ASEAN Ready To Send Aid To Lombok - Foreign Minister

PUTRAJAYA, Aug 9 (Bernama) -- All ASEAN countries, including Malaysia, are ready to send humanitarian aid to Lombok, Indonesia following a 7.0 magnitude earthquake which struck the island on Sunday. Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah said the matter was stated in a letter to Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi through ASEAN secretary-general Lim Jock Hoi on Aug 6. "In the joint statement, ASEAN foreign ministers have expressed their condolences and readiness to offer assistance to the government and the people of Indonesia following the earthquake in Lombok," he told a press conference after a flag-raising ceremony in conjunction with the 51st ASEAN Day celebrations at Wisma Putra here Wednesday. Also present were Deputy Foreign Minister Marzuki Yahya, representatives from nine ASEAN countries and 30 diplomats. Saifuddin said about 200 Malaysians in Lombok were reportedly safe and most of them had returned to Malaysia. The quake is now known to have killed more than 90 people. Meanwhile, in KUALA LUMPUR, Deputy Human Resources Minister Mahfuz Omar urged the public to help the quake victims. "It is understood that the victims need clean water, food including for babies and patients, medicines, clothes, blankets, and personal hygiene packs," he told reporters after launching an aid mission to Lombok by the Pertubuhan Kebajikan Serantau Muslim at Parliament lobby here. At the event, Mahfuz also handed over a personal contribution amounting to RM10,000 to the organisation. A representative Siti Fatyhah Sulaiman said so far, it had collected RM20,000 from the public. "We will depart for Lombok on Saturday (Aug 11) to distribute the aid, and we will continue to raise funds to help the people there," she said. Those who wish to help can donate to Pertubuhan Kebajikan Serantau Muslim’s Maybank account at 5641-0042-1083 or visit its website http://www.smuslim.com or Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/SerantauMuslim. -- BERNAMA