfully fostered environmental stewardship among young scouts while strengthening conservation education networks in Sabah, Barmuli said.

KOTA KINABALU: A total of 120 junior scouts from Sandakan district primary schools came together for the “Friends of the Environment” programme at SK Muhibbah Sandakan on July 19. The event, held alongside the Keris Gangsa and Perak Camp, marked a key initiative of the 2025 National Professional Qualification for Educational Leaders AIB Leadership Course. It was held under the guidance of Barmuli Parudin, an assistant senior administrative teacher at a national school. The programme focused on hands-on learning about ecosystem protection and wildlife conservation, interactive education on Borneo’s unique rainforest heritage and practical training to qualify for the Environmental