SOUTHERN STATE MELAKA GOVT LAUNCHES PADANG EARTHQUAKE DISASTER FUND

MELAKA (Malaysia), Oct 6 (Bernama) -- The Melaka government collected
RM163,000 (US$46,369) from corporations and individuals in the state for
earthquake victims in Padang, Indonesia soon after launching its relief fund for
them here Monday.

Melaka Chief Minister Mohd Ali Rustam said the state aimed to collect
RM500,000 for the fund but no specific deadline had been set.

"In the initial stages, RM50,000 will be donated to the earthquake victims
in the form of tents worth RM30,000 and food stocks worth RM20,000 through our
representatives who will be going there Monday," he told reporters at Seri
negeri, Ayer Keroh here, Monday.

When launching the fund, Mohd Ali also handed over a cheque for RM10,000 to
the NSTP-Media Prima Disaster Fund and another cheque for RM10,000 to the
Tabung Gempa Nusantara (Malay Archipelago Earthquake Fund).

Those wishing to contribute to the disaster fund can write out their cheques
in the name of the Melaka state treasurer.

Meanwhile, the deputy Vice-Chancellor of the Melaka Islamic University
College (KUIM) Dr Baharudin Puteh said KUIM was prepared to offer places for 22
students from Melaka who were pursuing Islamic Studies in Padang to continue
their studies at the college in the Degree in Psychology course.

Thirty-two out of the 380 Malaysian students studying in Padang are from
Melaka with 10 of them studying medicine at the Andalas University while
22 others are pursuing Islamic Studies at the Imam Bonjol University.
-- BERNAMA