M'SIA TO DONATE US$100,000 IN AID OF AUSTRALIA FIRE TRAGEDY VICTIMS

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 25 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian government will donate
USD100,000 to Australia as humanitarian assistance to the victims of the forest
fire tragedy which to date has killed more than 200 people in the state of
Victoria.

A statement from Ministry of Foreign Affairs here Tuesday said Foreign
Minister Rais Yatim had announced the decision for the contribution during a
bilateral meeting with his Australian counterpart Stephen Smith during the
former's visit to Australia from Feb 21 to 23.

He had also extended Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's
sympathies and condolences on behalf of the government and Malaysians to the
families who lot their loved ones in the tragedy, the statement said.

Among other issues discussed between the two leaders were a proposed visit
of Australian Foreign Minister to Malaysia in either April or May in conjunction
with the inaugural Malaysia-Australia Foreign Ministers Forum.

They also agreed to resume the Malaysia-Australia Free Trade Agreement
(MAFTA) after the conclusion of the Asean Australia New Zealand Free Trade
Agreement (AANNZFTA), besides agreeing to consider reciprocal arrangement for
the nomination to the Non Permanent Member seat of the UN Security Council
(UNSC) for AUstralia from 2013 to 2014 and for Malaysia from 2015 to 2016.

-- BERNAMA