The Salvation Army meets the needs of the underprivileged in the community by running a wide range of community services. They include centres for the elderly and children, special education, family support services, corps community services and emergency relief programmes.

The Salvation Army Corps (churches) also minister to people in English, Mandarin and Tamil languages.

The Salvation Army is supported through donations, government grants and programme fees. We run regular public appeals and organise fundraising events throughout the year.

The Salvation Army is registered in Malaysia under an ordinance (Act of Parliament). This is documented in the Laws of Malaysia, Act 690, Salvation Army (incorporation) Act 1956 (Revised 2008). The Salvation Army in Sarawak is registered under the Sarawak Government Gazette, 1953, The Missionary Societies Order, 1957.

William Booth founded The Salvation Army in 1865 in the poor areas of East London. A former Methodist preacher, Booth wanted to make the church more accessible to all people at a time when many of the working class were excluded from church congregations.

Originally known as The Christian Mission, the name “The Salvation Army” was adopted in 1878 and since then the organisation’s structure has been based upon military lines.

The reason the organisation adopted military insignia and terminology is to represent the battle being waged against poverty and sin. This was very much in keeping with popular Christian themes at that time, reflected in well-known hymns of that era such as “Onward Christian Solders”.

To this day, the administration of The Salvation Army is top-down and autocratic, in true military style – with leadership vested in the General from The Salvation Army International Headquarters, London. While the chain of command extends from the General, through the Chief of Staff, into overseas departments, actual administration is vested in the territories and their individual community units.

It all started in July 1938 when Frederick Harvey (Adjutant) set up the first centre in a vacated YMCA building in Penang. He went on to establish a free school on the island for hundred of poor children.

By 1940, outreach had begun in Melaka and in Ipoh, a Boys Home was established with a soap-making business to provide much-needed income for the Home.

During the Second World War, The Salvation Army begun emergency relief work in Penang, organising rescue missions such as ferrying wounded civilians to hospitals, running evacuation camps as civilians fled bombing raids and also a residential home for boys who lost their families.

After the War, the work of The Salvation Army flourished as it begun work in places such as Kuching, Batang Melaka and Kuala Lumpur, and it continues to grow to this day.

The Salvation Army makes every effort to ensure that public donations are effectively dispensed and reaches those in need. This also means that any amount raised in Malaysia are channelled back to communities in need in the country. For every Ringgit spent, 85 sen is spent on our social programmes to help our beneficiaries.

No. The money raised through donations only goes to social service programmes. The Salvation Army’s church activities are supported by the local church community.

Yes, and we encourage that donors specify if they would like their donations to be channelled to one of our centres or programmes. Unspecified donations will be channelled to whichever centre/programme that needs funding the most.

Yes, all cash donations are tax-exempted according to Malaysia’s Income Tax Act 1976 under Section 44 (6).

If it is too good to throw away, give it to The Salvation Army!

The Salvation Army is credited to be one of the oldest charitable organisations in the world to operate the thrift store concept to sustain its community projects.

Preloved goods that are still in good and usable conditions are sold at affordable prices through the Family Thrift Stores, and the funds raised are channelled back to The Salvation Army.

In certain cases, some preloved goods are distributed directly to people who need them. For instance, to communities that have lost their belongings in a fire, they will receive clothing, household items and furniture from our Family Thrift Store.