S'gor govt pledges RM150,000 to help families of victims
Published on: Tuesday, June 09, 2015
Kota Kinabalu: The Selangor government has pledged to give RM150,000 to help lessen the burden of the families of those who died in Friday's earthquake in Ranau as well as the mountain guides.Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) President Datuk Seri Dr.Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said the Menteri Besar of Selangor has given his assurance that the money will be channeled to the identified recipients via its party in Sabah.She said the mountain guides would be among the recipients of the monetary contribution as they risked their lives and voluntarily searched and rescued stranded climbers at the mountain without waiting for directives from the authorities.
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"I have come down here to visit the families of the victims who passed away in the earthquake in Ranau and conveyed our deepest sympathy and condolences to their families for their loss."I talked to them and shared their sadness. At the same time, the party will also look into areas we can help the families."For example, the father of the late Valerian Joannes said he wanted to repair the roof of his house…and this will be the part of things that we will look into and try to help him," she said.Dr. Wan Azizah said this to reporters after returning from her visit to the families of the victims, here, on Monday.
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She was accompanied by PKR Sabah Chairman Datuk Lajim Ukin, his deputy Christina Liew, his vice-president Mustapha Sakmud, information chief Terrence Siambun and other officials.Dr.Wan Azizah also visited the family of Joseph Solugin who was also killed.
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"Joseph was only 33-years-old and I met his mother in her 80s and also his wife who resides in Kg.Kiau and I talked with them. What had happened was such a tragedy."I also visited one unsung hero, Christopher Peter Ebi who is a PKR member and he is one of the mountain guides involved in searching and rescuing the climbers."I am very proud of what he did although he did not feel heroic at all as he said he just felt it was part of his duty and responsibility," she said.According to Christopher, she said the income of the mountain and tour guides will be badly affected as scaling of the mountain would be halted for three weeks to allow necessary repairs on the routes and infrastructures.Hence, Dr.Wan Azizah said Lajim and Christina have also pledged to organise fund raising activities to help the tour and mountain guides."I have also met Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Maximus J. Ongkili and asked him about the delay by the search and rescue (SAR) team to save victims. "They are supposed to be trained in other countries to face any tragedy and eventualities. I hope the government will seriously look into this…as Sabah is still feeling the aftershock tremors and this is not a one-off thing as there are hot springs on the way to Ranau," she said.Meanwhile, Liew said the party here will come up with a charity dinner to raise funds to help mountain guides who will lose their income for three weeks.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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