MALAYSIA GIVES US$1 MILLION IN AID FOR QUAKE VICTIMS

Padang, West Sumatra, Oct. 11 (ANTARA) - The Malaysian government has provided assistance worth US$ 1 million for infrastructure and building reconstruction in earthquake-devastated West Sumatra.

The financial aid was presented by Malaysian Defense Minister Dato Seri Ahmad Zahid bin Hamidi to West Sumatra Governor Gamawan Fauzi here on Sunday.

The assistance is prioritized for reconstruction of damaged infrastructures, government offices, and public facilities such as places of worship and schools.

Malaysia had earlier sent 15 airplanes carrying relief aid, and 15 rescue teams immediately distributing the assistance to earthquake-devastated towns and villages in West Sumatra.

Besides, 70 Malaysian volunteers had been mobilized to help rescue and search victims in the aftermath of the powerful earthquake.

Governor Fauzi said the West Sumatran people very much appreciated the valuable assistance from Malaysia.

According to the governor, the earthquake killed at least 805 people, destroyed 102 houses, and caused 27 fires in Padang City. Hundreds of people and 241 houses went missing in the disaster.

The 7.6-magnitude earthquake affected Padang City, Padang Pariaman District, Pessel District and Agam District.
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said in Kuala Lumpur, on Oct. 3 that Malaysia was channeling three types of assistance to earthquake-hit West Sumatra, namely search and rescue, medical relief and humanitarian aid.

"I've spoken to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono through the telephone late Friday night and conveyed the government and the Malaysian people's condolences on the tragedy in Padang," he said as quoted by Bernama.

The Malaysian Medical Relief Society (Mercy Malaysia) sent a surgical and a medical team to treat earthquake victims in and around Pariaman, about 60km north of Padang, the capital city of West Sumatra. The team has brought along surgical sets and primary healthcare kits worth RM100,000 (US$29,040).