SUNGAI PETANI: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the Government will not hold any celebrations to usher in the New Year and called on all parties, including the private sector, to hold prayers following Sunday's tsunami which resulted in deaths and destruction.He hoped that through the prayers, the country would be protected from future disasters and tragedies.
The earthquake-triggered tsunami that hit nine South and Southeast Asian nations and a few African countries last Sunday has killed nearly 70,000 people, 64 of them in Malaysia.
"Let us also pray that that those facing hardship (following the tsunami) will have the fortitude to overcome their losses," he said during a visit to Kampung Kepala Jalan, Kota Kuala Muda, here, during a tour of the tsunami-hit areas.
"We hope that those who have suffered damage and loss of livelihood will strive even harder to ensure that their sources of income are restored."
The Prime Minister also called on mosques throughout the country to conduct sermons related to the catastrophic event and to reach out to the tsunami victims to help them overcome their grief and hardship.
As for Non-Muslims, Abdullah called on them to also pray for whatever would be for the best of the people and the country according to their own practices and beliefs.
He hoped the tsunami victims would be grateful for the assistance extended to them so far to reduce their burden.
During the visit, the Prime Minister announced that he agreed with the proposal by Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop for aid to the tsunami victims be increased.
He said that for every house damaged, an additional payment of RM2,000 would be given while RM5,000 would be given for every house which was destroyed. Fishermen who lost their boats will be given RM1,000 for smaller boats and RM3,000 for bigger boats.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak earlier announced an immediate assistance for the tsunami victims. For every family member killed, RM1,000 will be given and for victims forced to be moved to evacuation centres, RM500 will be given while RM200 will be given to those who are injured.
In Penang, where 50 people have so far been reported killed, some 800 coastal residents have been moved for their safety because their houses have been destroyed while in Kedah, where 10 people were reported killed, some 4,600 coastal residents were forced to be evacuated while some 800 houses were reported to have been destroyed.
Abdullah also thanked the mainstream newspapers which had organised a fund-raising drive for the tsunami victims and praised the generosity of Malaysians during difficult times.
He said the assistance would be disbursed according to a fair and just formula to avoid any problem in the future.
The Prime Minister also called on the victims to provide accurate information including their addresses, identity card numbers and other particulars.
He had also asked government agencies to hand out assistance as quickly as possible.
"This (Wednesday) morning, Najib came to my house and I again asked that whatever assistance to be handed out should be given through existing allocations under the disaster fund before other forms of assistance are given out," he said.
Present were Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Syed Razak Syed Zain; Information Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir; and Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Jalil.
Meanwhile, most public celebrations to usher in 2005 have been cancelled or postponed following the call by Abdullah.
Two New Year's eve concerts scheduled to be held here have been deferred as a mark of respect for the victims.
One is the "Ambank Group Gemilang" concert at Dataran Merdeka that was to have been aired live by TV3. The other is "Countdown 2005" organised by Petronas at Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) that was to appear on TV3 as a delayed telecast the following night.
AmBank Group Public Affairs Director Syed Anuar Syed Ali all parties involved in the concert agreed to defer the event to a date to be fixed later.
"On that night, there will be no concert. No concert at Dataran Merdeka or at the KLCC. I was informed that TV3 will fill the slots with other programmes," he said.
Deputy Information Minister Datuk Zainudin Maidin said Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) had cancelled all special programmes scheduled for broadcast over TV1 and TV2 on New Year's eve.
He said the Radio Muzik Gempaq show, which was to be staged at the Kulim High-Tech Park and expected to be attended by 50,000 people on Friday night had also been cancelled.
In SHAH ALAM, the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) cancelled the "Ambang 2005" programme on the launch of Selangor as a developed state and the closing ceremony of the K-Komuniti (TK2) programme planned for Friday night at Dataran Kemerdekaan Shah Alam.
"Instead, MBSA with the cooperation of the Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Mosque will hold a tahlil on Dec 31 after Maghrib prayers. The public, especialy Shah Alam residents, are invited to attend the gathering," said MBSA assistant public relations officer Shahrin Ahmad in a statement today.
Those who had received invitatons to the "Ambang 2005" programme should come to the tahlil at the mosque, he said.
MBSA also encouraged residents associations, mosques and suraus to hold tahlil and special prayers for the tsunami victims.
In MELAKA, the New Year's eve celebration at the Melaka International Trade Centre in Ayer Keroh organised by the state government has also been cancelled.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Ali Rustam said the event would be replaced with tahlil and special prayers at the Al-Azim State Mosque in Bukit Palah on Dec 31.
"Mosques statewide will also hold tahlil and prayers to seek God's help so that the people and the country are protected from any disaster," he said. - Bernama
