ASEAN SEC-GEN PROUD OF QUICK RESPONSE BY ASEAN COUNTRIES

From Nurulhuda Che Das

PADANG (WEST SUMATRA), Oct 6 (Bernama) -- Asean Secretary-General Dr Surin
Pitsuwan Tuesday expressed his gratification on the quick rescue efforts and
emergency aid by Asean countries to victims of the 7.6 magnitude earthquake
which hit Indonesia's port city, Padang, on Wednesday.

He said the countries, namely Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand had different
ways of contributing to the rescue depending on their capabilities.

"I am very proud of all the Asean teams and the fact that the Asean rescue
teams had been able to respond quickly and take the lead with other foreign
national teams.

"Singapore brought in medical and search and rescue equipment and their
experience and resources. Malaysia are doing what they can on the humanitarian
relief and some medical supply," he told reporters after visiting the Singapore
rescue team camp here.

Dr Surin said more effective and timely procedures must be set up to allow
military and civilian teams to carry out quicker search and rescue worker.

"Rather than being hampered by various obstacles, whether it is
communication between government agencies or the various conflicting
authorities, we should be quicker and faster.

"I hope that we can identify our strength in each country and map out some
jigsaw map quickly and better than others," he said.

Asean groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the
Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
-- BERNAMA