PM WANTS MORE MEDICAL PERSONNEL TO BE SENT TO PADANG

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 3 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Najib Razak wants more
medical officers and surgeons to be sent to Padang, Indonesia, to help victims
of Wednesday's 7.6-magnitude earthquake, Chief of Defence Force Gen Azizan
Ariffin said.

He said the prime minister conveyed the matter during the sending off of the
first team of medical officers at the Royal Malaysia Air Force base in Subang
Saturday.

"The second team is expected to be sent either Saturday or Sunday," he told
reporters after the sending off of the first team by the prime minister
Saturday.

The team comprises two officers from the National Security Division, 25 from
the Malaysian Search and Rescue Team, 17 from the armed forces' medical corps,
eight from the Health Ministry and four from the Red Crescent.

Azizan said the first team would be in Padang for 10 days.

Also sent to Padang were a Land Rover, two ambulance cars and three tonnes
of medical supply and equipment.

Meanwhile in southern city of JOHOR BAHARU, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
(UTM) said it would send 14 volunteers to Padang to help in the humanitarian
relief efforts.

In a statement, Deputy vice-chancellor Prof Dr Mohd Azrai Kassim said the
team comprised students and staff of the university would help in providing
fresh water supply.

The team would be in Padang for four days and that they would also monitor
other types of assistance needed, he said.
-- BERNAMA