September 24, 2007 14:45 PM
'Thank You, Malaysia' - Indonesian Quake Victims
By Mohd Nasir Yusoff
MUKO-MUKO (Indonesia), Sept 24 (Bernama) -- "Malaysia is able to lend
quick aid to the quake victims in Bengkulu because the country and its people
have a big heart and very concerned over the plight of neighbours."
That was how Syahrial, a local senior journalist, summed up his feeling
when the Northern Volunteers from Perlis and Mercy Malaysia medical relief team
arrived here with aid for the victims of recent earthquakes here.
"We, local journalists, very much appreciated any form of aid and direct
contributions from Malaysia and other countries because dozens of people who
fell victims do need them," he told Bernama on Sunday.
Syahrial is the Muko-Muko branch head of the Indonesian Journalist
Association.
He also appreciated the reporting by his Malaysian counterparts who had
drawn world attention to the predicament and needs of the people hit by quakes
measuring 7.7 and 7.9 magnitudes that struck the area on Sept 12 and 13.
"In the aftermath of earthquakes and other disasters, quick dissemination
of news internationally by Bernama, for example, enables various concerned
parties worldwide to act swiftly by mobilising immediate relief efforts," he
said.
Twenty Northern Volunteers, led by Perlis state executive council member
Khairi Hassan, have been in Bangkulu and parts of West Sumatra since Sept 20 to
present cash aid for the restoration of mosques damaged by the quakes.
In the mission, spanning over 800km from Curup de Bengkulu to Bukit
Tinggi in West Sumatra, they have so far handed over aid to over 40 mosques
which have either collapsed or sustained minor damage but still requiring quick
funds.
The head of Kampung Dusun Baru Blokan, Alfian, said that had it not for
the concerns and spirit of brotherliness, assistance from Malaysia would not
had reached his village.
"My kampung is not well known. In fact, nobody knows about it. But still,
the Perlis Northern Volunteers set their foot here. We look at it as proof of
our strong brotherhood bond and how the people of Malaysia really care," he
said.
Lubuk Gedang mosque treasurer N. Hadis said Malaysia had not only
provided relief aid in times of disasters but also offered jobs to over two
million Indonesians including several youngsters from the village.
"Having the Perlis volunteers here is like a prayer being granted because
we have always sought Allah's blessings for some help to arrive so that our
mosque can be used again," he said.
Teacher Rashid of Painan said that from the various news and latest
updates in newspapers and television, he believed that Malaysia was a nation
big at heart because it kept on helping Indonesia despite many charges levelled
at it by his fellow countrymen.
"I want Malaysians to know that it was not us but only a handful of
Indonesians who like to vent their anger and stage anti-Malaysia demonstrations
because of matters blown out of proportion," he said.
Press secretary to Menteri Besar Perlis, Dr Syed Omar Syed Mohamed, said
that what was being done by the Northern Volunteers under the patronage of
Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim was only an effort for the sake of humanity.
"We only want to help as much as we can. How the Indonesians see it, is
in their right but it has more or less given us comfort after working from 6am
to 6pm everyday going to all nooks and corners to deliver aid," he said.
-- BERNAMA
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