Published on: Wednesday, December 29, 2004 |
KEPALA BATAS: Malaysia will cooperate with other countries in this region to exchange information on tsunami tidal waves in order to minimise the loss of lives and properties.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said such cooperation would help Malaysia gain experience and technical expertise from other countries to detect early signs of tsunami.
"This will help us avoid loss of lives and properties," he said when speaking at the relief centre for victims of the tidal waves at Sekolah Kebangsaan Kuala Muda here.
Abdullah, who cut short his vacation in Europe and returned Tuesday, visited the victims and the affected villages in Kuala Muda and Permatang Damar Laut. He urged the victims to be patient while assistance was being provided by the authorities to ease their burden.
Speaking to reporters later, the Prime Minister said he would immediately initiate the government-to-government cooperation on the exchange of information on tsunami.
"I will also write to express my condolences on behalf of the Malaysian government and its people to the countries affected (by the tsunami)," he said.
He said with accurate information, the government could forewarn the people to be prepared in the event of floods and other natural disasters. Developed countries such as the United States have earthquake monitoring centres to determine when earthquakes will occur.
Asked on his first reaction after being informed that tsunami waves had struck Malaysia, he said: "I was shocked. It was hard to believe as all this while there had been no earthquake in Malaysia. The waves moved at the speed of 700 kilometres per hour, the speed of an aircraft."
Abdullah said the Government will provide immediate assistance to young victims of the tsunami who are preparing to return to school. He said the aid would be additional to the emergency relief announced by his deputy Datuk Seri Najib.
Najib had said RM1,000 would be provided to the families of each of the dead victims, RM500 for each family forced to evacuate from their homes and RM200 to each of those injured and warded in hospitals.
Abdullah said the assistance for students would help those who lost their books and uniforms to the tidal waves.
The assistance would be distributed by the Federal Government and it was up to the state governments concerned to decide on their own forms of aid. Asked on the total losses in properties as a result of the tsunami, Abdullah said the relevant agencies were preparing their assessments.
He thanked all government agencies, community leaders and voluntary organisations for their assistance to the victims.
