DONATIONS FOR MANILA'S TYPHOON VICTIMS

From Mohamad Bakri Darus

MANILA, Oct 27 (Bernama) -- The Malay World Islamic World (DMDI) secretariat
has donated RM100,000 (US$29,364) to ease the burden of those affected by the
Typhoon Ketsana, locally known as Ondoy, which hit several areas here last
month.

DMDI president Mohd Ali Rustam said the financial and food aid were
distributed directly to victims in the Pasiq, Taguig and Marikina areas.

"I hope our contribution will help lessen their burden and we sympathise and
empathise with the typhoon victims in Manila," he told Malaysian reporters after
handing the donations and visiting a mosque in Pinanqbuhatan, Pasiq, here
on Monday.

According to an officer from the Malaysian Embassy in Manila, Vimala a/p
Murugan, the tropical storm Ketsana brought the worst rainfall to Manila and its
surrounding areas on Sept 26 which was then followed by hurricane Parma a week
later, which killed 700.

Mohd Ali, who is also Malaysia's southern state of Melaka Chief Minister,
was leading the DMDI humanitarian mission and spent five hours visiting victims
in the areas affected.

He said from the RM100,000 contribution, RM50,000 (US$14,675) was handed out
by DMDI deputy president Dr Mohd Jamil Mukmin from Oct 13 to 15 while the
remainder was given out by himself.

"From the donation given out by Mohd Ali, RM10,000 will be used to restore a
mosque in Marikina, RM10,000 for the Mindanao Research Institute and RM30,000
for food supplies," he said.(US$1=RM3.40)
-- BERNAMA