PUTERA UMNO 1MALAYSIA CLUB GOING TO CHRISTCHURCH TUESDAY

KUALA LUMPUR, March 1 (Bernama) - Putera Umno (Umno Youth) 1Malaysia Club will leave for Christchurch, New Zealand Tuesday to deliver humanitarian aid to Malaysian earthquake victims.
Its president Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim said the club's 38 members
including 10 medical officers and media people would be going to their housing areas.
"The humanitarian mission bring supplies such as food, medicine, clothing and blankets," he told reporters after meeting New Zealand Deputy High Commissioner to Malaysia, Brian Smythe here Monday.
"We are bringing along five tonnes of supplies. The mission will leave at 1pm tomorrow for Bangkok and then take an Emirates Airlines flight for Christchurch.
Azeez said the club would also give the Malaysians financial aid. There are 636 Malaysians in Christchurch, including 390 students.
The meeting Monday was to inform the New Zealand government about the humanitarian aid mission.
Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak gave the club permission after its successful mission to help flood victims in Brisbane, Australia.
"I received phone calls from Malaysian students in Wellington and Auckland wishing to help us. We will repair and clean up the affected houses."
Azeez said plan to establish Putera Umno 1Malaysia Club abroad was postponed until after completion of the mission.
An earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale on Tuesday claimed 148 lives while 300 others were reported missing.
UMNO Youth is the right wing of the political leadership of UMNO. The United Malays National Organisation, or UMNO is Malaysia's largest political party; a founding member of the National Front (Barisan Nasional) coalition, which has played a dominant role in Malaysian politics since independence.