Malaysia has sent RM1.5 million in aid for Indonesian quake victims — Wan Azizah

KUALA LUMPUR: The government has channelled RM1.5 million in aid to assist the victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Palu, Sulawesi, and Lombok in Indonesia, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail yesterday.

She also said the National Disaster Management Authority (Nadma) had raised RM5.4 million from the public and corporate organisations to be channelled to the victims of the tragedy.

“The contributions are really helpful because they (victims) have to search for other victims, rebuild their families and ward off diseases such as malaria,” she said at the Parliament lobby.

Dr Wan Azizah said Indonesia was most appreciative of the contribution from the government and people of Malaysia.

Earlier, she received a contribution of RM315,000 from the Johor government for the Indonesian victims. The aid was handed over by Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Osman Sapian.

Osman said it is hoped that the contribution would help the victims to get on with their lives.

“The amount is not big. It is a gesture of sympathy from a neighbouring country,” he said.

An earthquake measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale and a tsunami struck Sulawesi on Sept 28, claiming over 2,000 lives and displacing more than 30,000 people.

On Aug 19, a 6.3-magnitude earthquake rocked Lombok. — Bernama