BAKTI SENDS RELIEF AID TO PAKISTAN FLOOD VICTIMS

SUBANG (Malaysia), Aug 19 (Bernama) -- The Welfare Association of Wives of
Ministers and Deputy Ministers (Bakti) today sent RM1.9-million (US$607,000)
worth of foodstuff, toiletries and medicine for the victims of Pakistan's worst
floods in 80 years.

The goods, which included infant milk powder, cooking oil, flour, biscuits,
diapers, tents and medicine, were flown in two Hercules C-130 transport aircraft
of the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) from the Subang airbase here.

Bakti president Rosmah Mansor, who is the wife of the prime minister, was at
the airbase to hand over the contribution to the RMAF.

"It is hoped that the contribution will ease the burden of the flood
victims. It was made possible through the cooperation of the ministries of
defence and health as well as several corporate firms," she told reporters after
handing over the goods.

Rosmah said each of the transport aircraft could only carry up to 25,000
pounds of cargo and, as such, the remainder of the aid would be sent by other
aircraft or ships.

Twenty-five officers and staff from the National Security Council, armed
forces and the Malaysian Red Crescent Society as well as 10 journalists are
going along on the trip to Pakistan. The flight to Islamabad is expected to take
nine hours.

Rosmah said the relief aid to the flood victims in Pakistan would be an
ongoing process so long as the people there needed help.

Also at the airbase were Bakti vice-president Noorainee Abdul Rahman, who is
the wife of the deputy prime minister, Defence Minister Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi,
acting Chief of Defence Force Gen Datuk Zulkifeli Mohd Zin, Pakistan's High
Commissioner to Malaysia Masood Khalid and Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, the wife of
former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

The floods in Pakistan have claimed the lives of 1,600 people, made almost
one million people homeless and affected the livelihood of 3.5 million others.
-- BERNAMA